Church Media Blog

Another school year has begun, and we are so excited to see what this year has in store for you and your ministry! Any seasoned KidMin pastor knows that the key to a successful school year with your kids is staying organized. To help take the guessing game out of organization, we’ve come up with a list of helpful tips to keep you on top of your game this year.

EVERYTHING Should Have a Place – Whether you have an entire building dedicated to student ministry or if you have a single, multi-purpose room, everything you use should have a place. It will not only help you be able to find things quickly but, if you’re ever unable to teach, your substitute KidMin leader will know exactly where to find everything. Small and large containers for all your supplies can actually be found at your local dollar store! Also, be sure to label your containers for quick access. It will take some time to get everything sorted out, but this will save you so much time in the long run.

Schedule Your Time and Stick to It – As we’re sure you’re well aware, ministry is a full-time job! It’s not just about the couple of hours we get to spend with the kids on Sundays, but everything that is involved during the week to prepare for service, follow up with visiting families, and the list goes on and on. Scheduling your time is an absolute MUST. Try to do lesson planning on certain nights, follow up calls on another night, etc. This will allow you to always know what needs to be done on what day and keep your schedule organized.

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate – Communication is key to any successful ministry, but especially when dealing with little ones! Be sure to always communicate any events, volunteer opportunities, or areas of need to your KidMin staff. You should also be over-communicating with parents to be sure everyone is on the same page. The truth is, things are going to happen, and changes will come up, but communication will take the headache out of a last-minute switch up.

Take some time before the school year gets too crazy and set yourself up for success with your KidMin. You will thank yourself a few months from now. As always, WorshipHouse Kids is here to help you make your KidMin media a breeze. Keep an eye out for new products to help you make Kids’ Church fun!

NASHVILLE, TENN. (June 7, 2019) – Crossroads Music’s new single, God of the Breakthrough, is available now on all digital platforms.

The Cincinnati, Ohio-based worship collective of Crossroads Church shares the heart behind their prayers in God of the Breakthrough, written as a response to the death of one of Crossroads Church’s senior leaders, and a near-fatal heart attack that struck the Church’s executive pastor. The single is the sixth single Crossroads Music has recorded and released, following two EP’s and two full-length albums.

Co-writer Austin Livingood says God of the Breakthrough is an anthem written out of desperate prayers for God to intervene in impossible situations.

“We have seen people in our community over the past few months going through maddening life matters: cancer treatments, heart attacks, surgeries, and friends passing away,” says Livingood, worship leader for Crossroads Music. “When we have nowhere else to go, we want God near. When we sing ‘God of the breakthrough, Your promises stand true. You haven’t failed us yet,’ it’s a reminder that though we don’t have all the answers in life, we can always depend on His presence being near to us in broken times, and to hold onto His faithfulness. This song is as much an invitation to the miraculous as it is miraculous that we can lean on God in times of hardship.”

The song has special meaning to Pastor Darin Yates, the Church’s executive pastor who survived a heart attack in March caused by a 99% blockage in one of his arteries. Writers, including Livingood, Justin Mosteller and Robbie Reider, learned of Yates’ heart attack in a writing session, which was the catalyst for penning God of the Breakthrough. Less than 24 hours after Yates’ heart attack, Crossroads Church senior leader Kathy Beechem passed away after battling lung cancer.

“Kathy was one of my best friends, was a mentor to me, and a confidant to me. She was literally on her death bed praying for me,” Yates shares. “When I heard God of the Breakthrough for the first time, I quickly connected with it deeply and emotionally. I thought it was because it was written as a prayer for Kathy and me. However, I now realize it was my prayer to Jesus before the cardiologist would come. I identified with the words, ‘We’ve nowhere else to go. We’ve nowhere else to turn… We need your Kingdom now. Exchange it for our doubt.’ I had no doubt God saved me in that moment.”

In difficult times, Crossroads Music hopes that people will use the song as a tool to get through their darkest moments.

“There’s a tension that I want people to feel when they listen to the song — to stand confidently in,” says Reider, National Worship Director for Crossroads Church. “The tension of, this hurts, and yet God is still on the throne. Maybe I can’t see Your throne from where I’m standing right now, but that doesn’t mean You’re not there. Rather than make it easier, God let me see You and make me stronger.” For more information on Crossroads Music and God of the Breakthrough visit www.crdsmusic.com.

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