Resource Page Introduction
Each day I find new resources, blog posts, and informative articles for church leaders navigating the CoVid-19 crisis. Often, I link to those resources in a relevant blog post. But, I had an idea! What if I also post those articles in one blog post, creating a curated list of items that I find helpful as a professor and minister navigating this crisis?
Below, I have created lists of articles that might be helpful to you. I’ve tried to categorize the list and even though many articles might fit under multiple categories, I will only list it one time. I will also add a date after the article’s name. In some circumstances, such as the CDC guidance, I’ve linked to the primary page for that topic. Be sure to explore the supplemental pages on their site as well.
The list will not be updated every day, so an article may be taken offline. Also, authors may update their article and change the edit date. I probably won’t check for updates, so you may find discrepancies. And, of course, I can’t list everything, but maybe this will help. It’ll help me, at least.
Feel free to send articles that you find helpful. If I agree, I’ll add the article here.
Confident KidMin Resources
Since I launched my blog in the middle of a pandemic, many of my original posts have been about churches dealing with CoVid. I’ve also recorded a few webinars and will link to those here, too.
1) Ten Tips for Reopening Your Children’s Ministry
2) When Should Churches Reopen Children’s Ministry
3) Focused and Simple Children’s Ministry During Social Distancing
4) Encouraging Families Through Facebook Live
5) Five Apps to Communicate with Your Kids Ministry During Quarantine
6) 15 Websites for Object Lessons
Worshipping With Children Posts
I hold the firm belief that children should not return to Bible classes until the school year. Yet, the church will return to face to face worship much sooner. Now is the time to embrace true intergenerational worship, worship with children, and at times, be led by children.
1) Kids in Worship: A Free Guide
The Confident KidMin/Hope Network Webinars
These webinars include special guests to talk about two pressing issues for church leaders during the pandemic. When and how should we return to meeting face to face on Sunday mornings?
1) Children’s Ministry CoVid Talk with a Pediatrician Episode #1
2) Children’s Ministry CoVid Talk with a Pediatrician Episode #2
3) Embracing Intergenerational Worship
4) Intergenerational Worship Ideas for Preachers
5) Kid Aware Worship For a Return to Face to Face Assemblies
State (Texas) and Federal Guidelines
1) CDC, Interim Guidance for Communities of Faith, Accessed on May 22, 2020
2) CDC, Interim Guidance for Administrators of US K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs, Accessed on May 22, 2020
3) State of Texas, Opening the State of Texas, Resource of Protocols. Accessed on May 22, 2020.
4) Special Considerations for Infection Control in COVID-19 by Texas A&M University, Accessed on July 28, 2020.
Soul Care Issues for Ministers
Ministers are carrying an unusual burden during CoVid. Their jobs have expanded quickly beyond their normal duties to include many skills they’ve never performed before. Ministers are tired and many experts predict a great exodus of ministers moving into other careers once the pandemic calms. Ministers need support and Eleven: 28 Ministries is an outstanding resource for minister care.
Reopening Resources For Church Leaders
1) Hope Network, COVID-19 The Path Forward, Accessed May 22, 2020. Multiple topics for church leaders include the Hope Network/The Confident Kidmin Webinars.
2) Siburt Institute, COVID-19 Resources, Accessed May 22, 2020. This site includes resources published by the Siburt Institute and curated articles from other resources.
Children’s Ministry Resources
These are a few of the children’s ministry blogs and publishers that have released information to support churches during the pandemic.
1) Deeper KidMin: Check out Deeper KidMin for discussions and resources.
2) Childrensministry.com: Leading through COVID
3) INCM Coronavirus Resource Page
Podcasts Addressing Children’s Ministry and the Pandemic
Kids Ministry 101 by Lifeway: Several episodes and a series are dedicated to the impact of CoVid on churches. Tips for leading in this time.
Intergenerational Ministry
1. No, You Are Not Having Intergenerational Worship on Sunday, posted May 14, 2020.
“True intergenerational ministry is a culture which strives to create environments that foster generational mentorship, intergenerational relationships, and multi-generational experiences that focus on welcome, belonging, and discipleship.” I completely agree that intergenerational is a way of being church together. In this period of time, though, we have the opportunity to embrace worship practices that might move the church towards greater inclusion and relationship with all generations.
News Articles about Churches
Good Articles
This section includes a list of blogs and other resources that I found helpful in processing our current situation.
1. How To Handle Emotional Pain During The COVID-19 Crisis, accessed May 22, 2020.
2. Should Churches Reopen? The Answer Lies in Thinking of This as a Time of Exile, NT Wright, May 21, 2020.
