Sunday morning. 7:47 AM. I'm in the church parking lot googling "Jesus feeds 5000 craft ideas" on my phone.
This was my life for two years. Every. Single. Sunday.
I'd piece together random lessons from the internet. Print coloring pages that may or may not match the story. Hope the YouTube video still worked. Pray nobody asked why we studied Moses three weeks in a row. (Because I kept finding Moses crafts, okay?)
Then our pastor asked what curriculum we used. I laughed. Then realized he was serious. Then panic-downloaded five different curriculums that week.
Some were terrible. Like, genuinely terrible. But some? Game changers. Here's what actually works.
1. Grow Curriculum (The Best of the Best)
Listen. I've tried them all. Grow Curriculum is the only one where I don't want to throw things by Thursday.
Found it three years ago when another kids pastor posted about it in a Facebook group. "It's like someone finally understands we're not all megachurches with unlimited budgets and perfect volunteers."
Downloaded the free sample thinking yeah right, they all say that.
Y'all. The first lesson had an ACTUAL plan. Not "here's a vague idea, figure it out." Like minute-by-minute what to do. When to do the game. How long the craft takes. What to do when you have extra time. What to do when you're running late.
But here's what got me - the videos don't look like they were made in someone's basement in 1997. Kids actually watch them. Nathan asked if we could watch the teaching video AGAIN last week. Again! A teaching video!
And the parent stuff. Oh my word the parent stuff. Emma's mom came up to me: "These devotional cards are amazing! How do you have time to make these?" I don't. Grow does. But I just smiled and nodded because I'll take credit for being organized even if it's a lie.
The music videos with the motions? We had a kid transfer from another church and he goes "Your worship is way better than my old church." I DIED. It's not us. It's the videos teaching them actual moves to actual songs that actually sound good.
Three years later and I still get excited when new curriculum drops. My volunteers don't hate me anymore because they can actually prepare. I know what we're teaching in six months. SIX MONTHS. Past me would never believe it.
Is it perfect? No. Sometimes I adjust stuff. But having something to adjust is better than starting from nothing in the church parking lot.
2. The Gospel Project for Kids (For the Theology Nerds)
Okay so this one's intense. It goes through the ENTIRE Bible. Chronologically. Every story connects to Jesus.
Sounds great right? It is. If you have kids who come every week. But when Aiden shows up once a month and we're in the middle of Leviticus? Good luck explaining that one.
We use it for Wednesday nights now. Smaller group. Kids who actually come consistently. They're getting it. Really getting it. Sophia connected the Passover to Easter on her own last week. I almost cried.
But for Sunday morning with random attendance? Nope. Learned that the hard way. "Ms. Jennifer, why are we talking about genealogies?" Because that's where we are in the curriculum, Madison. That's why.
The detail is crazy though. Background info for teachers. Historical context. Answers to hard questions kids ask. Like when Tyler goes "But why did God let the flood happen?" They have an answer. A real answer. Not my usual "Let's talk about Noah's faith instead!"
3. Group's DIG IN (When You Need Flexibility)
Group makes curriculum for churches like mine. You know, where you expect 20 kids and get 6. Or expect 6 and get 35.
Everything adjusts. Small group? Here's how. Huge group? Here's how. One leader called in sick? Here's the backup plan. It's like they've been in my classroom on Sunday morning.
The activities actually work too. Not Pinterest-perfect crafts that require 47 supplies and an engineering degree. Real activities with normal supplies. Paper. Markers. Maybe some tape. Revolutionary.
Last month we did their lesson on David and Goliath. The game had kids throwing paper wads at a giant drawn on the wall. Cost: $0. Fun level: through the roof. Micah's mom asked what we did because he wanted to play "giant fighting" all week.
Only downside? Sometimes it's TOO flexible. Like, pick a lane. Are we doing high energy or calm? Both options are there but I need someone to decide for me at 8 AM.
4. Kidmin VBS (Just for VBS But Wow)
Not a full curriculum but their VBS stuff is next level. Found them when I was desperately searching for "VBS that won't make me quit ministry."
Everything's done. EVERYTHING. Schedule down to the minute. Rotation signs. Name tags. Volunteer assignments. Registration forms.
Last year I actually enjoyed VBS week. Enjoyed it! Didn't cry once! Well, maybe once when Lily spilled paint on the carpet. But that wasn't the curriculum's fault.
They have this system where kids rotate through stations and somehow it actually works. We had 67 kids and only lost one. (He was hiding in the baptistry. We found him.)
Their themes are actually cool too. Not just "here's animals, good luck." Full storylines. Characters. Plot twists. Kids were asking what happens next. In VBS! Usually they're asking when snack time is.
Worth every penny just for my sanity during VBS week.
5. Kids Sunday School Place (For Filler and Emergencies)
This isn't fancy. Not even a little bit. But when you need something RIGHT NOW? They've got you.
It's basically a massive library of simple lessons. Old school style. But sometimes that's what you need.
Like when the projector dies and you can't show the Grow video. Or when you have six kids on a snow day and your regular curriculum is built for 30. Or when you're subbing last minute because Jennifer has the flu.
I keep a binder of their stuff printed and ready. My emergency stash. Used it last week when the internet went out. Kids had no idea it wasn't the planned lesson.
They have everything. David and Goliath? 47 versions. Noah? Pick your craft level. Easter? Here's 12 options. It's not cohesive or strategic but when you need a lesson in 30 seconds, they're clutch.
The Truth About Curriculum
Here's what nobody tells you - no curriculum is perfect. They all assume things that aren't true:
- Kids come every week (they don't)
- Volunteers prepare ahead (lol)
- You have basic supplies (sometimes we're out of glue sticks for three weeks)
- Your technology works (it doesn't)
But having something is better than nothing. Way better than googling in the parking lot.
Grow works for us because it gets real life. Videos for when volunteers don't show. Parent stuff for when I don't have time. Music that teaches itself. Backup plans for the backup plans.
Could I create all that myself? Technically? But also I need to sleep. And eat. And occasionally see my family.
What I Actually Do
Sunday mornings: Grow all the way. It's our foundation. Kids know what to expect. Parents get their resources. I get to drink coffee while the video plays.
Wednesday nights: Gospel Project for the regulars who can handle deep stuff.
VBS: Kidmin because I refuse to plan VBS from scratch ever again.
Emergencies: Kids Sunday School Place printed and ready in my disaster binder.
Special events: Whatever free thing I can find because the budget is gone by October.
Start Somewhere
If you're still googling in the parking lot, pick something. Anything. Try Grow's free samples. See if Gospel Project fits your Bible nerds. Print some emergency lessons.
Just stop starting from scratch every week. Your ministry deserves better. Your kids deserve better. You deserve better.
And maybe, just maybe, you'll make it to Sunday morning without panic-googling "quick games about Jonah" at 7:47 AM.
That's the dream anyway. Still working on it. But at least now I'm panic-googling less.
Progress, people. Progress.
