There are times when Kid’s ministry can start to feel like an assembly line. We follow the script and the plan, using the same crafts and ideas for lesson after lesson. We rotate tried-and-true object lessons while we try our best to keep the ministry and our areas clean and safe. And sure, structure matters, but if we’re not careful, we could end up trading imagination for duplication. We get caught up in running our programs instead of leading from purpose, and that’s not what we were made for.

We serve a God who doesn’t repeat Himself. He didn’t make the world beige. He painted shifting skies, formed oceans teeming with mystery, and created all of us, including our kids, with the capacity to believe we can be astronauts and superheroes by lunchtime. Why? Because God is powerful, loving, kind, forgiving, full of mercy, and all-knowing. His creativity and imagination were used to speak into existence our entire universe. And when He made us in His image, He passed on that same spark—the spark to build, to rethink, to create, to lead in new ways.

If you’ve ever found yourself feeling boxed in, like your week is measured by how closely you follow the plan of your curriculum, all the cutting, pasting, and making the copies you need, you’re not alone. Maybe you come to planning meetings with hundreds of ideas and a heart that beats a little faster when you think of sharing those ideas. Or maybe you sink into your chair when someone brings ideas like that to the meeting, and all you want to do is get your curriculum checklist done. Either way, do you have the ability to see things from a different perspective? Can you use your imagination to create meaningful moments in Kids' ministry?

Church is rooted in tradition, but it thrives through leaders who ask bold questions and imagine new possibilities. Not every idea will land perfectly, but even the ones that don’t go as planned can hold meaning and purpose, especially when they come from a heart willing to try. God finds joy in your courage to explore new ways of reaching others and dream beyond the expected.

Creativity in ministry doesn’t always look like glitter and stage sets. Sometimes it’s found in a fresh way to tell a Bible story or a thoughtful adaptation for a child with sensory sensitivities. This creativity is all about connection, connecting those around you to the story, lesson, or experience. Every time you adapt, improvise, or try something new to meet kids where they are, you’re reflecting the creative nature of God.

Maybe you have always associated the word “creativity” with people like artists, designers, or performers. It’s often associated with visual skills or stage presence. But creativity is also much more than that. It’s the ability to approach a problem from a new angle, to see possibility where others see limitation, and to try something unexpected for the sake of someone else’s breakthrough. Whether you're reworking a lesson or creating a new way to connect families beyond Sunday, you're tapping into that creative thinking that makes your ministry come alive.

And you weren’t meant to do it alone. One of the greatest gifts you can give your ministry is to invite others to imagine with you. Ask your team what they’ve always wanted to try. Empower your volunteers, create an open space for brainstorming because sometimes, the most meaningful ministry moments come from voices you’ve never heard before.

From the very beginning, God has championed creativity. Exodus 35:35 tells us, “He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer…” Creativity wasn’t a side hobby. It was a calling. A sacred assignment. God entrusted His people with imagination, detail, and design—because He knew their work would reflect His heart. That same creative spirit lives in you today.
So if ministry has started to feel stale or rigid, give yourself permission to dream again. Try something new—not to impress, but to connect. Walk through your space and start imagining what could be different. Let a lesson be led by a kid’s question. Say yes to the messy, brave idea. Let creativity become a rhythm, not a rare event.

You were made to imagine more, and the Kingdom needs what only you can dream up!

Tish Striegel has served in Children's Ministry for over 25 years and is currently the Children's Pastor at Hill City Church in Southern Indiana, a suburb of Louisville, KY. She graduated from the inaugural KidMin Academy class in 2016. Tish is the author of four books: My Journey to Wholeness, Truth About Baby, The Truth About Me, and The Truth About Me: Preteen Edition. She is passionate about children’s and family ministry and loves good coffee, writing, and helping others realize their potential. She and her husband, Tim, have been married for 30 years, raised three children, and are currently enjoying being grandparents to eight grandchildren.