If you are trying to reach the kids of today, your visuals matter.

What do I mean by Visuals? I mean your graphics and video content - the media played on a screen.

Let me give you four ways I believe why Visual Media is so important in how we communicate the Gospel to the next generation.

1: Visuals capture attention for you to share the Gospel

Images and Video make kids (and adults) look up.

I love this quote from Dr. Leonard Sweet - “Images are the language of the 21st century, not words.”

For better or worse, we are a media saturated culture. Video Games, television, movies and access to the internet consume us. The average kid watches over 18,000 hours of television before their high school graduation. Kids watch more movies than they read books.

I am a parent that really limits my kids screen time. Even though I own a media company, I do believe there can be too much exposure to it. That being said, there’s no denying the power of the medium. Visuals capture attention.

Your kids are coming to church with an expectation that you use the vehicles they are used to to reach them. We have the greatest story ever told - and we should use every tool available to us to get their attention to share the Gospel with them. Visual Media is not the only tool, but it is an extremely effective one in the time we live in.

If we don’t get their attention to share the Gospel with them, they are not going to hear it.

2: Visuals help kids understand the Gospel.

In his book, Ways of Seeing, author John Berger writes, “Seeing comes before words. The child looks and recognizes before it can speak.”

Graphics and Videos help kids comprehend Biblical truths. We can take in large amounts of information with imagery where words may take us much longer to paint a picture. Pictures are really worth a thousand words when it comes to kids.

3: Visuals help kids retain and remember the Gospel.

Visual media can play a vital role in helping kids retain and remember the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Colorful illustrations, animated videos, and interactive presentations bring stories to life, making them more relatable and memorable.

By using graphics and video, kids can visualize biblical narratives, teachings, and parables, giving them a deeper understanding of Biblical truths

What kids see, they remember.

4: Visuals help kids live out the Gospel.

Visuals can play a crucial role in helping kids live out their faith.

Research conducted at the University of Minnesota’s School of Management revealed that presenters who utilize visual aids are 43% more effective in persuading their audience to take a desired course of action compared to those who don’t use visuals.

When kids are exposed to visual images that accompany the teachings of the Gospel, it creates a lasting impact.

Visuals have the ability to reach both the head and the heart. By presenting a visual representation alongside a lesson, children receive a tangible point of reference that resonates with them on an emotional level.

Visuals spark curiosity, encourage discussions, and help enable children to take ownership of their faith journey.

Most churches are behind when it comes to the quality of graphics and video they show.

I hear from lots of Kids Directors that they know the value and would love to use higher quality visual media to engage their kids but that budget is an issue.

I have served on staff at large and small churches. One church I served averaged 25,000 people on a Sunday morning across multiple campuses. The creative staff for the entire church consisted of one graphic designer and myself. It was at this church years ago that I began to think if I was at a church this size and I was one of only two content creators, there was no way a smaller church would be able to afford creative staff to produce all the visual media needed for ministry.

There had to be a better way.

​It was here that I started a company that would help churches have high quality design and video content at affordable prices.

This fall we are changing the name of our company to even better reflect how we want to serve Ministry Leaders.

We will be changing our name to Church Visuals.

We will be further expanding our offerings for Ready-Made Media, Custom Media and Training to help you, as a Kids Ministry Leader, visually communicate the Gospel.

Using Visual Media is vital in how we share the message of Jesus Christ to kids.

​It is an absolute joy and honor to serve alongside you as you minister to the next generation.

Carl Barnhill is an Author, Speaker, and Entrepreneur. He is the Owner and Founder of Church Visuals - a company that helps churches, ministries and artists visually communicate the Gospel. He is the host of The Making Sunday Happen Podcast. You can find him in Columbia, South Carolina with his beautiful wife Katie, two sons Jacob and Wesley and their golden retriever Ellie.