RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Visual communication is a critical part of effectively communicating with kids.

The generation you are ministering to "hears with their eyes."  The eye truly is the gateway to their heart.

I am excited to share 7 free design tools that will enable you to create awesome visual content for kids. 

1. PowerPoint Templates. 
If you don't have the time or budget for more complex programs, these free templates will still enable you to design great looking graphics using PowerPoint.
(click to download)

• 17 Customizable Templates for Creating Shareable Graphics on Social Media
• 50 Call-to-Action Templates
• How to Create 5 Fabulous Infographics
• Facebook Cover Template
• Twitter Header Image Template
• The Essential PowerPoint Template for Killer Slideshare Presentations

2.  Pictaculous
This site helps you know which colors to use with an image. 

3. Awesome Screen Shot
Allows you to capture a whole page or any portion, annotate it with rectangles, circles, arrows, lines and text, one-click upload to share.

4. Place It
Allows you to place an image inside a designated area of another image.

5. PicMonkey
Great photo editor.

6. Unsplash
Free high def photos.

7. Infrogram
Create interactive infograms for free.

What are some other free designs tools you use?  Share them with us in the comment section below.

Your volunteers serve for “free” or they wouldn’t be volunteers.

But there is a way you can “pay” them.

It’s simple.  Ready for it?  Here it is...

Share the stories of life change with them.  Seeing kids and families impacted for eternity is why they serve.  They want to know the volunteer hours they put in are making a difference.

And when you share the stories with them, it’s “payday!" Here’s some ways you can make it “payday” for your volunteers.

• Share the stories through a weekly email or social media/networking. 

• When a child in their class is going to be baptized, invite them to come and be a part of it. 

• Share the stories when you meet with them for prayer before service. 

• When a parent tells you a volunteer has made an impact in their child’s life, share it with the volunteer. 

• When a parent shares with you how their child is living out what is being taught, share with it with your volunteers. 

• Create a baptism wall.  When a child is baptized, have them put their handprint on the wall and write their name and the date inside. 

• Video a child or family who has been impacted and send the video to all your volunteers. 

Two questions…

When was the last time you made it “payday” for your volunteers?

What are some other ways you make it “payday” for your volunteers?  It’s your turn.  Share with us in the comment section below.

Seattle-based Nation9 is a next-generation digital and interactive publisher. 

Nation9 books come to life on a tablet and allow kids to move objects on the screen, uncover hidden facts and read-along with narrative functions.  This helps the reader stay engaged while still keeping the story intact.  It’s making reading cool and fresh.

I am excited about one of the projects they recently released....Pilgrim's Progress.  Nation9′s adaptation of this classic features custom 3D animation, story-line interactivity, captivating original music, and optional narration that will be sure to captivate young readers time and time again.  I am excited to announce there is now a version available in Spanish as well.

We are giving away 6 free, downloadable copies of the iPad app (1 English version and 5 Spanish versions).  You can enter by dalehudsoncm2@gmail.com.  We will announce the winners next Monday, June 3.

Here's a sample of the app.