I polled my teammates this week to see what they are reading. I think it’s really important to keep reading and improving, no matter what discipline you’re working in, and it’s also important to keep refreshed and inspired through reading (especially when you love it as much as I do! I especially struggled sitting down to read non-fiction, as I love the relationships and action packed stories of fiction to keep me moving. One way I’ve gotten myself to read more nonfiction is to do it by audio book during my long commute to work! What are your suggestions for audio books I should be looking up?

Currently I’m reading the audio book of Mary Poppins Opens the Door by P.L. Travers, which is a fun step into the whimsical mind of a child. I also love the Money Saving Mom blog. I’m not a mom, but I love her tips for saving money and spending quality time with kids. I’ve found lots of ideas that translate well to kids’ ministry through her. Her writings on homemaking, grocery savings and faith and identity are also really helpful to me personally.

Carol Tomlinson: “I just finished reading Teenology by Jim Burns. Great parenting resources for parents of teens and for student leaders.”

Gordon Brown: “I’m currently reading: A Gospel Primer—for Christians by Milton Vincent, a cool little book about the power of gospel; allowing it to color the way we look at the world and The Reason For God—Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller.”

Andrea Spikes: “A book I’m reading right now is Because He Loves Me by Elyse Fitzpatrick. Its about seeing the work and life of Christ as something to contemplate every day; I’m also reading City of God by St. Augustine.”

Rhonda VanCleave: “I’m currently reading: 66 Love Letters: A Conversation with God That Invites You Into His Story by Larry Crabb (I’m really enjoying it, but it is a read that will take a while. It is a good book to read a bit, then stop to ponder.) I also follow a quilter’s blog. I have no time to play with with my stash, but I enjoying dreaming as I watch her designs. She does heart strings quilts for charity. I also love Ree Drummond “The Pioneer Woman Cooks” blog (and TV show). I’ve actually made some of her recipes with success!

Wow! Such deep minded team mates I have! I’ve added a few to my reading list and I hope you have too! What are you reading right now? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Cornerstone Church in Cheshire CT has taken to heart one of the central goals of Zip for Kids to be completely customizable.

Neisa Nuñez, who with her husband Freddy leads the Cornerstone kids ministry, started using Zip with the church’s kids in April. Cornerstone was starting a mid-week program, Faith Factory Kids Club, to mirror its Faith Factory children’s church ministry, when Neisa learned about Zip. She says it has fit their need for something customizable.

“We only had a window of an hour and a half and Zip seems to offer so many options to fit into that time frame,” she said.

Zip’s many tracks made it an interesting option for Neisa. The church offers Kitchen Concoctions, Sign Language, Art, Percussion and Musical Performance.

In all, the program will last 10 weeks at Cornerstone, every Wednesday night from 6:30-8 with an average attendance of 27 children each week.

“The kids are excited about Zip and look forward to it every week,” Neisa said.  “Upon arrival we do one Energizer, a Huddle (Up), the Bible lesson (via DVD) and then we break up into tracks. We come back together again for worship and then we do the drive it in activity. Afterwards, I give out the quiet time card from the Live It track pertaining to that week’s lesson. I like for them all to go home with something to read.”

Neisa said she’s seen teachers have fun with Zip, especially on the Art and Kitchen Concoctions projects. She has enjoyed it herself.

“I have enjoyed Zip very much,” Neisa said. “I like that there is the option for the Bible lesson to be done on video because kids really love that kind of stuff. I also love all of the different tracks you offer and all the activities within one Bible lesson allowing us the opportunity to use it multiple times without it seeming repetitive.”

How are you using Zip for Kids to fit your unique church situation? Let us know in the comments or email bethany.brown@lifeway.com and we might just feature you on the Zip for Kids blog too!

I’m so excited to announce our winner of the Zip for Kids: Media giveaway! Rhonda R. I hope you enjoy the Media package we’re sending you! But most of all I pray it helps you serve kids well this summer.

How about you? How do you plan on serving kids this summer?

If your answer is, with Zip For Kids, then I want to know about it! There are so many different customized ways Zip can be used, depending on your situation, your needs, and your community, that we want to hear about how you’re using it!

Let me know how you plan on using Zip this summer, and I might just follow up with you about your experience for some blog posts later this summer! (Ok I said might but I pretty much definitely will!)

Send your plans, or tell me about experiences you’ve already had at bethany.brown@lifeway.com. If your Zip event is already over, I’d love to see some pictures!

I’m so looking forward to hearing how you’re serving your community this summer with or without Zip. Let us know in the comments!