In between VBS, camp, vacation, preparing for fall, and everything else you have going on this summer, here are five great books you should read. You’ll be glad you did!

The Effective Executive. This book by Peter Drucker was first recommended to me by Jim Wideman and I read it every summer. It will you help you be effective (which is the most important job of an executive).

A Tale of Three Kings. This book is an amazing narrative of King David and his family. It’s a classic.

Platform. This book, written by Michael Hyatt, is about getting your voice heard in a noisy world. A must-read for people with something to say.

Reagan on Leadership. President Ronald Reagan’s story and communication skills is inspiring to anyone in leadership. You better have a fresh highlighter for this book.

The Principle of the Path. Andy Stanley shares how to move from where you are to where you want to be. A great book.

Find time this summer to read a few new books. Remember, leaders are readers!

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in the Lord’s work now and then. Besides running a ministry, you have a family at home and a ton of other demands tugging at you. Yet there is hope! Sometimes making a small change and doing a few things differently will make a big impact. Here are 12 ideas that will forever change your ministry for the better!

1. Learn the basics. (Or, re-learn the basics.) There are some basics we each need to know, like recruiting and caring for volunteers, effective teaching techniques, how to discipline kids, etc. If you want a good place to start you need to read Jim Wideman’s book, Children’s Ministry Leadership. It’s a classic on the basics of children’s ministry leadership.

2. Choose the course of your ministry carefully. In other words, your curriculum needs to be a win. The root of the word “curriculum” is “course of action.” One of the most important paths you take as a children’s ministry leader is selecting the curriculum that best fits your ministry’s vision and mission.

3. Develop a strong church-parent partnership strategy. God’s plan for discipleship is parents being the primary spiritual leaders at home. What does your church need to do differently or better to equip parents to be the spiritual leaders at home?

4. Move forward as a leader. You can’t coast and go uphill at the same time. If you are coasting, you will either stop or go downhill. This is where good books, podcasts, conferences, and so on play an important role in the life of a leader.

5. Have a great ministry presence. When someone thinks about your ministry, don’t give them any other option but to give an A+. Communicate excellence in your web presence, in your environments, in your marketing, in everything.

6. Provide good security. There’s nothing a parent wants to know more than that their kids are safe. Have a system in place for checking kids in and out of the classrooms, screen your volunteers, and do whatever it takes to make sure they are in a safe environment.

7. Keep calm and Pinterest on. Pinterest is the place to go for a ton of ideas for just about anything. There’s a ton of great stuff out there, including my favorite Pinterest page of all time.

8. Use social media to grow your leadership. Follow people intentionally on Twitter. Develop ministry friendships on Facebook. Get great ideas on Instagram.

9. Invest in your volunteers. Your ministry will only be as strong as those who make it happen. Every month I get detailed statements in the mail reporting on my financial investments. I don’t know what they all mean, but I know this: if I don’t invest today, I will regret it tomorrow. The best investment you can make is in your people.

10. Go get a cup of coffee. While I prefer Dunkin’ Donuts over Starbucks, the coffee itself doesn’t matter. You need to go and get a cup of coffee — and not alone. Take someone with you. Learning to connect and rub shoulders with other like-minded ministers is a game changer.

11. Find inspiration. For some people, it’s found in taking a walk or jog. For others it’s listening to music. Some are inspired by being alone, while others need to be around people. Find your inspiration sweet spot and stay there a while.

12. Pray. Make sure that you are stoking the fire of your relationship with the Lord. Trust Him to lead and direct you. Ask Him to bless all that you put your hands to. Remember, little is much if God is in it.

Now, what are you waiting for? Let’s go!

Instagram recently announced it had reached 100 million monthly users, less than 3 years after its launch. About 90 million of those users are children’s ministry leaders. (Give or take.) There’s a good chance you’re on Instagram yourself. Here are 5 Instagram secrets to build engagement and excitement about your ministry.

1. Use hashtags.

The best way to connect with other Instagram users in your church or organization is to add #hashtags to your photos. Come up with a #hashtag for your ministry that people can search to see photos of what’s happening.

(By the way, one of the best ways to get new ideas and to see what other children’s ministry leaders are doing is by searching the #kidmin hashtag.)

2. Take photos of your leaders.

We live in a digital age. Don’t save all of your pictures for an end-of-the-year slideshow. Let people see pictures of your hard-working volunteers on Instagram! Take pictures during church, at special events and other times.

3. Share sneak peek photos.

People love sneak peeks. Use Instagram to let folks take a first look at what you’re working on. This could include a new logo, event prep, a new teaching series, etc.

4. Use behind-the-scenes shots.

Let people see what happens behind the scenes in your ministry. Behind-the-scenes photos help personalize your ministry and create a sense of camaraderie and fun with your followers.

5. Promote special events.

If you are a preparing for VBS, a special meeting, or an event for families, talk it up on Instagram! During and afterward, document your event with fun Instagram pictures.

A good dose of creativity, some thought, and a fun spirit can go a long way to help Instagram become a strong asset to your ministry. Jump right in and don’t be shy. Start now!