Episode 4 builds on the ongoing conversation about volunteer scheduling by shifting from philosophy to practical execution. Kenny Conley shares three big ideas designed to help Kidmin leaders reduce stress, save time, and bring clarity to one of the most demanding parts of ministry leadership.

This episode focuses on moving away from reactive, week-to-week scheduling and toward healthier systems that serve both leaders and volunteers. It’s about creating margin, setting better expectations, and building structures that make consistency possible over the long haul.

• Why week-to-week scheduling creates unnecessary pressure
• The benefits of scheduling volunteers a month at a time
• How monthly scheduling prevents volunteers from falling through the cracks
• Using templates to build predictable, repeatable schedules
• Why consistency in rooms and age groups matters
• The hidden cost of constantly moving reliable volunteers
• The problem with chasing confirmations
• Setting new expectations around auto-confirming consistent volunteers
• How reminders replace confirmations
• Why scheduling feels heavy—and how to give it away
• Empowering trusted volunteers to help manage the schedule
• Creating systems that free leaders to focus on what matters most

• Schedule at least one month ahead instead of week to week
• Build templates around weekly and every-other-week volunteers
• Auto-confirm consistent volunteers and stop chasing green check marks
• Communicate clear expectations around availability and blackout dates
• Protect volunteer consistency by keeping them in the same rooms
• Identify trusted volunteers who can help carry the scheduling load
• Use systems that create margin, not stress

Volunteer scheduling doesn’t have to be a weekly crisis. When Kidmin leaders move further ahead, set clearer expectations, and share the load, scheduling becomes a tool for health rather than a source of burnout. Small system changes can unlock hours of time—and create better experiences for kids and volunteers alike.

Kidmin Website
https://kidmin.com

Subscribe to the Kidmin Weekly email
https://kidmin.com

Email us your topic ideas
mailto:hello@kidmin.com

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome & why scheduling feels overwhelming
04:30 Big Idea #1: Stop scheduling week to week
12:30 Why consistency and monthly planning matter
18:30 Big Idea #2: Stop chasing confirmations
26:30 Big Idea #3: Give your schedule away
35:30 Final encouragement & next steps

Episode 3 builds on the previous conversation about volunteer schedules and discipleship by offering practical, real-world strategies to help kids ministry leaders move volunteers toward higher consistency and deeper ownership.

Kenny and Nick address common barriers—like one-service churches and Sunday school structures—and share ideas that have worked in real ministries, even in difficult contexts. This episode is about leadership courage, vision casting, and doing what’s best for kids over what’s easiest for systems.

• Recap: Why volunteer schedules reflect discipleship philosophy
• Identifying real vs. perceived “immovable” obstacles
• Creative solutions for churches with one service
• Using a volunteer service as a pathway to growth
• Navigating Sunday school and adult group conflicts
• Why consistency increases relational discipleship
• Moving from once-a-month or every-other-week to weekly
• Setting weekly service as the new standard
• How to talk to existing volunteers about change
• Why losing volunteers isn’t always a loss
• Building momentum one room or service at a time
• Celebrating stories that reinforce weekly commitment

• Decide what the new standard is before offering options
• Recruit new volunteers directly into weekly roles
• Move existing volunteers through personal conversations
• Start small: one room, one service, one age group
• Tell stories that highlight the impact of consistency
• Create meaningful roles for those who can’t serve weekly

Increased frequency and consistency create more opportunities for discipleship, trust, and life change. Moving volunteers toward weekly service takes effort—but the fruit is worth it.

Questions or want help thinking through your volunteer strategy?
Email Kenny@kidmin.com or Nick@kidmin.com

More Kidmin Podcast episodes coming soon.

In episode 2 of the Kidmin Podcast, Kenny Conley and Nick Blevins dive into a topic every kids ministry leader wrestles with: volunteer scheduling.

From once-a-month rotations to complicated multi-week schedules, Kenny and Nick explore why the way we schedule volunteers may say more about our philosophy of ministry and discipleship than we realize. Drawing from real conversations at the Children’s Pastors Conference, they discuss the tension between making volunteering “easier” and creating the most effective discipleship environment for kids.

This episode isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about mindset, leadership conviction, and asking better questions that lead to healthier ministry long-term.

🎯 Topics include:

• Weekly vs. monthly volunteer schedules
• Why consistency matters for discipleship
• The real reasons churches choose complex rotations
• How attendance trends affect kids ministry strategy
• A challenge for leaders heading into a new ministry year

If you’re a kids ministry leader who wants to build something healthier, stronger, and more sustainable—this conversation is for you.

HELPFUL LINKS:

Kidmin Website
https://kidmin.com

Subscribe to the Kidmin Weekly email
https://kidmin.com

Email us your topic ideas
mailto:hello@kidmin.com

CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Welcome & CPC Recap
02:05 – Ministry Boost Coaching & Why It Matters
04:18 – Why Volunteer Schedules Are So Complicated
06:49 – The Craziest Scheduling Models We See
09:56 – What Scheduling Reveals About Discipleship
12:38 – Real Church Constraints That Shape Schedules
15:10 – Why Weekly Volunteers Create Better Discipleship
19:05 – Changing the Mindset Before Changing the System
22:19 – Practical Next Steps for Ministry Leaders
23:52 – Closing & What’s Coming Next