Dale and Joseph interview Brittany Nelson (Deeper Kidmin.com) about digital natives vs digital immigrants, why children’s ministry matters, volunteer recruitment that works, and practical ways churches can partner with parents to disciple kids at home.

This is a great conversation with Brittany on leading kids ministry in a digital world—bridging digital natives and digital immigrants, improving volunteer recruitment, and building real partnerships with parents for everyday discipleship at home.

Key Points in Brief

• Digital natives vs digital immigrants: How technology shapes expectations, communication, and ministry engagement.
• Hybrid ministry matters: Families often “visit” your church online before they ever show up in-person.
• Children’s ministry is foundational: Early faith formation and worldview shaping happen young—so kids ministry isn’t babysitting.
• Volunteer challenges are real: A lower-commitment culture + internal ministry systems can make recruitment and retention harder.
• Need is not a strategy: Recruiting out of desperation produces burnout and misfit placements.
• Start small, keep moving: Build kids ministry with clear vision, simple systems, and sustainable next steps.
• Partnering with parents: The church equips and encourages parents as primary disciplers—beyond just handing out papers.

Key Takeaways

1. Your website is a first impression. For many families, your online presence is the front door—make it clear, current, and mobile-friendly.
2. Don’t abandon digital immigrants. Introduce new tools with training and patience so volunteers don’t feel left behind.
3. Kids ministry deserves top-tier support. If the mission includes evangelism and disciple-making, the next generation should be resourced accordingly.
4. Fix the “sinking ship” first. Strong systems, clear expectations, and enjoyable serving environments improve retention more than pressure tactics.
5. Recruit for fit, not only for gaps. It’s okay to redirect someone to a different serving role if they won’t align with the ministry’s vision.
6. Parent partnership is discipleship strategy. Help parents see that faith formation can happen in everyday moments (car rides, bedtime, routines).

Notable Quotes

• Brittany Nelson: “Digital natives were born into a world where the internet and technology has always existed.”
• Brittany Nelson: “Your first impression is your website, not your greeters at the door.”
• Brittany Nelson: “If you’re inviting a volunteer onto a sinking ship, they’re going to say no.”
• Brittany Nelson: “Dream big, start small, keep moving.”
• Brittany Nelson: “Partnering with parents isn’t just handing out a flyer every Sunday.”
• Brittany Nelson: “Even a small piece is still wildly important to the full picture.”

Next Steps (Practical Actions)

• Audit your “front door”: Check your church website on a phone and update kids-ministry info (service times, check-in process, safety, what to expect).
• Bridge natives + immigrants: When rolling out new tools (check-in, scheduling, texting, apps), create simple training and a “how-to” cheat sheet.
• Simplify the ministry machine: Remove unnecessary complexity so volunteering is easy to say “yes” to.
• Create multiple serving lanes: Offer roles beyond teaching (prep, organizing supplies, set-up/tear-down, check-in, games).
• Build parent partnership rhythms: Add one simple weekly rhythm (car-ride prayer, bedtime blessing, mealtime question prompt) and reinforce it consistently.

 

Link To Podcast Audio: 95Podcast 338

 

Link To Podcast YouTube:

Q & A Transcript

Dale Sellers: Tell us your story and what led you to what you’re doing now.

Brittany Nelson: I’m the creator of DeeperKidmin.com, a marketplace for children’s ministry resources. I served as a full-time children’s pastor for five years at a mobile church. My husband has served in youth ministry for many years. We realized two full-time ministry roles weren’t sustainable long-term, so I explored other options and started Deeper Kidmin. Now I support children’s ministry leaders through resources, training, workshops, speaking, and writing.

Dale Sellers: You mentioned the difference between a digital native and a digital immigrant. What does that mean?

Brittany Nelson: The terms come from Mark Prensky in education. A digital native is born into a world where technology and the internet have always existed—technology feels normal and natural. A digital immigrant is from an older generation that has had to adapt to technology. Like immigrants, they may carry an “accent” in how they use tech, such as preferring printed materials over reading on a phone.

Dale Sellers: So one is not more important than the other?

Brittany Nelson: Correct. Church leaders need to minister effectively to both.

Dale Sellers: What does that look like in ministry?

Brittany Nelson: It affects how we communicate and engage people. For digital natives, we need to use technology intentionally—social media, a current website, and a mobile-friendly experience—because families often check online before attending. For digital immigrants, we shouldn’t move so fast that we leave people behind. We need to train and explain new systems so volunteers stay engaged.

Dale Sellers: Have you seen pushback against children’s ministry—people saying kids should just stay in the main service?

Brittany Nelson: Some, but not much from children’s ministry leaders. It tends to be a loud minority online. Churches are also exploring family ministry, but the model looks different in each church.

Dale Sellers: Why do we need effective children’s ministry?

Brittany Nelson: A large percentage of faith decisions happen between ages 4 and 14. Research also shows a child’s worldview is shaped young. If those years are so formative, children’s ministry should be prioritized in budget, leadership, and support. Church is a place for formal discipleship and the home is a place for informal discipleship—when those work together, we see lasting formation.

Dale Sellers: Why is volunteer retention so low, and how can churches improve it?

Brittany Nelson: Externally, our culture is lower-commitment and people are busy. Internally, structure and systems matter. If you invite volunteers into chaos, it’s hard for them to say yes and enjoy serving. Leaders should improve systems first, then coordinate with other ministries and staff so serving becomes part of discipleship pathways. Serving in next-generation ministry should be a normal step for growing disciples.

Joseph Bennett: Here’s a scenario: a dad has small kids and the church says he’s obligated to serve in kids ministry. But he doesn’t feel called to it. What would you say?

Brittany Nelson: Obligation isn’t a great strategy for ongoing weekly volunteering. If you do it, keep it short-term—like a summer rotation or a special event. Also, volunteering can be broader than teaching: prep work, organizing, games, clean-up, and other support roles.

Dale Sellers: What about volunteers who say they’ll help only if they can do it their way?

Brittany Nelson: Leadership has to set boundaries and vision. Sometimes you have to say, “Thanks, but this isn’t the right fit,” and redirect them. Recruiting from desperation makes it harder to maintain quality.

Joseph Bennett: You mentioned partnering with parents. What does that mean, and what is it not?

Brittany Nelson: It means helping parents understand they’re the primary disciplers of their kids and resourcing them to live faith at home. It’s not just giving a handout each week. It includes teaching what discipleship looks like in everyday life, encouraging simple rhythms, and discipling parents themselves so they can lead well.

Dale Sellers: For churches that don’t have much of a children’s ministry, where should they start?

Brittany Nelson: Start with a person—paid or volunteer—who is passionate about child discipleship. Start with conversations and clear vision. Then dream big, start small, and keep moving. Open one age area first, build sustainable systems, and keep progressing.

Dale Sellers: For parents who want to go deeper with their kids spiritually, what’s a simple place to begin?

Brittany Nelson: Attach faith habits to daily anchors—like praying in the car or speaking bedtime blessings. Small consistent habits matter more than elaborate plans.

Joseph Bennett: For leaders who feel discouraged, what would you say?

Brittany Nelson: Take a breath. Notice what you are doing well. Don’t immediately add more—make small tweaks. You’re planting seeds and playing an important part in a bigger picture.