NickBlevins.com

First-time families are showing up but never coming back.

You’ve worked hard to create programs, yet kids leave without connecting, parents feel overlooked, and volunteers feel drained. Every missed moment is a chance lost to grow faith.

Imagine welcoming every family with a small, meaningful gift that makes them feel truly seen. The First-Time Family Gifts Kit gives your ministry simple, practical ways to create unforgettable first impressions—without extra stress on your team.

Don’t let another family slip away. Grab your kit today and start turning first-time visitors into lifelong church families! https://kidmin.com/childrens-ministry-first-time-families-gifts-kit/

Families are showing up but then… disappearing. Sound familiar?

You pour hours into programs, volunteer schedules, and lessons… yet kids and families leave Sunday feeling disconnected, and your ministry struggles to stick.

The New Family Retention Plan makes it simple. Follow up, engage, and nurture every new family so kids stay excited, parents feel connected, and volunteers know exactly how to help.

Don’t wait another Sunday. Start creating a ministry where every family belongs, grab your Family Retention Plan today! https://ministryboost.org/new-family-retention-plan/

In addition to my post reflecting on 20 years at Community Christian Church, I wanted to share something more personal about my family.

When Jennifer and I were praying about joining a new church plant, there was one already thriving that many of our friends attended. It was mostly college-age students. That was our season of life too, but we knew we wanted to be part of a church that was multi-generational and reaching families. We believed we would have kids someday, and we wanted a church that would grow with them.

At the same time, I was learning about a different approach to kids and student ministry.

Kids in small groups with consistent leaders, just like their parents.
A strategy built on partnering with parents.
Environments designed so kids would run to church, not be dragged there.

We did not have our first child, Isaac, until CCC was already six years old. But long before that, I would walk through our environments and think, if we build this well, our kids will grow up in something healthy.

Because of incredible staff and hundreds of faithful volunteers, that is exactly what has happened.

This is all our kids have ever known. It is what my niece and nephews have experienced. It is what so many of your kids have experienced.

As they grow, they will each decide for themselves what they believe about Jesus. But they will not make that decision in a vacuum.

They will have seen lives changed.
They will have watched baptisms.
They will have served and led.
They will have had peers and adult leaders who point them toward Christ.

They will have had a church family.

They have all of that because of you, CCC.

As I look at pictures of them while writing this, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. I pray they will know, love, and serve Jesus. And I pray we never forget that the faith of the next generation is worth everything.

Twenty years ago, Jennifer and I were praying for a church that did not exist yet.

It was the fall of 2004. We were engaged. She was finishing college to become a teacher. I was working at Northrop Grumman. We were part of the church I grew up in, where we met as teenagers after her dad became the Pastor. That fall, we sensed something stirring.

We believed Baltimore needed more new churches.

Not just another church.
Not one just like the rest.
But churches that looked different.

We prayed for a Jesus-centered, Bible-based church that was also:

A church of small groups.
A church with music that connected.
A church that prioritized kids and teenagers.
A church that was staff led and elder guarded.
A church we could invite unchurched friends to attend.

Around that same time, I began sensing a pull toward full-time ministry. I still worked at Northrop Grumman, but my heart was shifting.
In 2005 we heard about a new church coming to White Marsh led by David Robinson. We went to the first public meeting in August and knew immediately.

Prayers answered.

Before the church ever launched, I joined the staff to lead children’s ministry. I still remember launch day. March 5, 2006. We were up past midnight finishing preparations. It feels like yesterday and a lifetime ago at the same time.

Today we celebrated 20 years at Community Christian Church.

Twenty years of biblical teaching.
Twenty years of worship.
Twenty years of kids and teenagers finding a place to belong.
Twenty years of generosity and mission.
Twenty years of people finding new life in Jesus.

If you have been part of CCC at any point, thank you. It has been a joy to serve alongside you.
If you do not have a church home, find one. Come to CCC if you live nearby, or find a great church where you are.

The Church is a treasure.
CCC is a treasure.

Thank you, Jesus!

We had a great time at CPC again this year. We launched Kidmin.com and had a blast doing breakouts, connecting with friends, and learning from children’s ministry leaders from all over.

Ministry boosts is at the KidzMatter conference!

Most churches struggle with the volunteer problem—never having enough people, burning out the ones you do have, and constantly scrambling to fill spots.

That’s why I created The Volunteer Playbook—a proven framework to help your church recruit, train, and empower volunteers so you can build a healthy, lasting volunteer culture.

Inside, you’ll find a step-by-step plan that will help you:
✅ Recruit consistently (not just during a big push)
✅ Build a strong foundation of mission, vision, and values
✅ Structure your ministry for growth beyond one leader
✅ Empower volunteers so they thrive in their roles
✅ Boost recruitment with strategies that actually work

Your church doesn’t need a quick fix—it needs a playbook that works for the long haul. That’s what this resource is all about   .

👉 Swipe/Check out the next post to see how you can begin solving the volunteer problem in your ministry.

Let’s be honest—volunteer ministry often feels like a never-ending cycle.
➡️ You need more volunteers.
➡️ The ones you have are stretched thin.
➡️ When someone steps down, you scramble to replace them.

It’s exhausting. And the truth is, recruiting volunteers isn’t just a numbers problem—it’s a culture problem.

Most churches only tackle symptoms (a one-time push, a last-minute announcement), but the deeper issues remain:
⚠️ unclear vision
⚠️ barriers that discourage serving
⚠️ structures that limit growth

Without a plan, the cycle never ends  .

👉 But what if the “volunteer problem” could become your church’s biggest opportunity?

Here’s the good news: your church can build a thriving volunteer culture.

When you recruit consistently, clarify your mission, and empower people to serve in their sweet spot, everything changes:
✨ Teams grow stronger.
✨ Leaders multiply.
✨ Volunteers stay longer.
✨ Ministry impact expands.

That’s why I wrote The Volunteer Playbook—to give you a step-by-step plan to solve the volunteer problem and unlock the full potential of your church.

Your ministry doesn’t have to struggle week to week. With the right framework, you can build a healthy volunteer culture that lasts for years  .

👉 Ready to equip your church with a proven strategy? Grab your copy at volunteerplaybook.com.

The Family Ministry Roundtable is coming this November—and the early bird price ends this Thursday at midnight.

This isn’t just another conference. It’s a 2-day experience designed for your whole NextGen, kids, and student ministry team to:
✅ Learn from trusted ministry voices
✅ Split into breakouts by role for practical tools
✅ Sit in roundtable conversations with leaders facing the same challenges
✅ Leave aligned, encouraged, and ready with a plan

📅 November 5–6, 2025
📍 Preston Trail Community Church (Frisco, TX)
💰 $247/person — price goes up to $297 after Thursday

👉 Don’t wait—register your team today and lock in the best price:
familyministryroundtable.com

We can’t wait to see you there!

Fun time in Dallas recording a workshop for the We the Church free digital event happening on September 23. When you record next to you need a big pancake box (what I’m standing on in the last pic). In fact, it’s taller than it looks. And we can’t visit without stopping at . Register for the event at thinkorange.com/wethechurch

Had a great 30 hours in Dallas. Met with a bunch of NextGen leaders, made plans for the , met with and from Amazing Life, and enjoyed some great BBQ (twice!).