In episode 16 of the Kidmin Podcast, Kenny Conley moves from vision to execution and walks through the full logistics of leading a reimagined baby dedication.If you’ve been following this series, you’ve already heard why baby dedication matters and what it could become. Now the question is simple: how do you pull it off?In this episode, Kenny shares a step-by-step breakdown of how he has led baby dedication for over a decade, from promotion and classes to the actual experience itself.He covers everything from timelines and communication to creating a meaningful, relational environment that families will never forget.This isn’t about putting on an event. It’s about creating a moment that shapes how parents see their role and invites others into their child’s spiritual journey.If you’ve ever wanted a clearer plan for how to execute a more meaningful baby dedication, this episode will give you a solid framework to start with.

In this episode of the Kidmin Podcast, Kenny Conley challenges children’s ministry leaders to rethink one of the most overlooked moments in the church: baby dedication.If baby dedication at your church feels routine, rushed, or purely symbolic, this conversation will help you see it in a whole new way. Kenny shares why participation may be declining, what might be missing from the experience, and how a shift in approach can transform baby dedication into a powerful relational milestone for families.Rather than treating it as a stage moment, Kenny casts a vision for turning baby dedication into a meaningful, connection-driven experience that strengthens relationships, builds trust with parents, and sets the foundation for long-term discipleship.This episode is all about reimagining what’s possible, and in the next episode, we’ll dive into the practical steps to make it happen.

In this episode of the Kidmin Podcast, Kenny Conley hits pause on the baby dedication series to focus on one of the most strategic weeks of the year: the week after Easter.Easter may be over, but what you do next matters just as much as the weekend itself.Kenny walks through a practical “post-Easter checklist” with five key actions every children’s ministry leader should take right now. From following up with first-time families and reconnecting with inconsistent attenders, to caring for volunteers, documenting what worked (and what didn’t), and preparing for the busy summer ahead, this episode is all about maximizing momentum.He also challenges leaders to slow down and personally reset after the intensity of Easter so they can lead well into the next season.If you want to turn a great Easter into lasting impact, this episode will help you make the most of this critical week.

In episode 13 of the Kidmin Podcast, Kenny Conley kicks off a new conversation around something most churches don’t spend much time rethinking… baby dedication.For many churches, baby dedication has become routine. It’s something you do because you’ve always done it. But what if it could be more meaningful than that?In this episode, Kenny takes a step back and asks a bigger question. Why does baby dedication seem to be losing traction in some churches? And is the problem really the idea itself, or just how we’ve been doing it?This conversation is all about perspective. It’s about recognizing that parents do care deeply about their kids and their faith, but the experience we offer may not reflect that.Kenny also shares part of his personal story and how it reshaped the way he thinks about this moment in ministry.If you’ve ever wondered whether baby dedication still matters, this episode will help you see it in a fresh way.

In episode 12 of the Kidmin Podcast, Kenny Conley dives into one of the most overlooked yet transformational tools for kids ministry leaders: conferences.After creating a 2026 Kidmin Conference Guide, Kenny shares why conferences have played a massive role in his own growth over nearly three decades of ministry—and why they should be a priority for every leader. Whether you're serving full-time, part-time, or as a volunteer, conferences offer something that day-to-day ministry simply cannot: exposure to fresh ideas, leading voices, and proven strategies.If you've ever wondered whether conferences are worth the time, money, or effort, this episode will challenge your thinking and help you see them as an essential investment in your development, your ministry, and your church.

In episode 11 of the Kidmin Podcast, Kenny Conley and Nick Blevins dive into one of the most important and often ignored areas of kids ministry leadership: retaining new families.A lot of churches focus on getting new families to visit once, but what happens after that? How do you help them feel welcomed, remembered, and encouraged to come back?Kenny and Nick discuss why children’s ministry plays a major role in family retention, how to think beyond the first-time guest experience, and why the second visit is often the real key. They also unpack practical metrics churches can run right now to measure retention, discuss what healthy retention percentages actually look like, and share ideas to help churches create a clearer pathway for families to stick.They also highlight two helpful resources:16 Gift Ideas for First-Time FamiliesThe New Family Retention PlanIf you want to stop guessing and start building a better strategy for helping families return, this conversation will help.

In episode 10 of the Kidmin Podcast, Kenny Conley wraps up the VBS series with an honest and thoughtful conversation about whether churches should actually do Vacation Bible School.VBS is one of the most recognizable programs in kids ministry, and countless faith stories began there. But just because something is iconic doesn’t automatically mean it’s strategic for every church. Kenny explores the real questions leaders should ask before planning their next VBS: Is it helping accomplish your mission? Is it worth the time and resources? Or is it simply something your church has always done?This episode looks at both the challenges and the powerful impact of VBS, helping leaders think clearly about how to evaluate it for their church. Whether you choose to double down on VBS, reinvent it, or replace it with something new, the goal remains the same: helping kids and families follow Jesus.

In episode 9 of the Kidmin Podcast, Kenny Conley sits down with his friend and former colleague Dan Pollak, Kids Director at Flatirons Church, to talk about reinventing VBS.Dan shares how Flatirons launched a VBS-style experience called Kids Camp, why they chose a nighttime model, and how they adapted a traditional VBS structure for a pre-Christian context. They also unpack practical ways to “go off script” while still benefiting from purchased curriculum, how to program for engagement (especially with older elementary kids), and how to create consistency across multiple campuses.If you’ve ever felt like your VBS needs fresh energy, better strategy, or a format that fits your community, this episode will help you rethink what VBS can be.

The Kidmin Podcast is a practical, strategy-first conversation for kids ministry leaders who want to lead healthier ministries, build better teams, and create clearer next steps for families. Hosted by Kenny Conley, each episode brings real ideas you can use, with a focus on volunteers, leadership development, and ministry systems that last.If you want kids ministry content that is both thoughtful and usable, the Kidmin Podcast is for you.

VBS is coming, and most of the stress is not about the theme, it is about the systems.In this episode of the Kidmin Podcast, Kenny Conley welcomes his guest, Allegra Collins, former kidmin leader at Mariners Church and current preschool curriculum developer at Awana. Together, they unpack what it really takes to plan and execute a great VBS from an operations perspective, whether you have 50 kids or 2,000.You will hear practical ideas like building a single master spreadsheet, color-coding tasks by urgency, delegating to key leaders early (think January and February), creating volunteer roles for the weeks before and after VBS, and preparing a “VBS binder” so everything lives in one place during event week. They also talk budget basics, registration timing, schedule planning, and why the weekend after VBS matters for connecting families and recruiting ongoing volunteers.00:00 Intro and first guest: Allegra Collins01:10 Allegra’s background: campuses, Awana, two under two01:23 Mariners connection and launching five campuses post-COVID02:50 Why VBS operations matters (and how big it can get)03:19 Allegra’s VBS memories and what changed behind the scenes07:24 If you do nothing else: one spreadsheet and start early09:01 Turning VBS into a task list you can reuse every year10:40 Prioritizing prep work and color-coding urgency12:21 Staffing beyond kidmin: security, first aid, photo, tech13:16 Recruiting pre-week and post-week volunteers15:31 Delegation and building a coach team (even for small churches)16:36 When to start meeting: January and February vision + roles18:05 Why empowering leaders makes VBS better (and backup coverage)22:29 Budget basics: attendance goals, charge vs free, per-kid costs26:18 Donation lists, gift cards, and scholarships28:15 Designing schedules: space, backups, travel time, flexibility31:05 Quick-fire hacks: margin on day one, easiest rotations first32:31 The VBS binder: central playbook for leaders and rotations33:35 Registration timing: open early, close 2 to 4 weeks out34:58 Incentives for early registration and culture change35:02 Connect VBS to the weekend: celebration, next steps, retention36:34 VBS as a volunteer recruitment tool teaser37:16 Wrap-up and what is coming next (articles and future bundle)