{"id":464035,"date":"2025-12-16T14:19:52","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T19:19:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/growcurriculum.org\/go\/?p=464035"},"modified":"2026-02-09T08:31:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T13:31:04","slug":"how-to-help-kids-know-use-their-gifts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/growcurriculum.org\/go\/how-to-help-kids-know-use-their-gifts\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Help Kids Know & Use Their Gifts"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are so many great reasons why many of us stepped into kids ministry. Maybe it was a love for animal crackers, a desire for more glitter-based art work, or the absolute thrill of wearing a costume at nine o’clock in the morning on a Sunday. These are all valid reasons, but underneath all of the glamour, we were all motivated by the possibility of helping kids grow in their faith.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the heart of what we do. We want to see kids know Jesus, follow Jesus, and build a faith that lasts. But as you\u2019ve probably learned, helping kids grow can be a little more complicated than it sounds.<\/p>\n

How do you measure spiritual growth?<\/p>\n

What \u201ccounts\u201d as progress?<\/p>\n

Which metrics actually matter \u2014 and which ones just make us feel busy?<\/p>\n

For many of us, when we think about spiritual habits we go straight to the classics\u2013reading the Bible, praying, going to church. And yes, those things are very important. But what if we could zoom out and think about discipleship in a more holistic way?<\/p>\n

That’s why our discipleship strategy<\/a> focuses on four spiritual habits\u2013Spending Time with God<\/strong>, Spending Time with Others<\/strong>, Using Your Gifts<\/strong>, and Sharing Your Story<\/strong>. We believe these habits sit at the center of spiritual growth, and they become the lens through which you can see everything you do each year\u2014your teaching, your events, your strategy with parents, and even how you empower your volunteers.<\/p>\n

We want to help kids build these four habits\u2014and anytime we see a kid practicing even one of them, we can celebrate it as a sign of real spiritual growth. So in this blog, let’s look at just one of these habits\u2013<\/p>\n

USING YOUR GIFTS<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Every kid in your ministry needs to know that God made them unique, on purpose, and equipped with specific gifts, talents, passions, and resources. And when they begin using those gifts to love God, love others, and make a difference, something shifts. Their confidence grows. Their empathy grows. Their faith grows.<\/p>\n

So how do we help kids learn to Use Their Gifts<\/strong>? Here are a few practical ways to start\u2013<\/p>\n