The “F” Word in KidsMin (Fun) - Tyler Bates #26701

Where joy and depth collide. For some reason, fun has become a guilty word in ministry. As if it’s something we have to sneak in after the “real” stuff is done. But what if fun isn’t a distraction from spiritual formation—what if it’s a doorway into it? In this breakout, we’ll talk about why fun isn’t the enemy of deep spiritual work—it can actually be the soil where wonder grows. Kids can worship with their whole hearts and laugh until their sides hurt. They can learn the truth of Scripture and have the most fun they’ve had all week. We don’t have to choose between formation and joy. We were never meant to. Together, we’ll explore how to build environments where kids both encounter God and can’t wait to come back, break the false divide between “sacred” and “silly", and reclaim fun as a tool for connection, curiosity, and transformation. At the end of the day, in kids ministry, fun isn’t a bonus. It’s a strategy. It’s theology. It’s formation in disguise. Let’s rediscover the kind of ministry where joy and Jesus are never in competition.