
Episode #9: Reusing What Works - Making KidsMin Content Evergreen
We’ve all had those moments—running around late at night trying to recreate the same event game for the fifth time or redoing training slides and handouts that hasn’t really changed in years. It’s exhausting. And it’s exactly why today’s conversation on The KidsMin Collective podcast is all about making your ministry more sustainable by reusing what already works.
Evergreen content isn’t just a business buzzword. It’s a powerful strategy to reduce burnout and maximize impact in children’s ministry. I promise it can help you, too!
Why Evergreen Content Matters
When your programming is growing but your team isn’t, finding ways to save time and become more efficient isn’t just a dream, it actually becomes essential. Reusable content and systems allow you to:
Reduce burnout (because you’re not reinventing the wheel every week),
Save valuable prep time (that can be spent in relationship-focused ministry), and
Help build a library of tried-and-true resources that actually work.
It’s about efficiency, not laziness. Stewardship, not shortcuts. You’re investing in sustainable systems that serve your team, your kids, and your calling.
What Can Be Evergreen in KidsMin?
The opportunities are everywhere once you start looking for them. Here are just a few ideas:
1. Curriculum Visuals & Object Lessons
Save decor and teaching props that can be used for multiple lessons. Reframing a donkey craft for different Bible stories? That’s strategic reuse.
2. Game Templates
Kids love familiarity. Find game formats that work and simply swap the content. Rotate by age group and track which ones are hits to build a repertoire.
3. Volunteer Training Materials
Stop rebuilding your training deck every year. Create a master template, tweak the theme or colors, and reuse the core slides and documents.
4. Ministry Supplies
Think beyond crafts. Invest in reusable props—fake fruit, loaves and fishes, stick horses (or donkeys!)—that support multiple lessons or events.
How to Build Your Evergreen System
Making your content evergreen doesn’t happen overnight, but you can start small:
Track what's draining you. Make a note on your phone or sticky note when something takes too much prep time.
Label and organize well. Save digital files with clear names. Label bins, take photos of contents, and store things where you can find them later.
Avoid theme-specific purchases. Instead, choose items that can flex across multiple stories or events.
Use cloud storage. Don’t let your only copy live on one device. Store training docs and lesson plans in a shared or backed-up space.
Establish a rhythm. Plan regular touch points for events, leader trainings, and curriculum units that repeat on a cycle.
Pinterest Perfect ≠ Ministry Sustainable
Yes, we all love a good theme or a perfect photo moment—but sustainability wins every time. Excellence doesn’t mean excess. Make it reusable. Make it intentional. And let it serve your ministry long-term.
Want help identifying what to reuse and how to systematize your ministry prep?
Let’s hop on a free 30-minute strategy call and get you moving toward a healthier, more efficient rhythm. I’d love to walk you through it.