🎬 Why Kidmin Videos Matter
Some leaders think video is the secret to engagement; others think screens are the enemy.
So which is it?
Right up front, I’ll tell you exactly how I feel:
Videos can capture kids’ attention faster than anything else.
They’re visual, emotional, and memorable.
And when done well, they can make theology come alive.
👣 Jesus the Storyteller
When you look at how Jesus taught, it’s striking. He told stories.
I know, I know – Jesus didn’t use videos. But He did use His culture’s version of visual learning.
He painted word pictures about farmers and seeds, lost coins, runaway sons, and stubborn sheep.
He held up everyday objects, like coins, and wove stories about them (a desperate woman searching for a lost coin and rejoicing with friends when it’s found reminds us of the rejoicing in Heaven when one sinner repents).
Let’s just say Jesus was a master of visual learning.
Clyde Kilby called that “the artistic method of Jesus.”
“How can it be that with a God who created birds and the blue of the sky and who before the foundation of the world wrought out a salvation more romantic than Cinderella... Christians often turn out to have an unenviable corner on the unimaginative and the commonplace?”
— Clyde Kilby, “The Aesthetic Poverty of Evangelicalism”
His point: The stories and the visuals and the imagination which are so prevalent in the teaching of Jesus are too often absent in our lessons.
🎨 The Power of Story and Imagination
Kids are wired for imagination. They think in stories and visuals. And if we want to grab their attention and point them to Jesus, what better way to reach them than through the power of story?
Those stories can take various forms
- a teacher telling a personal story
- a live-action drama team
- a puppet skit
- a quality video with a great plot and direct tie-in to the day’s Biblical lesson
🚪Step Through the Wardrobe
C.S. Lewis saw this, too. He once said that his religion felt cold – full of duty but not delight.
So what did Lewis do? He built a wardrobe.
He realized that by casting biblical truth into the imaginary world of Narnia, he could help kids feel the gospel’s reality.
Compare how we feel during a lecture on grace to how we feel when Lucy meets Aslan, when Edmund is forgiven, or when the Stone Table cracks.
That’s the genius of story. It sneaks past our defenses.
And that’s exactly what kids need. They don’t just need to hear about grace — they need to see it in action, feel its weight, celebrate its beauty.
And children’s ministry videos (when done well) are a powerful tool for helping kids see, feel, and celebrate the beauty of God’s Word.
A good kidmin video can make a doctrine visible.
⚡ The Danger of Too Much Screen Time
We understand:
- Kids get too much screen-time nowadays
- A lot of the secular video content marketed to kids is not uplifting
- Videos can train children to consume rather than engage
We’d never plop kids in front of a TV and let the screen take over for an hour.
Instead, we recommend using:
- Short, high-quality videos
- That connect directly to the Bible lesson
- And set up your live teaching – not replace it.
We believe that combination is a win!
Children’s Ministry veteran Dale Hudson says it best:
"Videos? Yes
Worship videos? Yes
Video skits? Yes
Video illustrations? Yes
Videos taking the place of a live volunteer teacher? No
Using screens to disciple children is not an either-or. It's a both-and.
Screen some. Face-to-Face time just as much or more....and follow it up with engaging content."
Great perspective, Pastor Dale – don't choose EITHER effective video illustrations OR good teaching.
Choose BOTH-AND.
🚫 The Crime of Boring Kids
And when you do use video resources in your children’s ministry, they shouldn’t just fill time or keep kids quiet.
Choose resources that get kids excited about the Bible, help them feel the love of God, and inspire them to live their lives for Him.
Jim Rayburn, the founder of Young Life, didn’t mince words:
“It is a crime to bore anyone with the gospel.”
Strong statement, right?
But it’s true. The message we teach is thrilling. If kids are bored, something is wrong with how we’re teaching it.
And when it comes to making the Gospel exciting and making God’s truth come alive for kids, video is one of the best tools we have – if we use it right.
🎥 So, What Makes Video Work?
Let’s get practical.
Here’s what separates helpful videos from hollow ones in children’s ministry:
1️⃣ Video should serve the story, not replace it.
Use a video to introduce or illustrate what you’re teaching, not substitute for teaching.
2️⃣ Video should point back to Scripture.
If kids walk away remembering the characters but not the Bible truth, it missed the mark.
Use discussion afterward to connect what they saw to God’s Word.
3️⃣ Video should spark conversation, not silence it.
Pause mid-video and ask questions. Ask kids to predict what they think will happen. Ask kids what they would do in that situation. Ask kids which character they relate to. Etc.
The goal isn’t just to entertain – it’s to engage.
4️⃣ Video should create emotion that leads to reflection.
Don’t choose videos just for the humor or the cool-factor. Look for videos with relatable characters that can model Biblical thinking for kids.
🧪How Spyence Delivers the Both-And Solution
Josh Denhart – founder of Lead Volunteers, Science VBS, and The Amazing Chemistry Show – said this about Spyence:
“I love the innovative use of a Disney-channel-style show, with the characters wrestling with deep Biblical truths... Spyence is a formula for spiritual growth in your kids.”
That’s the goal: spiritual growth in kids.
And here’s how Spyence helps accomplish that goal:
SPYENCE VIDEOS HELP YOU BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH KIDS
- Spyence videos are a relationship-building tool that teachers, parents, and kids can all watch and laugh and enjoy together.
- After watching the videos, kids want to talk about them with their teachers and friends.
- Spyence is a common interest that opens doors for discussions, which is our next point...
SPYENCE VIDEOS OPEN DOORS FOR SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS
- Kids can be hesitant to talk about deep spiritual matters, even if they have questions they're dying to ask.
- In the Spyence videos, one of the characters asks the spiritual questions that kids are wondering about.
- Bringing up these topics in the videos shows kids that it's okay to ask questions and seek answers.
- It leaves the door wide open for you to continue the conversation with your kids.
SPYENCE VIDEOS INCREASE ATTENDANCE
- In each episode, the Evil Robot’s plan to defeat Spyence Headquarters gets sneakier and sneakier. Can the heroes at Spyence Headquarters outsmart the Evil Robots?
- I guess your kids will have to show up each week to find out.
- And that’s the goal – just like watching a season of your favorite TV show on Netflix where you want to see EVERY episode, your kids won’t want to miss a single week because they need to see the next episode in Spyence Mission X.
SPYENCE DOESN’T REPLACE TEACHERS – IT’S A TOOL FOR TEACHERS TO USE
- Loving adults are BY FAR the best vehicles to share God’s truths with kids.
- And our mission is to give those loving adults the best tools possible to make their teaching and discipleship as effective as possible.
- The videos are simply a tool to hook kids’ attention and open a conversation about our wonderful God and His amazing love and His fantastic plan to change our lives forever.
In other words, the Spyence episodes aren’t there to distract.
They’re there to set the stage for discussion, curiosity, and theological depth.
In one episode, a character struggles with guilt and finds freedom in forgiveness – then the teacher unpacks justification.
Kids see grace before they define it.
That’s what great storytelling does.
It doesn’t replace teaching — it amplifies it.
⚖️ So… Videos: Friend or Foe?
Here’s my take after years in children’s ministry and hundreds of lessons taught both ways:
Video is a tool — not a teacher.
It can’t replace relationship, presence, or discipleship.
But used with prayer, discernment, and purpose, it can become one of the most powerful ways to bring theology to life.
Clyde Kilby challenged the church to stop being unimaginative.
C.S. Lewis showed how stories bring theology to life.
Jim Rayburn warned us never to make the gospel dull.
And Josh Denhart reminds us that creativity can be a valuable tool for spiritual growth.
So let’s use every creative tool God gives us—stories, science, and yes, even screens—to help kids see that the gospel isn’t boring.
It’s the greatest story ever told.
🎬 Want to See What Thoughtful Video Can Look Like in Action?
That’s why I built Spyence — a kids’ church curriculum that combines deep theology, cinematic storytelling, and hands-on learning.
Try Season 1: Salvation for just $29. 👉 Click here.
Or Download 2 Free Sample Lessons. 👉 Click here.
