What does meaningful children’s ministry inclusion really look like for neurodivergent children and their families?

In this episode, I sit down with children’s ministry leader and inclusion advocate Kim Botto for a conversation about what it looks like to build church spaces where every child is welcomed, understood, and given space to thrive.

We explore practical and pastoral approaches to neurodivergent children in church, and how we can shape environments that make room for different ways of engaging, communicating, and experiencing faith. I found myself seeing familiar situations in a new way as we talked.

This conversation is especially for children’s ministry leaders, volunteers, pastors, and parents who are passionate about inclusion in children’s ministry and want to grow in confidence, compassion, and practical wisdom.

In this episode, we explore:

• What belonging can look like for neurodivergent children in children’s ministry
• How children’s behaviour can help us understand what they need
• Simple, practical shifts that make church more accessible and welcoming
• Why inclusion strengthens ministry for every child, not just a few
• How Kim Botto approaches discipleship, inclusion, and supporting families in church life

What I loved about this conversation is how it opened up fresh perspective without adding pressure. Instead, it offered encouragement and clarity around what’s already possible when we start seeing children through a different lens.

If you’re shaping church ministry for children and families, I think this episode will leave you encouraged, grounded, and full of hope.

You can subscribe to Hope Cake for more conversations that explore children’s ministry with honesty, warmth, and practical hope for what’s possible next.

Check out Kim's book Boundless Hope For Every Child here

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Ever feel like you're not doing enough to help your children grow in faith?

Maybe family devotions don't happen as often as you'd like. Maybe life feels too busy, too messy, or too exhausting. Maybe you're carrying a quiet sense of guilt that everyone else seems to have it figured out.

In this episode, I'm joined by Lucy Rycroft from The Hope-Filled Family to talk about what discipleship really looks like in everyday family life.

We explore why faith formation is about so much more than ticking spiritual boxes, how God meets us in ordinary moments, and why the pressure many Christian parents feel may be pointing them in the wrong direction.

Along the way, Lucy shares honest stories from her own family, practical wisdom for nurturing faith at home, and a refreshing reminder that God is at work even when our efforts feel small.

If you've ever wondered whether you're getting it right, this conversation is for you.

Lucy's new book, What Would Jesus Do? 52 Devotions For Tweens is available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Would-Family-Devotional-Preteens-Parents/dp/B0G248CJJR/

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Burnout in kids ministry is real. Many leaders only last a few years before the weight of it all becomes too much. So how do you stay in ministry for the long haul without running on empty?

In this final episode of Building Thriving Kids Ministry, Jo Hobbis sits down with Hannah Aske from TenFour Ministries to talk honestly about burnout, calling, and what it really takes to keep going in children’s ministry.

Hannah shares openly about the seasons when she felt like quitting (including a time when she was so exhausted she was crying most weeks). But she also shares the lessons God has taught her along the way about rest, community, and remembering why you started in the first place.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stretched too thin, or wondered how long you can keep doing this work, this conversation will help you breathe again.

In this episode you’ll discover:

• Why knowing your God-given “why” is essential for staying in kids ministry
• The difference between physical rest and spiritual rest (and why both matter)
• How trying to carry everything yourself leads to burnout
• Why planned retreat days and time with God aren’t luxuries, they’re essential
• How mentors, friends, and accountability can sustain you in ministry
• The freeing truth that God cares more about your heart than your productivity

Hannah also shares the powerful reminder that we can’t pour into children and families if we’re running on empty ourselves.

Before we lead others, we need to be filled.

If you’re a kids ministry leader who wants to build something that lasts, this episode is for you.

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