Leadership Training That Fits Real Ministry Life

Ministry leadership gets heavy fast.
Volunteers are busy.
Schedules don’t line up.
Training gets pushed to “later.”

Amazing Leaders changes that.

Amazing Leaders is a new on-demand leadership hub inside APlay — built for the realities of church life.

Develop leaders all year with:

• Step-by-step leadership courses

• Conversations with trusted ministry voices

• Audio content for growth on the go

Simple. Repeatable. Practical.

Designed for how churches actually train:

• Courses: learn from renowned leaders

• Conversations: access one-off sessions on key topics

• Audio: learn on the go, anywhere, at anytime

🚨 AVAILABLE NOW for all Amazing+ subscribers.

If you’re looking for a simple way to train, equip, and develop your team — this is for you.

👉 Learn more about Amazing Leaders

EveryChurch – Free Curriculum for Churches Under 100 

At CPC, we shared a big goal that’s been shaping everything we’re building: reaching 100 million kids over the next 10 years with the gospel of Jesus.

The first step? EveryChurch.

EveryChurch is a free kids curriculum for churches with 100 people or fewer in average weekly attendance (kids, students, and adults combined). Because we believe money, staffing, or structure should never be the reason kids miss out on meaningful, engaging faith experiences.

What’s included:

• A host script
  
• A large-group game
  
• A Bible story script
  
• Application prompts
  
• Small-group activities
  
• A closing prayer + journaling activity
  
  

Everything is intentionally curated for smaller churches and available directly inside Service Builder, so you can download and implement immediately. 

Small churches no longer have to compromise on quality. This curriculum was built to save you time, reduce prep stress, and help kids encounter Jesus each and every week.

And this is just the beginning!
Future plans include:

• More languages (building on our growing Spanish content)
  
• Expanded accessibility resources, including ASL
  
• Continued growth alongside our EveryChild initiative for neurodivergent learners
  
  

If you, or someone you know, serves in a smaller church, spread the word. It’s free. No credit card required. Just help.

EveryChurch – Free Curriculum for Churches Under 100 

One of the biggest announcements we made recently was EveryChurch—a brand-new curriculum initiative created specifically for churches with fewer than 100 total members.

Because church size should never determine access to quality.

EveryChurch was designed for pastors and leaders who don’t have the budget, staff, or time to build curriculum from scratch, but still want kids to encounter Jesus in meaningful, age-appropriate ways.

EveryChurch curriculum includes:

• A host script
• A Bible story script
• Small-group activities
• Application prompts
• A closing prayer and journaling activity

It’s 100% free, with no credit card required, and available directly inside Service Builder, ready to download and use immediately.

Whether you’re leading solo, bivocational, or with a small volunteer team, EveryChurch removes a major barrier and gives you something solid, thoughtful, and ready-to-go.

HelloBaby: Ministry Begins in the Nursery

Many churches unintentionally treat the nursery as a holding space: important, but not formative. At Amazing Life, we believe spiritual formation doesn’t begin at age three or four. It begins the moment a child is born.

That belief is what led to HelloBaby, a year-long curriculum designed specifically for infants. It centers on one simple, powerful truth that is spoken over babies again and again throughout their first year in your ministry:

Jesus loves me.

HelloBaby isn’t about teaching babies a lesson they can cognitively explain. It’s about ministering to their spirit through gentle worship music, Scripture read aloud, and nurturing routines that communicate safety, peace, and love. 

How APlay Supports the Experience

HelloBaby is delivered through APlay and APlay Pro, not as entertainment for babies, but as a guide for volunteers. The visuals function more like subtle digital wallpapers that move leaders through the service in a clear, organized way. Volunteers simply tap “next” to move from worship to Scripture to interactive moments (including a bubble song… and yes, it’s as adorable as it sounds), without juggling CDs or multiple media sources.

In most churches, babies are seated in bouncers or held by volunteers and often face away from the screen. The technology supports the adults in the room; it doesn’t replace relational ministry.

Why Parents Notice

HelloBaby does two important things at once. First, it ministers to babies by consistently surrounding them with truth and care. Second, it communicates tremendous value to parents. When families realize their church is doing more than “babysitting” their baby, trust grows quickly.

HelloBaby is included with Amazing+, which bundles all Amazing Life curriculum into one unified subscription. Learn more at joinamazing.com 

🎥 Watch This Week’s Conversation

[Watch the Live replay] 

If you missed this week’s Facebook Live, catch the full replay to hear the heart behind APlay Pro and why it was built. Tyler and our team’s very own APlay Pro expert, Garry, walk through a full demo of the software. They cover what churches have been asking for, how the team responded, and what’s coming next. It’s one you don’t want to miss!

APlay Pro: Built for Your Ministry

Kids ministry leaders and tech directors have been asking for the same thing: a presentation tool that’s powerful enough for multi-screen environments, but simple enough for volunteers to run confidently.

APlay Pro is the answer.

It combines the flexibility of professional presentation software with the heart of ministry, helping you create meaningful moments without adding complexity, cost, or steep learning curves. Think: the strength of tools like ProPresenter, but built specifically for churches using APlay and designed to feel intuitive from day one.

What’s New: A Presentation Platform Designed Around How Churches Actually Work

When APlay launched earlier this year, thousands of churches adopted it for content distribution and simplicity. But lots of you told us that you need more control: multi-screen output, editable slides, and deeper flexibility without sacrificing ease of use.

So our team listened.

APlay Pro now gives churches the ability to build shows with drag-and-drop simplicity, customize slides directly inside the app, route content to multiple screens, and integrate everything already living in their APlay library. Worship, curriculum, Spanish content, and custom media all live in one place, working together seamlessly.

And because every APlay asset is cached locally, playback stays smooth (even when your church’s Wi-Fi doesn’t).

Why It Matters for Kids Ministry Leaders

In many churches, the kids ministry leader is the tech team. You’re leading worship, checking in families, prepping small groups, and running slides… all at the same time.

APlay Pro helps by:

• Letting you build a clear, simple playlist that volunteers can run confidently
  
• Making last-minute slide edits or additions fast and stress-free
  
• Keeping worship and teaching moments flowing without awkward transitions
  
• Eliminating buffering and media surprises
  
• Allowing you to mix curriculum content, worship, and your own media effortlessly
  
  

One beta tester summed it up perfectly: “This feels too easy, almost like I’m missing a step.” That simplicity is intentional.

Why It Matters for Tech & Media Directors

For tech and media teams, reliability and flexibility are non-negotiable. APlay Pro delivers both without licensing headaches or complicated setups.

With APlay Pro, teams get:

• Free installation on unlimited machines
  
• True multi-screen routing for primary output, stage display, livestream, and more
  
• Seamless integration with existing hardware and capture setups
  
• Local caching for dependable playback
  
• Editable templates that reduce volunteer errors and training time
  

For churches running kids, students, and adult services, having one free tool that works across environments is a game-changer.

Key Features at a Glance

APlay Pro includes:

• Direct access to your full APlay media library
  
• Editable slides built right into the app (no Photoshop required!)
  
• Multi-screen output for rooms of any size
  
• Built-in timers, countdowns, and event clocks
  
• Custom folders that sync your own media automatically
  
• YouTube video integration for in-service playback
  
• Local caching so content plays smoothly even on weak Wi-Fi

Everything is designed to keep leaders focused on ministry moments, not media management.

When Can You Get APlay Pro?

APlay Pro is currently in beta and already being used live on Sundays by churches of all sizes. The plan is to release it publicly by January 2026.

If you’d like to try it sooner, reach out to your Customer Success representative to join the beta and start testing it in your own environment.

Why It Matters

At the end of the day, APlay Pro isn’t about better slides, it’s about better moments. When your tools work quietly in the background, leaders can lead with confidence, volunteers can serve without stress, and kids can focus on encountering Jesus.

That’s the win.

Have questions or feedback? We’d love to hear from you. Email us anytime at hello@amazinglife.com.

🎥 Watch This Week’s Conversation

[Watch the Live replay] 

If you missed this week’s Facebook Live, catch the full replay to hear the heart and strategy behind each update. This week, Tyler walks through Amazing Music, a couple of show refreshes, and Church Conference.

Amazing Music: Worship Songs for Church and Home

We couldn’t be more excited about what’s happening with Amazing Music, our growing library of kid-friendly versions of top worship songs. Each song is intentionally chosen to reflect our mission: bringing the heart of the home together with the light of the church. We want parents and churches speaking the same language of worship, whether it’s Sunday morning or bedtime at home.

This month, you’ll find 10 brand-new worship songs added to APlay and all major streaming platforms, each one designed to help kids carry truth with them throughout the week. Every track comes in three formats: a high-energy dance video, a lyric video, and an instrumental version for teams who prefer leading worship live. (And a free bonus: song training YouTube tutorials for leaders!) 

Whether it’s classics like Here I Am to Worship or new favorites like I Believe, these songs help kids carry truth into their week.

Story Lab Refresh: Where Truth, Science, and Imagination Meet

For your early elementary kids (1st–3rd grade), the Story Lab videos have been reimagined to better meet the way they learn. Kids at this age think like young scientists: curious, observant, full of “how” and “why.” The Story Lab refresh leans into that curiosity with a blend of discovery and imagination.

What’s new:

• Edwin, a new lab character who brings fun and creativity
• Lexicon (“Lex”), a Bible-story computer who sometimes gets things hilariously wrong (so kids help correct the story!)
• Updated illustration and animation styles
• A stronger blend of Biblical truth with imaginative play

The result is a show that remains biblically accurate and theologically sound, while better engaging kids in how they think and learn.

The So & So Show: A Sharper Format for Preteens

Preteens need a space that’s both fun and ready for real conversations about faith. The refreshed So & So Show does exactly that.

What’s new:

• Kellen moves into a clearer central-host role
• Familiar fun characters remain, but with more purposeful storytelling
• Episodes build toward a defined spiritual takeaway
  
  

It’s still hilarious. It’s still creative. But it’s more focused on helping preteens connect the truth of Scripture to their everyday questions and experiences.

Church Conference 2026: A Vision for the Whole Church

Formerly known as the Orange Conference, Church Conference is expanding with new intentionality. The church isn’t just for kids ministry or student ministry… it’s also for worship leaders, executive leaders, volunteers, and everyone who shapes the spiritual life of families.

This conference is designed for the whole church to dream together, learn together, and imagine what’s next in how we reach communities and families.

Happening at the end of April. Registration is open now at achurchconference.com.

Why It Matters

All of these updates were built around a few shared convictions:

Kids remember songs and stories longer than we think.
Truth and fun aren’t opposites; they’re partners.
The church and home work best together, not separately.
You shouldn’t have to create everything from scratch, we create the tools so you can lead people.

From worship moments to story-driven learning to environments where kids ask big questions, we pray that these resources help you spark the kinds of moments that lead to lifelong faith.

Have a story, question, or suggestion? We’d love to hear from you. Email us anytime at hello@amazinglife.com – as always, we’re honored to partner with you.

🎥 Watch This Week’s Conversation

[Watch the Live replay] 

If you missed this week’s Facebook Live, catch the full replay to hear the heart and strategy behind each update. This week, Tyler walks through Amazing Students, Amazing Music, Wonder characters, Parent+, and Church Conference.

Amazing Students: From “All the Things” to the Most-Used Things

Student ministry isn’t one-size-fits-all, and Amazing Students reflects that. Unlike XP3, it focuses on the tools and content you actually use most, making ministry simpler, more practical, and easier to lead week to week.

What we learned 

XP3 was robust and offered lots of options. However, when our team spoke with student pastors and examined usage patterns, one significant thing became apparent: almost no one was utilizing everything.

Most churches were consistently using three main things: Graphics packages, Small group content, and Media

Why we pruned (and what’s growing next)

Instead of trying to build all the things, we decided to prune on purpose. Pruning isn’t about doing less forever; it’s about doing the right things first so the future growth is healthy and sustainable. So: 

• We doubled down on graphics, small groups, and media because that’s what most churches actually use.
• We intentionally shortened the teaching script because a large chunk of users weren’t using it at all. Those who do use it told us they mostly adapt it as a starting point for their own talk.

Does that mean a full, more robust script will never come back? Not at all. But right now we’re focusing on providing a strong base that churches can build on while we grow the library in sustainable ways.

What’s coming soon to Amazing Students

• Games
  • Evergreen, student-loved games that come from practitioners
  • Designed to actually work in real rooms, not just on paper
• Richer small group questions
  • More culturally aware, “this is what’s happening in our world right now” angles
  • Clear connection from real-life cultural moments → “this is what the Bible says about it”
• Conversations Videos: Real Stories, Real Scripture, Real Short
  • Short, conversation-style stories, driven content around issues students are actually facing. Think: Real Stories, Real Scripture, Real Short.
  • Designed to drop into your service at different points: Use as a transition between worship and message, drop it mid-message to illustrate a key idea, or use it as a launchpad for small groups (“What do you need to release to God?”)

     

Amazing Music: Where It Lives and How to Use It

You already know what it feels like when a song sticks. Parents tell us, “Our kids won’t stop singing these songs in the car.” That’s the goal! 

Amazing Music is designed to help you lead age-appropriate worship without writing or arranging everything from scratch, and give families songs they can take home and sing together all week

Here’s how to get it into your rooms:

Where to find Amazing Music

• APlay and APlay Pro
  • All Amazing Music currently lives inside APlay.
  • You can access the full library through APlay Pro even if you don’t use Apple TV. Log in, pull from the cloud library, and build playlists for your services. (APlay Pro is offline-friendly! So bad Wi-Fi doesn’t interrupt worship or cause buffering mid-service.)

What each song includes:

Every Amazing Music track comes in three formats for maximum flexibility:

• A dance video, for younger ages, or to get kids on their feet
• A lyric video (motion background + on-screen lyrics) for a more “worship set” feel
• An instrumental lyric video for when your worship leaders want to lead live

   

“Can we download files? Will they be on Spotify?”

• Songs are downloadable for use inside APlay/APlay Pro, not as raw MP4 files to store elsewhere.
• For churches and families who just want to listen, songs are available on Spotify, Apple Music, and other major platforms.
• Preschool music (and its adorable new animations) is currently exclusive to APlay. There’s no immediate plan to put those tracks on streaming platforms.

We’re currently at around 123 songs and expect to pass 200+ by next year, with new partnerships and artists joining the mix.

Virtues: Supporting the Bottom Line, Not the Other Way Around

The short answer to a big question: No, the virtues are not going away.

But they are changing roles.

Why we’re adjusting how we use virtues

Over time, we noticed a tension:

• Trying to fit 4–5 Bible stories into one monthly virtue sometimes led to stretching passages beyond their intended context.
• Our theological advisory board—made up of both practitioners and trained theologians—pointed out where certain bottom lines and Bible stories didn’t align or were pulling a text out of context.

We care deeply about:

• Teaching the Bible in its proper context
• Letting Scripture drive the bottom line

   

What this means in practice

You may start to see:

• Multiple virtues in a month instead of one overarching virtue
  • Example: Week 1 → Courage, Week 2 → Forgiveness, Week 3 → Kindness
• Continued emphasis on the bottom line and Bible story as the “main thing” you want kids and parents to remember. Virtues will stay as a way to describe how the Holy Spirit is shaping us… not a box we force every story into

We still love using virtues to:

• Help kids name and recognize Christlike character (e.g., “David showed courage because he trusted God.”)
• Help parents measure growth (“Where do we see kindness, honesty, or perseverance growing in our kid’s life?”)

We’re simply making sure Bible → bottom line → virtue, not the other way around.

Wonder: More Ollie, More Friends, More Representation

Wonder is getting some beautiful updates, especially in the character space!

Why add more characters?

Kids see themselves in stories and characters. When we give them a diverse cast, we give them:

• Multiple personalities and temperaments to relate to
• Different ways to process feelings, conflict, and questions
• On-ramps for quieter kids, more reserved kids, big-feeling kids, and everyone in between

Think: Winnie-the-Pooh-style quadrants. Each character embodies a different way of responding and relating, so kids can say, “That’s kind of like me.”

Ollie isn’t going anywhere

In fact, Ollie is getting more presence as the wise, steady “sage” voice that:

• Helps kids connect their feelings and experiences back to God’s Word
• Guides them through questions like, “What does the Bible say about this?” or “How does Jesus feel about how I’m feeling?”

Ollie’s new friends will help show different ways kids might react to the same truth, and carry the story forward in daily devos and follow-up content.

When you’ll see it

Starting January 1, you’ll see:

• New Wonder episodes with the updated character set
• Updated activity pages that visually match the characters kids see on screen (e.g., the Jesus in the episode is the Jesus they’re coloring or crafting with)

   

So & So Show: Kellen at the Desk!

Big change, same heart.

What’s happening

• Kellen is taking over the So & So desk in upcoming content.
• John and Brandon are still very much part of the creative DNA: They’re still writing for the show, and you’ll still see them appear in and out of episodes.

Why Kellen?

Preteens have a strong radar for “Is this real or are you just trying to entertain me?”

Kellen uniquely balances silly and serious, can land a Bible truth with clarity and warmth, and connects deeply with kids. The new So & So season uses imagination and questions to take preteens on a journey to understanding God’s Word, not just hearing it.

Content featuring Kellen in this new role begins January content (uploading soon, including February).

Parent+ App: Your Church’s Branded Disciple-Making Tool

You’ve probably heard some buzz about the Parent+ app. Here’s the clearer picture.

What Parent+ is

Parent+ is a white-labeled, customizable parent app that carries your church’s name, logo, and branding. It connects directly to what kids and students are learning in your ministry.

What’s inside for parents

• Weekly bottom lines and Bible stories
• Convo cards with questions to ask kids and students
• Videos and songs that mirror weekend content
• Age-specific content for preschool, elementary, preteen, middle school, and high school
• Devotionals and prayers to pray over their kids
• Customizable blog content you can write or pull from curated options
• A calendar for your ministry events and registrations
• Push notifications (“Ask this question tonight,” “Don’t forget Mom’s Group this Thursday,” etc.)

In early beta testing, churches are seeing around 76% of parents in their ministries actively engaging with the app during the week. 

How it works for your church

• Parent+ is available as part of Amazing+.
• Our team walks you through an 8–12 week onboarding process that includes:
  • Setting up your Apple developer account so the app is published under your church
  • Gathering your logo, colors, and branding
  • Building your app to suit your context
  • Training you to toggle content, add questions, communicate with parents and customize what they see

If you want to explore whether Parent+ is a fit for your context, visit JoinAmazing.com and connect with our team.

Church Conference: Orange Conference, Reimagined

Yes, the conference you know and love is still happening, just under a name that matches its purpose even more clearly.

Why the shift to “Church Conference”?

We’re still deeply committed to the Orange strategy (home + church) and to influencing those who influence the faith of the next generation.

But that influence doesn’t stop with kids and student pastors.

Church Conference is designed for:

• Kids pastors
• Student pastors
• Parents and family ministry leaders
• Worship and production leaders
• Executive pastors and senior leaders

We want every layer of church leadership to catch the vision for a birth-through-18 strategy, see how their role supports a unified discipleship journey, and leave with practical tools that serve real people in real churches

You can learn more at AChurchConference.com.

Kingdom Quest VBS: Following the Light of Jesus with Peter

Finally, a quick teaser for VBS:

Kingdom Quest invites kids into an epic, game-inspired adventure where they follow the story of Peter and Jesus across several key moments. 

Each day helps kids explore:

• What it means to find the light in Jesus
• What it looks like to follow Him in real life
• How the Holy Spirit shapes us into people who live in God’s Kingdom
  
  Learn more here. More details and teasers coming soon.

We’re In This With You

From Amazing Students content, to Wonder updates, Church Conference, and Kingdom Quest—every update has the same heartbeat: To serve you as you serve kids, students, and families.

Have a story, question, or suggestion? We’d love to hear from you. Email us anytime at hello@amazinglife.com – we’re honored to partner with you.