The post ANNOUNCED Weekly | We’re trying to be less engaging. appeared first on Think Orange.
]]>We’re trying to be less engaging.
Which is a weird thing for any business to say.
As a statement, it’s counter-intuitive. Just think of the lengths every other business you interact with goes to encourage more engagement — to get you visiting more frequently and staying for longer; to get you to read more, watch for longer and click deeper.
Take Facebook, for example. Every part of the platform is designed to keep you there. Endless scrolling. Notifications engineered to pull you back in. Algorithms that learn what holds your attention so they can show you more of it. The goal is simple: keep you engaged for as long as possible.
Our goal is the opposite.
That’s because, rather than trying to sell you something when you’re on our platform, we’re trying to give you something.
More time.
More time with your teams, more time with families, and more time with the kids you’re responsible for shepherding. The stuff that matters.
To do that, we want you spending less time on your computer. As little as possible.
And so, everything we’re working on is designed to improve efficiency; to deliver a service that’s as close as possible to what you want before you’ve made a single edit, and then to ensure any tweaks you do need to make are exceedingly simple to execute.
It’s a work in progress (and always will be) – our commitment to continuous improvement means the ‘quest for better’ never ends. But we can promise you that every member of our team is dedicated to making our entire ecosystem quicker and easier to use, so you have more time to focus on the things that really make an impact.
In the interest of saving time, let’s call it a wrap for this newsletter and let you get on with your day. If you’re interested in learning more, below are some brief highlights from the last week or so, as well as more information on Church Conference – our upcoming event in Dallas where we’ll be sharing the three biggest announcements in Kids Min history!
Hope to see you there!
Missed the latest episode of ANNOUNCED?
What We Covered This Week
Church Conference Updates
Church Conference is coming to Dallas April 28–30 and spots are filling fast. This three-day gathering is designed to help church teams return home unified in strategy, clear in purpose, and intentional in impact as they partner with families to reach the next generation.
Senior Leader Experience
This year’s Church Conference also introduces a brand-new Senior Leader Experience, creating space for senior pastors and executive leaders to connect, strategize, and learn alongside peers facing similar leadership challenges in ministry today.
Daily Conference Ticket Giveaways
We’re giving away one free Church Conference ticket every day this week, along with daily $25 ticket vouchers. Day 2 is happening now! Follow @achurchconference on Instagram for a chance to win.
Kingdom Quest VBS
Kingdom Quest is an epic journey that helps kids discover God’s Kingdom and what it means to become more like Jesus in everyday life. The experience includes engaging Bible storytelling, music, media, and activities that guide kids through a meaningful VBS adventure. Churches can also bring the world of Kingdom Quest to life with themed products—from leader gear and kid giveaways to décor, signage, and interactive elements that reinforce the theme and create an immersive VBS experience.
New Kingdom Quest VBS Songs
The final three original songs for Kingdom Quest VBS 2026 have officially dropped, completing the full soundtrack for this summer’s experience. All songs are now available on streaming platforms.
Spotify | Apple Music | APlay
Looking Ahead
This year is full of possibilities.
We’re building, refining, and listening… because your feedback shapes what comes next. If something isn’t working or if there’s a tool that would make your job easier, we want to hear from you.
Reach out to your Customer Success partner anytime or email us at [email protected]. We’d love to walk alongside you. We’ll see you next week.
The post ANNOUNCED Weekly | We’re trying to be less engaging. appeared first on Think Orange.
]]>The post Only The Church appeared first on Think Orange.
]]>Yet, we recognize that while the mission is unchanging, the culture around us is shifting rapidly. The tools and methods that worked in the past often fail to translate to the landscape we navigate today. This creates a significant tension: how do you steward a never-changing mission in the midst of ever-changing methods?
The answer lies in a holistic, integrated, and highly responsive approach. We must anchor ourselves in what is timeless to better adapt to what is timely.
A New Name, A New Approach
For years, we gathered under the banner of Orange. In 2026, we are leaning into a new name; Church Conference, to reflect our primary focus: the Local Church. This change is a responsive shift to the current season, moving us out of massive arenas and back into local church buildings.
We believe that by returning to where everything started, we can reclaim a sense of intimacy and authenticity. These settings allow us to pray, learn, and grow together in a way that large venues cannot currently offer. While there may be a future where we return to larger gathering spaces if the season calls for it, right now we are dedicated to creating practical, integrated tools specifically for today’s local church.
Our vision is to provide a catalytic gathering where you can learn and recharge, and rediscover the “why” behind your leadership in a supportive environment. We want you to be able to reconnect with and rediscover your calling as you find clarity in a world where burnout is common. And lastly, we want to help and equip you to lead with an integrated strategy by showing you how you can access a holistic approach to ministry that combines discipleship content and organizational tools.
Moving forward requires us to be brave enough to paint a new picture for the future while leaning on the proven, timeless, and unchanging faithfulness of God. We are for the Local Church, and we carry a unique potential to reach the next generation.
ONLY THE CHURCH:
Built the first hospitals where none existed.
Is sent to disciple nations.
Kept libraries and learning alive through the dark ages.
Built the first hospitals where none existed.
Built by Jesus, cannot be overcome.
Backed early artists and composers who shaped culture.
Under the authority of Christ, holds the keys to the Kingdom.
Empowered by God’s Spirit, witnesses to the world.
Taught the world to read by translating Scripture.
Created the first orphan care and adoption networks.
Join us as we gather in a way that honors the local church and the leaders who pour into it every single week.
April 28 – April 30, 2026 | Dallas, Texas
The post Only The Church appeared first on Think Orange.
]]>The post ANNOUNCED Weekly | Imagine being there at the beginning… appeared first on Think Orange.
]]>Imagine being there at the beginning
It was January 9, 2007 when Steve Jobs uttered those famous words…
‘An iPod. A phone. And an internet communicator. Are you getting it? These are not three separate devices’.
On that day in San Francisco, the world was introduced to the iPhone. And it changed the way we live.
Imagine having actually been there. Imagine the energy, the wonder, the sense of possibility. Sure, you could read about it later that day, or re-watch it on the internet. But those few people who were there at 800 Howard Street are the only ones who truly got to FEEL it.
Some moments are simply unforgettable. Unrepeatable. And absolutely unmissable.
Which is why we’re so excited for everyone who’s coming to Church Conference. On the 28th of April, in the auditorium at Preston Trail Community Church, Amazing Life CEO Chris Heaslip will share not one, not two, but three of the biggest announcements in Kids Ministry. Ever.
Spoiler alert: It’s not a new iPod, a new phone, and a new internet communicator.
But it is ground-breaking. Individually, each of these three announcements would alter the landscape. Together, they’re going to change the face of Kid’s Ministry for good.
Of course, we already know what they are. So we know exactly how important this moment is going to be. The energy will be through the roof. The sense of possibility will be limitless. The feeling will be truly unforgettable.
And we’d hate for you to miss it! Learn more at achurchconference.com
Missed the latest episode of ANNOUNCED?
What We Covered This Week
Church Conference Updates
A refreshed vision for Church Conference — designed to align the whole church across every generation, from birth through students, with new experiences like the Senior Leader track, VIP Experience, Pre-Con and more.
Amazing Students Ministry Podcast
A new practitioner-focused podcast, featuring real student ministry leaders sharing what’s working on the front lines — practical strategies with zero fluff.
APlay Feature: “Share A Service”
A new feature allows leaders to email a fully curated service directly to another APlay user, helping teams collaborate and save time while focusing more on ministry. Available later this week.
Amazing Music & VBS
Amazing Music has officially reached 100 songs – and new VBS tracks for Kingdom Quest are releasing soon! Listen now in APlay or on your favorite streaming platform: Spotify | Apple Music | APlay
Looking Ahead
This year is full of possibilities.
We’re building, refining, and listening… because your feedback shapes what comes next. If something isn’t working or if there’s a tool that would make your job easier, we want to hear from you.
Reach out to your Customer Success partner anytime or email us at [email protected]. We’d love to walk alongside you. We’ll see you next week.
The post ANNOUNCED Weekly | Imagine being there at the beginning… appeared first on Think Orange.
]]>The post Striking the Rock: Why the Next Era of Kids Ministry is More Human Than You Think appeared first on Think Orange.
]]>You set out on your journey with total confidence in your tool. However, as the trail disappears and the terrain gets steeper, you realize something is wrong. While the map is technically perfect, it is actually a detailed street map of a city. It is a great tool, but it was designed for a completely different environment. In the wilderness, even the best city map becomes useless because it doesn’t speak the language of the landscape you are currently standing in.
In ministry, we often feel that same tension. We are surrounded by great ideas and “proven” formulas, but sometimes we realize we’re holding a tool that is too small (or just plain wrong) for the giant dreams God has placed in our hearts.
The Moses Trap
To understand where we are going, let’s look at the story of Moses. In Exodus 17, God tells Moses to strike a rock with his staff to bring forth water. Moses does it, water flows, and it is a miracle.
But years later, in Numbers 20, when the people are thirsty again, God gives Moses a new instruction: Speak to the rock. Instead, Moses does what is familiar because it worked in the past. He strikes the rock…not once, but twice.
The water still flowed, but because Moses relied on a previous method instead of a current instruction, he missed out on the Promised Land. The lesson we can learn from this is that using the wrong tool, or even the right tool at the wrong time, can be detrimental.
At Amazing Life, we believe we are in a “Numbers 20 moment.” We cannot simply keep “striking the rock” because it’s what we’ve always done. We believe the World’s Greatest Mission deserves the World’s Greatest Tools.
Re-humanization: A New Era in Kids Ministry
Over the last century, children’s ministry has evolved through some incredible eras, from the Sunday School models of the 1920s to the high-production digital media models of the 2010s. Every era brought great tools that served their season well.
However, as we look at the world today, it is clear that something is not working: we’ve never been more “connected” via technology, yet we’re finding that children have never been more lonely, parents have never been this frustrated and stressed, and leaders are feeling disconnected from those they lead.
This is why Amazing Life is moving into what we call The Re-humanization Era.
What is Re-humanization?
It isn’t a move backward, and we aren’t saying technology is bad. It is the realization that in a shifting world, we must focus on the things that remain the same: consistent relationships and person-to-person discipleship.
Re-humanization means:
- Moving from ‘screens as the teacher’ to screens as a tool for the shepherd.
- Building systems that don’t just count the 99 who show up, but empower a leader to go find the one who didn’t.
At Amazing Life, our mission isn’t to build the world’s greatest ministry model. It is to build Christlikeness in the hearts of the next generation. To do that, we must be willing to lay down the tools of yesterday to pick up the ones God is providing us with for tomorrow.
Despite technology ‘shrinking the world’, people are feeling more disconnected than ever. There’s never been a greater need for God; for pastors to pastor, and for leaders to bring His people together.
That is the Rock that never changes. And helping the local church anchor their communities to it is the mission we’ve dedicated ourselves to.
If you’re wondering what this next era of Kids Ministry actually looks like in practice, don’t miss Church Conference. We’ll be unveiling three of the biggest announcements in Kids Ministry history — giving you a clear picture of where re-humanized ministry is headed and the tools that will help you lead it. Learn more and join us at: AChurchConference.com
The post Striking the Rock: Why the Next Era of Kids Ministry is More Human Than You Think appeared first on Think Orange.
]]>The post Clarity, Conversation, and Choosing People Over Perfection appeared first on Think Orange.
]]>If you come across a grammatical error or something that feels “off” in our curriculum and bring it to our attention, please know this right away: we hear you, and it matters to us.
That’s why we want to bring you into our process and share the heart behind how and why we write and edit our content…and how we think about mistakes when they happen.
We Write for People, Not Pages
First and foremost, our curriculum is written to be said out loud.
Every script we create is designed to sound natural when spoken by real leaders, talking to real kids, in real rooms. That means we intentionally prioritize a conversational writing style, even when that choice doesn’t always align with the most formal rules of grammar.
For example:
- Ending a sentence with a preposition
- Choosing “and” instead of a serial comma
- Writing the way someone actually speaks, not how an essay reads
- Using sentence fragments for emphasis
- Starting sentences with “And,” “But,” or “So”
- Repeating a word or phrase on purpose
- Using informal phrasing instead of formal alternatives
These aren’t oversights. They’re intentional so that leaders can read a script and think, “Yes, this sounds like me.”
Because a script that’s grammatically pristine but awkward to say doesn’t serve kids well.
Kids Hear Differently Than Adults
We also write differently depending on who the content is for.
- Preschool content avoids contractions because that’s not how adults naturally speak to preschoolers.
- Elementary and student content leans more conversational to mirror how leaders engage older kids.
- Parent-facing content is held to a higher editorial standard because it lives longer and represents the church beyond a single service.
In every case, our guiding question is the same: Will this be clear, helpful, and usable for the person saying it, and will it share Jesus in a way that reaches the heart of every kid?
Humans Are at the Center of Our Process
All of our curriculum is written, edited, and reviewed by real people.
We do not rely on AI to create our curriculum. Every piece of written content begins and ends with human writers and editors who care deeply about kids knowing Jesus. While we use technology tools to assist with proofreading and editing, those tools have limitations… and they don’t replace human judgment.
Sometimes suggestions from tools like Grammarly are intentionally ignored because:
- They remove conversational tone
- They make sentences technically “correct,” but harder to say
- They don’t reflect how leaders actually communicate
That human lens matters to us. And unfortunately, sometimes human processes also mean human error.
When Errors Happen (Because Sometimes They Will)
Every error bothers us. Truly. But not every error carries the same weight.
When something is flagged, we process it through a few key filters:
- Is it parent-facing?
- Does it significantly change the meaning or takeaway?
- Is it a Scripture error?
Scripture errors are always a top priority to fix.
Other issues—like punctuation inconsistencies or possessive formatting (Jairus’ daughter vs. Jairus’s daughter)—don’t alter the heart or outcome of a lesson. In those cases, we may log it as a learning for future edits rather than retroactively changing every instance.
That doesn’t mean the feedback isn’t valued. It is. It simply means we’re balancing clarity, speed, scale, and stewardship.
Our North Star: Clarity Over Perfection
If there’s one thing we hope you take away, it’s this:
We will always choose clarity over grammatical perfection.
We will always choose people over polish.
Our goal at Amazing Life isn’t to create flawless documents. It’s to create content that helps leaders communicate Biblical truth clearly, confidently, and with heart. It’s to tell the Good News of Jesus to kids in a way that makes the most sense to them.
Thank you for caring enough to notice. Thank you for partnering with us.
And thank you for the grace you extend as we continue to build, refine, and serve churches with excellence.
If you ever have questions or feedback, our Customer Success team is always here, and your input truly helps shape what’s next.
The post Clarity, Conversation, and Choosing People Over Perfection appeared first on Think Orange.
]]>From revisiting the NEXT Keynote to investing in leadership and looking ahead to what’s next for the church, everything here is designed to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
The post ANNOUNCED Weekly | NEXT Keynote, Volunteer Strategy, Church Conference, Amazing Leaders, and more! appeared first on Think Orange.
]]>🎥 ANNOUNCED: NEXT Keynote Replay
If you missed last week’s NEXT Keynote, the full replay is now available.
Chris and Tyler step back to look at the bigger story of next gen ministry—where we’ve been, what we’ve learned, and why this next season matters so much for church leaders today.
This conversation isn’t about tools for tools’ sake.
It’s about removing friction, clarifying focus, and creating space for leaders to do what only they can do:
Pastor people.
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.
🎵 Preschool: Volume 01 Drops Friday
Preschool: Volume 01 releases this Friday — and Jesus Loves Me is live now.
This new drop includes fresh takes on favorites like:
My God Is So Big
Rejoice in the Lord Always
Father Abraham
The B-I-B-L-E
Jesus Loves Me
▶️ Listen now in APlay or on your favorite streaming platform:
Spotify | Apple Music | APlay
Our heart with Amazing Music is simple:
Help kids understand what they’re singing and engage with worship in a meaningful way.
⛪️ A Gathering for the Whole Church
Formerly Orange Conference, Church Conference reflects a broader focus: equipping entire church teams to partner with families and reach the next generation together.
📍 Preston Trail Community Church — Dallas, TX
🗓 April 28–30, 2026
Over three days, leaders will step into experiences designed to:
Restore clarity
Reignite conviction
Bring momentum back to ministry
New speakers continue to be added, with voices shaping the future of church leadership, discipleship, and family ministry.
This is where strategy meets soul.
And where leaders are reminded why the work matters.
Looking Ahead
This year is full of possibilities.
We’re building, refining, and listening… because your feedback shapes what comes next. If something isn’t working or if there’s a tool that would make your job easier, we want to hear from you.
Reach out to your Customer Success partner anytime or email us at [email protected]. We’d love to walk alongside you. We’ll see you next week.
The post ANNOUNCED Weekly | NEXT Keynote, Volunteer Strategy, Church Conference, Amazing Leaders, and more! appeared first on Think Orange.
]]>Our hope is simply to serve you well. To clear away what distracts, give you a little time back, and support you as you do what only you can do: point families toward Jesus. Here’s what’s new, created with you in mind.
The post ANNOUNCED Weekly | EveryChurch, New Music, and What’s Coming in February appeared first on Think Orange.
]]>🎥 Watch The Latest ANNOUNCED
The latest ANNOUNCED episode was packed, from our growing EveryChurch initiative to new music, VBS updates, and a first look at a brand-new leadership resource launching in February.
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.
🎵 New Music Is Here!
Volume 8 of Amazing Music drops on all streaming platforms at the end of this month! It’s full of high-energy worship bops your kids will love.
This month’s releases include 10 new elementary songs and 2 new preschool songs. You’ll recognize some classics (like Breathe, Great Things, and I Am Free), reimagined so kids can sing them with confidence and joy.
Amazing Music started with one goal: give families a shared language for worship. Not just in church, but in the car, at home, and everywhere in between. Starting in February, all songs are available in APlay for weekend services, and on Spotify and Apple Music so parents can join in all week long.
☀️ VBS 2026: Kingdom Quest
VBS has officially launched, and we are so excited about Kingdom Quest.
This year’s VBS is an epic journey to discover God’s kingdom. Each day follows the life of Peter, inviting kids to explore what it really means to follow Jesus, live out God’s Kingdom, and grow as disciples.
Inside this year’s VBS:
- High-energy worship music
- Animated Bible stories
- Engaging rotations
- Flexible resources for churches of all sizes
Pro tip: Join the VBS Facebook Group to swap ideas, decorations, adaptations, and encouragement with leaders across the country.
This is one of our favorite VBS experiences yet, and we’d love to partner with you for your best summer ever!
🚨 Coming Soon: Amazing Leaders
Training your leaders just got easier.
Launching at the beginning of February, Amazing Leaders is a brand-new training hub designed to equip your leaders and volunteers.
If you’re an Amazing+ subscriber, you’ll automatically get access to:
- Conference sessions & workshops
- Practical ministry training
- A growing library of leadership content from trusted voices
This includes sessions from years of Orange Conference content, plus resources like EveryChild, all in one place and continually expanding.
⛪️ CHURCH CONFERENCE
Formerly Orange Conference, Church Conference reflects a broader focus: equipping the entire church to partner with families and reach the next generation.
📍 Preston Trail Community Church – Dallas, Texas
🗓 April 28–30, 2026
Church Conference is where strategy meets soul.
Over three incredible days, you’ll step into moments designed to bring clarity, inspiration, and momentum back to your leadership and ministry.
This is the next chapter of Orange Conference—same heart, bigger horizon.
Learn more at AChurchConference.com
Looking Ahead
This year is full of possibilities.
We’re building, refining, and listening… because your feedback shapes what comes next. If something isn’t working or if there’s a tool that would make your job easier, we want to hear from you.
Reach out to your Customer Success partner anytime or email us at [email protected]. We’d love to walk alongside you. We’ll see you next week.
The post ANNOUNCED Weekly | EveryChurch, New Music, and What’s Coming in February appeared first on Think Orange.
]]>Everything shared in this week’s update was built from real feedback. We see and hear the small churches, the overstretched leaders, and the volunteers who are giving their all to ministry. Our goal is that you can spend less time managing logistics and more time shepherding people.
The post ANNOUNCED Weekly | EveryChurch, a Brand-New Free Trial Experience, and Tools That Give You Time Back appeared first on Think Orange.
]]>🎥 Watch The Latest ANNOUNCED
If you missed the latest Facebook Live, you can catch the full replay now. Tyler shared several major updates, from a brand-new free trial experience to improvements inside Service Builder.
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.
From EveryChild to EveryChurch
EveryChurch builds on the heart behind our EveryChild initiative: a curriculum adapted for neurodivergent learners that stays aligned with the scope and sequence.
Together, these initiatives move us toward a larger goal: reaching 100 million kids over the next 10 years by partnering with churches of every size, across the globe.
Looking ahead, EveryChurch may expand to include:
- Spanish-language resources
- ASL content
- Additional accessibility-focused tools
Because access changes everything.
Amazing+ 30-Day Free Trial
We also announced a 30-day free trial for Amazing+, our all-in-one subscription built around a complete 0–18 strategy.
Amazing+ brings curriculum, training, media, and technology together into one connected system—so your entire ministry speaks the same language from birth through graduation.
What you’ll experience during your free trial:
A unified 0–18 strategy—from preschool through high school
Engaging media kids and teens actually want to watch
Curriculum, training, and resources designed to work together
Tech tools that simplify weekly prep and save your team time
Everything is pre-organized, presentation-ready, and customizable—so leaders can focus on people, not logistics.
Most churches piece this together using multiple providers.
Amazing+ replaces that complexity with one clear, connected approach.
Now, you can experience it firsthand.
Start your free trial today at JoinAmazing.com/freetrial
CHURCH CONFERENCE
New Name, New Location
Formerly Orange Conference, Church Conference reflects a broader focus: equipping the entire church to partner with families and reach the next generation.
📍 Preston Trail Community Church – Dallas, Texas
🗓 April 28–30, 2026
Church Conference is where strategy meets soul.
Over three incredible days, you’ll step into moments designed to bring clarity, inspiration, and momentum back to your leadership and ministry.
This is the next chapter of Orange Conference—same heart, bigger horizon.
Learn more at AChurchConference.com
Service Builder Updates
Cleaner Scripts, Same Flexibility
Since launching in September, Service Builder has received nearly 20 updates—each one shaped directly by pastor feedback.
The latest improvement tackles a common pain point: page breaks.
Now, when exporting scripts as PDFs:
- Page breaks are clean and predictable
- Page numbers display correctly
- Printed scripts are easier to use week-to-week
Service Builder still lets you:
- Toggle sections on and off
- Customize scripts before downloading
- Automatically build media playlists alongside scripts
And because updates roll out directly inside Service Builder, it always contains the most up-to-date version of every script and asset.
Less friction. Fewer workarounds. More confidence on Sunday.
Why It All Matters
We see the weight you carry: the planning, the people, the prayers behind the scenes. Everything we build is meant to give you time back, reduce friction, and help you focus on what matters most. We’re grateful to partner with you.
Tell us what you need: Questions, feedback, or ideas? Email us anytime at [email protected]. Your voice continues to shape what’s next.
The post ANNOUNCED Weekly | EveryChurch, a Brand-New Free Trial Experience, and Tools That Give You Time Back appeared first on Think Orange.
]]>The post ANNOUNCED Weekly | Hello Baby, Wonder & What’s Next for Your Team appeared first on Think Orange.
]]>🎥 Watch The Latest ANNOUNCED
If you missed the latest Facebook Live, you can catch the full replay now. Tyler walks through Hello Baby, the Wonder refresh, and what’s coming next for leaders in 2026.
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
Wonder Refresh: Expanding Ollie’s World
If you use our preschool ministry, you already know how much kids love Ollie the owl. As Orange and Amazing Life continued to integrate, the team approached a Wonder refresh with great care, this wasn’t change for change’s sake.
The refreshed Wonder keeps Ollie at the center while expanding his world in meaningful ways. New characters have been introduced, each reflecting common personality types kids recognize in themselves and others. Stories can now unfold across a broader landscape, including forests, mountains, water, and more, giving kids a richer environment to explore biblical truth.
This matters because research consistently shows kids are far more likely to retain and apply truth when it’s delivered through characters they identify with. When a child sees a character struggle with forgiveness or fear and then grow, it helps them imagine that growth for themselves.
A Consistent Picture of Jesus
You’ll also notice a refreshed visual approach to Bible stories. The same depiction of Jesus that kids see in the story video is now carried through activity pages and small group materials. Over time, that consistency helps kids recognize, remember, and relate to who Jesus is.
The first month of the Wonder refresh will be available at the end of this month. Early testing with kids has already shown strong engagement and positive feedback.
NEXT: A Gathering for Leaders Thinking Long-Term
Curriculum matters, but strategy sustains faith. That’s why NEXT exists.
NEXT is a gathering of NextGen pastors and ministry leaders from around the world who are wrestling with the same questions: How do we disciple kids from 0–18 with intention? What do we do about the growing number of students walking away from faith after graduation? How do we build something cohesive?
Unlike traditional conferences, NEXT is built around conversation. Expert voices bring data, trends, and insight, but roundtable discussions give leaders space to process together, share what’s working, and learn from one another.
Event Details
January 26–27
Dallas/Fort Worth
Apply at next.thinkorange.com
Church Conference: Learning Together as a Whole Team
Looking ahead to 2026, the team is also preparing for Church Conference, formerly Orange Conference, now expanded and designed for the entire church team.
Church Conference is for NextGen leaders, senior leaders, executive pastors, ministry volunteers, and more. It keeps what leaders have loved about Orange Conference while broadening the focus to reflect the reality that the local church thrives when leaders learn and align together.
This is an opportunity for teams to travel together, grow together, and return home with shared vision and language for what’s next. Learn more at achurchconference.com
Why It All Matters
From nursery to preschool to long-term strategy, these updates are anchored by the conviction: discipleship works best when it’s intentional, consistent, and shared.
HelloBaby ensures truth is spoken from day one. Wonder helps preschoolers see themselves in the story and recognize Jesus consistently. NEXT and Church Conference give leaders space to connect the dots across every phase.
We’re grateful to partner with you in this work—and we’re excited for what God is building through His church in the year ahead.
What you’re doing for the next generation truly matters.
Have questions or feedback? We’d love to hear from you. Email us anytime at [email protected].
The post ANNOUNCED Weekly | Hello Baby, Wonder & What’s Next for Your Team appeared first on Think Orange.
]]>The post ANNOUNCED Weekly | APlay Pro: A Simpler, Stronger Way to Run Ministry Media appeared first on Think Orange.
]]>🎥 Watch This Week’s Conversation
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 [email protected].
The post ANNOUNCED Weekly | APlay Pro: A Simpler, Stronger Way to Run Ministry Media appeared first on Think Orange.
]]>