Website Summary Assignment
Rylie Hineman
CHMN: 301 Foundations of NextGen Ministry
August 2023
Many ministry leaders find it difficult to plan and write series after series for a ministry.
With this problem becoming well-known, organizations have stepped up to fill this sought out
need. Shows, apps, and curriculum have all come out to support the new age of ministry and its
needs, and this also leads to an important act of discernment for the leaders. To know what works
for a ministry is one thing, but to admit to the ever-changing times and evolution of ministry
needed to reach all levels is another. ThinkOrange is one of the many that claim to revolutionize
ministry from pre-school all the way to high school, and likewise other organizations have taken
the year-long planning platform to heart.
ThinkOrange is a website that offers annual curriculum for pre-school through high
school, while also offering other forms of ministry assistance. The website is meant for more
than just the curriculum, looking at volunteer aspects and Vacation Bible School. ThinkOrange
offers web training, conferences, and masterclasses for new leaders diving into the ministry
world. It also offers individualized training and personalized support, which helps the leader
learn the curriculum and refreshes the excitement of the leader. Focusing on pre-school and
elementary curriculum, there are month-by-month topics, along with teaching videos, volunteer
training, small groups, and decorations. The program also acts in ways of bringing the ministry
into the home, by involving parents in experiencing their child’s curriculum and social media.
The pricing is based on the student population and potential add-ons. These add-ons are media
files and digital download activities.
From a personal point of view, it seems that Phase is very well put together. The
organization and resources that seem to be available for every question are extremely appealing.
When I realized that the studies were yearlong, I became intrigued as to how that could play a
part in my church. I could see the response to something like this in two ways. The first way that
it eases the stress of the children’s director. It has potential to ease the anxiety that it takes to help
lead the children, by already having games and lessons plans. The other way I see the response is
it takes away the spontaneity that many people value in church. What surprised and disappointed
me was the price point. I can firmly say that with all of the other events and activities that my
church offers to the children’s program, this would be labeled as “unnecessary”. Bible lessons
and activities are what leaders make of them. The number of free resources available for
children's ministry is enough to last for a year if planned right.
In conclusion, ThinkOrange effectively does what it says it does. To provide non-
denominational curriculum eases the single person stress of a weekly responsibility. The
yearlong platform has become popular amongst many and has also been proven to do well for the
student's spirituality. Reviewing the website, it offers an extraordinary number of resources that
also range outside of k-12, which adds extra appeal to the website. My own personal thoughts on
the website are good, however, the price point can be argued when someone looks at the
availability of free resources on other platforms. Overall, it is up to the leader of the ministry to
discern what is best for their ministry and when. This discernment needs to be a culmination of
the current health of the ministry, future goals, and needed improvements. Organizations like
ThinkOrange will continue to pop-up and evolve with the push and pull of ministry needs, and
with the seeming increasing desire for ease of access, this popularity will only continue to grow.
Bibliography
“First Look Preschool Curriculum.” n.d. Think Orange. https://thinkorange.com/first-look-
preschool-ministry-curriculum/.
“252 Kids Ministry Curriculum.” n.d. Think Orange. https://thinkorange.com/252-kids-ministry-
curriculum/.
