Hope Cake

Children’s ministry can be joyful, creative, and deeply meaningful… but it can also be exhausting.In this honest conversation, Jo Hobbis sits down with Hannah Aske from TenFour Ministries to talk about the challenges many kids ministry leaders face but don’t always say out loud.Why do so many children’s pastors burn out after just a few years? Why can ministry feel harder than people expect? And how do you keep your joy when the pressure, expectations, and volunteer shortages start piling up?Jo and Hannah unpack the hidden realities of kids ministry — from the blurred lines between calling and job, to the struggle of measuring spiritual impact, to the constant challenge of recruiting and supporting volunteers.Along the way, you’ll discover practical strategies, surprising mindset shifts, and encouragement for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed in ministry.In this episode you’ll discover: Why many kids ministry leaders burn out after just a few years  The hidden pressures that make children’s ministry harder than it looks  Why spiritual growth in kids is so hard to measure (and why that’s okay)  Practical ways to recruit and encourage volunteers  A mindset shift that helps leaders rediscover joy in their callingIf you’ve ever wondered "Am I the only one finding this hard?” this episode will remind you that you’re not alone and help you rediscover the joy of your calling.You’ll come away feeling seen, encouraged, and better equipped to lead kids and families with hope.Support the showNever miss an episode - follow Hope Cake on socials @hopecakepod

Many churches long to see children and families come to faith — but what happens when they’re simply not walking through the doors on Sunday?In this episode, Jo Hobbis talks with Hannah Aske from TenFour Ministries about why outreach to children and families matters more than ever — and why it doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive, or intimidating.Hannah shares powerful stories from working with children in schools and communities, revealing the deep need many children carry today — from anxiety to isolation — and why the church must be present where they are.Together they explore: Why outreach is central to the Great Commission  The fears that often hold churches back from starting  How simple midweek kids’ clubs can reach families in your community  Why confidence (in ourselves and in God) is often the biggest barrier  How to create pathways from community activities to the gospel Hannah also shares practical insights from launching outreach ministries, working with schools, and helping churches discover what they can do — even with limited people, budget, or time.If you're a church leader, children's worker, or volunteer wondering how to connect with families beyond Sunday, this conversation will inspire you to take the first step.Because reaching the next generation often begins with a simple decision:Go where they are.Support the showNever miss an episode - follow Hope Cake on socials @hopecakepod

What if the biggest barrier to thriving kids ministry… is church culture?In this episode of Building Thriving Kids Ministry, Jo Hobbis continues the conversation with Hannah Aske, founder of TenFour Ministries, about why the Church may need to rethink how it sees children.Many churches say children matter. But do our priorities, structures, and attitudes actually reflect that?Hannah shares what she’s learned from working with churches across the UK—why kids ministry is often undervalued, the cultural shifts needed for it to thrive, and how leaders can begin creating churches where children are genuinely welcomed, discipled, and celebrated.If you care about the future of the Church, this conversation might challenge the way you think about children’s ministry.Because thriving kids ministry isn’t just about better programmes.It’s about a culture that believes children truly belong.Support the showNever miss an episode - follow Hope Cake on socials @hopecakepod

What if the future of the Church depends on how we see children today?In this first episode of Building Thriving Kids Ministry, Jo Hobbis sits down with Hannah Aske, founder of TenFour Ministries, to talk about a challenge many churches are quietly facing: where have all the children gone—and what can we do about it?Hannah shares the story behind TenFour Ministries and the heart that led her to launch a movement focused on outreach children’s ministry. From seeing the realities facing children in schools and communities, to recognising the gap in how churches prioritise kids, she asks a bold question: What if children’s ministry isn’t optional—but essential to the mission of the Church?You’ll hear: Why outreach to children is often missing from church strategy  The surprising story of how Hannah started leading kids ministry at just 16  How churches can move beyond “just running a programme”  Why defining your “win” changes everything about how you lead  The powerful role young leaders can play in building a thriving ministry If you’ve ever felt the weight of leading children’s ministry—or wondered how churches can reach the next generation more effectively—this conversation will challenge and encourage you.Because building a thriving kids ministry doesn’t happen by accident.Support the showNever miss an episode - follow Hope Cake on socials @hopecakepod

What does it look like to be a family on mission? In this inspiring conversation, Jo Hobbis gets to chat with Alan Charter from the Global Children's Forum. They unpack the idea of every family being "salt and light" in their community, the significant role children play in that, and the practicalities of working it out in real, messy, everyday life. If you're a parent who's wondering if you've missed your chance for mission, or a minister who wants to empower families to do more for the Kingdom, this conversation is for you.https://gcf.community/https://familiesonmission.org/Support the showNever miss an episode - follow Hope Cake on socials @hopecakepod

Jo Hobbis chats with Meredith Anne Miller about her new book 'Wonder', which serves as a guide for adults to explore the Bible with children. They discuss the unique approach of the book, the selection of stories included, and the importance of making biblical narratives accessible to kids. Meredith shares insights on teaching children about faith, the significance of wonder in conversations, and the complexities of understanding the Old Testament. The discussion also touches on the exclusion of certain stories, like Noah's Ark, and the overall goal of fostering a deeper connection with scripture for both kids and parents.Support the showNever miss an episode - follow Hope Cake on socials @hopecakepod

Jo Hobbis reflects on what she has learned about the identity conversation from Christie Penner Worden through their discussion of The Me I Was Made To Be: Helping Parents Navigate The Identity Conversation. Support the showNever miss an episode - follow Hope Cake on socials @hopecakepod

In this final conversation, Jo Hobbis and Christie Penner Worden lean into the question that quietly sits underneath so many parenting and kids ministry fears: what happens when we miss it?Through stories of getting “lost” on a real-life walk, unexpected detours, and the tension of letting children lead, this episode gently unpacks what it means to trust God in the middle of uncertainty. You’ll feel the honesty, the humour, and at times the discomfort of realising how tightly we can hold onto “getting it right” in conversations with children.Together they explore what it looks like to loosen our grip on outcomes, stay curious instead of controlling, and create space for children to grow, question, and change their minds. You’ll be encouraged to see identity conversations not as something to win or finish, but something to walk through—often imperfectly, but never alone.This conversation will leave you feeling: reassured that mistakes don’t disqualify you as a parent or leader  challenged to choose humility over control  hopeful that “do-overs” are not just possible, but part of how God works with us  and encouraged that your child’s journey with identity can include safety, curiosity, and trust At its heart, this episode is a reminder that both adults and children are still becoming—and that God is faithful in the middle of every twist, turn, and detour along the way.This is the final part of a deep dive into The Me I Was Made To Be: Helping Christian Parents Navigate The Identity Conversation by Christie Penner Worden.Support the showNever miss an episode - follow Hope Cake on socials @hopecakepod

In this conversation, Jo Hobbis and Christie Penner Worden explore one of the most tender tensions in parenting and discipleship: how do we guide our children without trying to control the direction of their lives?Woven through stories, humour, and honest reflection, this episode feels like a long walk in itself—sometimes light and curious, sometimes deeply challenging. As you listen, you’ll likely recognise your own questions as a parent or leader: Am I setting guideposts or building guardrails? Do I trust the Holy Spirit with my child’s journey? What do I do when their path doesn’t look like mine?There’s a gentleness here that makes space for the complexity of raising children in a changing world. You’ll come away feeling both seen and steadied—invited to release some of the pressure to “get it right,” and encouraged to embrace a more spacious, faith-filled way of walking alongside the next generation.By the end, you’re left with a quiet but powerful reminder: love requires freedom, and trust means learning to let go while still staying close enough to call them home.This is Part Five of a deep dive into The Me I Was Made To Be: Helping Christian Parents Navigate The Identity Conversation by Christie Penner Worden.Support the showNever miss an episode - follow Hope Cake on socials @hopecakepod

What does it really mean to belong in church when life, identity, and experience don’t fit neat categories?In this deeply honest conversation, Christie Penner Worden shares a personal story of loss, generosity, and painful misunderstanding from within church culture—alongside unexpected moments of grace from the people you might least expect. Together, we explore how identity is shaped, how the church can unintentionally wound, and what it might look like to become communities marked not by control or certainty, but by humility, curiosity, and real welcome.As you listen, you may feel challenged, stirred, and at times uncomfortable—but also invited into something more hopeful and spacious. There’s a strong sense of being called back to the heart of Jesus: unity over agreement, presence over performance, and love that stays in the mess rather than stepping away from it.You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of how families and individuals experience identity in all its complexity, a fresh lens on what true hospitality looks like, and practical language shifts—from “lurid curiosity” to “holy curiosity”—that can reshape how we welcome and walk alongside others.This is a conversation about the church, yes—but even more, it’s about the kind of people we are becoming.This is Part Four of a deep dive into The Me I Was Made To Be: Helping Christian Parents Navigate The Identity Conversation by Christie Penner Worden.Support the showNever miss an episode - follow Hope Cake on socials @hopecakepod

In this conversation, Jo Hobbis and Christie Penner Worden explore what sits underneath some of the biggest and most sensitive questions in children’s ministry and discipleship: fear, identity, and how we handle conversations that feel close to the edge. It’s honest, unhurried, and deeply human—moving between personal stories, leadership tension, and the very real weight of trying to “get it right” when it comes to children and young people.As you listen, you may find yourself feeling both challenged and gently unsettled in the best way. There are moments that invite reflection, moments that bring clarity, and moments that land with real emotional honesty about the pressure leaders and parents carry. At the same time, there’s a strong sense of grace running through the conversation—an invitation to step out of fear-driven certainty and into curiosity, humility, and presence with others.You’ll walk away with language and tools for navigating difficult conversations without rushing to control them. You’ll hear a simple but powerful question—“What are you afraid of?”—that can open up deeper understanding in families, churches, and leadership spaces. And you may find yourself rethinking not just how you talk about identity, but how you listen, how you hold difference, and how you stay present with people at the edge of complex conversations.This is Part Three of a deep dive into The Me I Was Made To Be: Helping Christian Parents Navigate The Identity Conversation with Christie Penner Worden.Support the showNever miss an episode - follow Hope Cake on socials @hopecakepod

In this episode, Jo Hobbis and Christie Penner Worden open up a really honest, relatable conversation about those moments with kids that never quite go to plan — the spontaneous, unexpected questions that tend to show up in the car, in a corridor, or right in the middle of something else.Together, they explore what it looks like to respond when you don’t feel ready. Christie shares a really freeing reminder that you don’t need to have instant answers, and Jo reflects on the real-life reality of parenting and leading kids ministry when conversations are often short, surprising, and sometimes heavy.What you’ll take from it is a more grounded, grace-filled way to handle identity conversations — not as something to control or get right perfectly, but as moments to listen well, ask better questions, and build trust with the child in front of you. They touch on labels, grief, curiosity, and the tension of watching children grow and change in ways you didn’t expect.At its heart, it’s a conversation about learning to stay present when things feel uncertain — and finding freedom in not needing to have it all figured out.This is Part Two of a deep dive into The Me I Was Made To Be: Helping Christian Parents Navigate The Identity Conversation by Christie Penner Worden.Support the showNever miss an episode - follow Hope Cake on socials @hopecakepod

In this episode, Jo Hobbis and Christie Penner Worden explore how to have healthy, faith-filled conversations about identity with children in a digital world.You’ll gain practical insight into how to move beyond fear and guilt as a parent or leader, and instead build trust through curiosity, better questions, and relationship—following the way Jesus engaged with people.Christie unpacks why identity conversations must be rooted in safety and connection, how digital culture is shaping children differently than we expect, and why “need” and “enough” are key to helping kids understand who they are in God.If you’re a parent or kids ministry leader, you’ll come away encouraged to slow down, ask better questions, and trust that Jesus is at work in your child’s identity journey—even when you don’t feel like you have all the answers.This is Part One of a deep dive into The Me I Was Made To Be: Helping Christian Parents Navigate The Identity Conversation by Christie Penner Worden.Support the showNever miss an episode - follow Hope Cake on socials @hopecakepod

Jo Hobbis introduces The Me I Was Made To Be podcast series, an accompaniment to the book The Me I Was Made To Be: Helping Christian Parents Navigate The Identity Conversation by Christie Penner Worden.Support the showNever miss an episode - follow Hope Cake on socials @hopecakepod