Resources

In May 2022, The Barna Group, in partnership with Awana, released a report that churches and church leaders should give significant attention to. “Children’s Ministry in a New Reality”* seeks to look at the church of today in order to form the future church. Awana CEO Matt Markins asks a question that we should all be concerned with. It is not a question of what the future church is, but how we can be a part of actively forming it today: “If today’s kids are to be the church members and church leaders of 2050, how should we change our...

  The Bible, first placed in printed form some five hundred years ago, paved the way for bringing the Word of God directly to every individual who has acquired the ability to read and has Scripture available in their language. Yet, millions in the world remain illiterate. The same is true as we work with children who can’t yet read. We must communicate the Word of God to them verbally. It must be shared in a format where everyone can understand and be drawn to God. The Words of God truly are the essence of all of life! What God...

“Can I help you?” I looked up to see nine-year-old Josh smiling at me, eager to assist. His mom had brought him to my Sunday afternoon seminar on “Partnering with Children.” Throughout the seminar Josh was always the first to volunteer for activities, he enthusiastically participated in discussions, and at the end of the seminar he asked, “How do I sign up to help you do what you do?” This young man was ready to be used by God. Earlier, during the morning worship service, the pastor had taught about evangelism. All the adults were given a special wristband with...

The church, or faith family, plays an active role in the spiritual formation of children. The tool of spiritual benchmarking provides a critical piece to the formation puzzle. These markers help parents and faith families walk alongside children as they grow in Christ. We call them GrowthRings®. We’ve taken twenty years of GrowthRings and grouped them into five-year phases. The church can develop practices that contribute to the faith formation of young people in each phase. In this issue, we focus on ages eleven through fifteen. This phase broadens the focus of loving God and loving others, giving the church...

The church, or faith family, plays an active role in the spiritual formation of children. Teaching classes and building community through games are common ways we serve. These opportunities, along with following a curriculum and providing safe environments, are all pieces in the larger faith formation puzzle. Spiritual benchmarking provides another critical piece to that puzzle. These markers help parents and faith families walk alongside children as they grow in Christ. We call them GrowthRings®. We’ve taken twenty years of GrowthRings and grouped them into five-year phases. The church can develop practices that contribute to children’s faith formation in each...