EBOOK
About
Attract kids to church, the logic often goes, and you get parents in the pews. All that's left, then, is to get the kids out of the way. Here children's ministers David Csinos and Ivy Beckwith draw on research in human development and spiritual formation to show how children become disciples and churches become centers of lifelong discipleship. For too long, the local church has focused primarily on programs for children rather than ways of doing ministry with children. But in light of emerging missional movements, the church is changing and forming a new kind of ecclesial culture. And children's ministry must follow suit. Csinos and Beckwith propose a new way of thinking for these modern churches-they suggest that children can contribute to our theological understandings, as well as invest in and practice Biblical justice just like adult church members. Here is a unique resource that explores children's ministry in light of true spiritual formation and discipleship.
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Reviews
"This book is a beautiful invitation into a way of ministering alongside children. I love how Beckwith and CSInos write about formation with children as a tale of traveling companions, setting out on a journey together to know and experience God along the way. Rich!"
Mimi Keel, Jacob's Well Church, Kansas City, Missouri
"Hats off to CSInos and Beckwith for partnering to produce a book that will help to change children's ministry as we have known it. What a difference this change will bring to the spiritual formation of kingdom kids! As both practitioners and scholars, CSInos and Beckwith have combined their talents to provide a thought-provoking resource for revolutionizing the ministry paradigm found in many, many evangelical churches. They challenge children's leaders to go much deeper than merely providing the best (think fun) hour of the week for children; they want children to meet God and be formed through the Holy Spirit. Of course, there is a chapter on theology but also a chapter on dealing with the hard, honest questions that children ask--a chapter that includes the value and virtues of doubts. Children's Ministry in the Way of Jesus explores themes and concepts beyond most children's ministry books. I will eagerly recommend it to my students."
Scottie May, teacher, writer, and lover of children, Wheaton College
"Finally there is a book for practitioners in children's ministry that spells out what those in the academic world of children's Christian education have been saying for decades: children's ministry needs to be, primarily, about spiritual formation! Ivy Beckwith and David CSInos masterfully weave rich research with practical examples from their experiences leading children's ministries to cast a vision of ministry with children as opposed to ministry to children. Children's Ministry in the Way of Jesus provides churches with a clear path to engaging children's hearts, minds and imaginations with the transformative message of the gospel."
Henry Zonio, husband, dad, sociologist, author and blogger at KidminandCulture.com