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CDM’s mission is to strengthen the Church through connections. Through articles, podcasts, and resources we want to help connect you with people and tools that will help you in ministry.
Ministry to children can often feel lonely, but we hope this site will be a place that will encourage you and equip you for a lifetime of investing in the next generation. You are part of God’s covenant community and your investment in the little ones really does matter to God.
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Beyond the Family: Why Covenant Parenting Requires the Whole Church
Beyond the Family: Why Covenant Parenting Requires the Whole Church— My sons are not being discipled by my husband and me alone. Their spiritual inheritance is being shaped by a whole community of believers. They are loved by “Aunties” and “Uncles,” our friends who love our boys as their own. While we are rooted first and foremost in the gospel, our family also draws from a beautiful tradition common in many Asian cultures: calling every invested elder “Auntie” or “Uncle.” For our family, these titles are more than terms of affection. They represent a living network of support and [...]
Making the Most of Summer
Making the Most of Summer— Popsicles and less programming are what summer is made of around here! A few years ago, our church purchased two lots adjacent to our campus which gave us a lawn for summer suppers. Bare-footed, sun-kissed toddlers make their way to the outdoor popsicle freezer. Mamas enjoy deep conversation on picnic blankets. Bigger kids become expert helpers and feel promoted status. The boys bring their football and have a game going while Mrs. Lou is in her lawn chair finally catching up with Mrs. Vickie whom she hasn’t seen all year. It’s summer in the [...]
Helping Children See God’s Gracious Mission
Helping Children See God's Gracious Mission- If you have ever baked with a small child, you know how messy that process can be. So messy in fact, that you might vow to never bake with small children again! But how rewarding is it when you take time to sit in the mess with small children, to model for them how to bake those cookies? Serving in church is similar. When we invite children into serving from a young age, when we sit in the mess as they learn, they ultimately grow in their understanding of serving humbly wherever the [...]
How the Covenant Shapes Children’s Participation in Worship
How the Covenant Shapes Children's Participation in Worship- Studies have revealed a lot about how children understand the world around them. Children learn much more through experience than just through instruction that is only tailored to their age. They learn by imitation rather than by simply being told what to do. They learn as embodied beings—because that is how God created them. And as God’s image bearers, we are embodied people who worship Him with our whole being. Consider how children learn to eat. When a child is very young, we don’t wait until they fully understand nutrition or table manners before including them at the table. Instead, they sit with their family, [...]
Reachout Adventures VBS: An Unforgettable Experience With Lasting Impact-
Reachout Adventures VBS: An Unforgettable Experience With Lasting Impact Vacation Bible School is one of the most rewarding and hectic weeks of the year! Add in the months of planning, hours of meetings, and the moment-by-moment prayer to the God we long to introduce to these precious children, and it’s a full-time endeavor. Our church is preparing for VBS this very minute, and it’s my third to plan and direct. During my first year as Children’s Ministry Director, we started a brand-new curriculum for our church: ReachOut Adventures. It was an easy “yes” as I read its vision and [...]
Leading Children’s Ministry Through the Lens of Mission and Vision
Leading Children’s Ministry Through the Lens of Mission and Vision — Sometimes a renewed perspective on the mission and vision of the church comes from unexpected changes that remind us we are all a part of God’s family. The sanctuary had such a homey feel. A smaller space with pew doors that closed but evidence of open hearts as we recited creeds and spent time in humble confession. A curly headed little boy ran up to the front, eager to hear what the pastor had to teach him and his friends. As a visitor in my 20s, the relatable [...]
Celebrating a Christ-Centered Easter as a Family
Celebrating a Christ-Centered Easter as a Family- One of my vivid memories of Easter growing up is my mother buying matching Easter dresses for my sister and me. There are many Easter pictures of us in those dresses with Easter bonnets and baskets. Those memories are wonderful and warm, and I am thankful for them, but what would it look like to intentionally plan such warm family traditions with a focus on pointing the hearts of our children toward Jesus and celebrating the hope of His resurrection? Celebrating Easter Week One of the most impactful ways families can keep [...]
Children’s Ministry Rooted in Scripture, Shaped by Relationship
Children’s Ministry Rooted in Scripture, Shaped by Relationship - I keep two items on my desk as I work. Both were purchased during my travels in the first year of my role as CDM’s Children’s Ministry Coordinator. The first is a well-worn copy of Catechism for Young Children, published in 1910, which I discovered in a used bookstore in Nashville. This tiny pink book is falling apart, yet it holds rich wisdom for parents and teachers before presenting the 145 questions and answers drawn from the truths of Scripture. The second item comes from my family’s visit to the [...]
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