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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
You Are Not Alone — One year after becoming the children’s director of a very large church in New York City, I sat down with CDM and GCP staff members, Sue Jakes and BA Snider, to talk about children’s ministry. I was young, new in my role, and craving any help I [...]
A Revised Heirs of the Covenant— Revising Heirs of the Covenant was not on my to-do list. I was amazed it was still in print after almost thirty years and never thought about a revision. It was Stephen Estock and Karen Hodge who saw the need and the potential of the book. [...]
First Things, First!— In our first article on Advent, we looked at the reasons why the Church reserves Advent as an important part of the Church calendar. In Advent, we prepare our hearts by remembering Jesus’s first coming, and we look hopefully to His second coming. We are reminded to lay aside [...]
Busy or Beholding?— Busy. The word usually follows a justification regarding an absence, a lack of service, or a dropped responsibility. It is often a bedfellow of self-absorption as well. “I’m sorry that I didn’t put more thought into your birthday, I’ve just been so busy.” “I’m sorry that I forgot to [...]
The Delight of Having Children in Corporate Worship- Have you noticed that there’s no mention of Children’s Church or Sunday school in the Bible? We know people in the early church had children, so where were they when Christians “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship to the breaking of [...]
A Children’s Ministry Perspective on Intergenerational Discipleship- Heirs of the Covenant by Susan Hunt is a 30-year-old book that has been read by many. Recently, Stephen Estock and Karen Hodge have joined Susan in updating this book that will be available at the end of 2025. In this refreshed book, a framework [...]
Practical Ideas for Intergenerational Discipleship— She scooped him up from the pew in front of her and sat him in her lap. Patiently, she walked him through the words of the closing hymn, “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go.” Caroline sits behind our wiggly row of preschoolers when they return [...]