Grow Blog
CDM’s Children’s Ministry with Purpose Grow Blog connects you with people and resources to disciple the children in your church. Read as we write about children’s ministry opportunities and challenges, connecting with leadership, how to cast vision, and many more important topics.
First Things, First!
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 the busyness and clinging to idols that only leave us anxious and empty. In [...]
Busy or Beholding?
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 check on that for you, I just got busy.” “I’m sorry I couldn’t make [...]
The Delight of Having Children in Corporate Worship
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 bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42)? Most likely, the children were there too! Children [...]
A Children’s Ministry Perspective on Intergenerational Discipleship
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 for discipleship is laid out, with Covenant theology as the why of discipleship. Discipleship [...]
Practical Ideas for Intergenerational Discipleship
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 to observe their church family partake of communion. She doesn’t flinch when I pass [...]
Hope for the Suffering
Hope for the Suffering- All of us have experienced moments of stormy trials. These can be difficult, forcing us to consider where the anchor of our faith lies. Some experience moments of suffering, while others experience prolonged seasons of valley trudging. Our faith shaken, our prayers faint whispers of desperation for the Savior’s tender comfort and peace. The latter is the type of suffering journey I [...]
Suffering with Hope: Joy and Sorrow, Sorrow and Joy
Suffering with Hope: Joy and Sorrow, Sorrow and Joy- Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. . . . But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my [...]
Being Led Before Leading
Being Led Before Leading- My husband is the true teacher in our relationship - really gifted in retaining knowledge, delivering truths, and teaching in his job, at church, and at home. As we served as volunteers in our former church, he longed for the leaders of the children’s ministry to be able to just sit and worship and be nourished under the preached Word as often [...]