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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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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 is defined in the book as “using God’s outward means of grace—the Word, worship, prayer, sacraments, fellowship—to cultivate an intergenerational discipleship culture where all ages and stages flourish and multiply.” As a part [...]
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 a child in her direction. In fact, she counts it a blessing and calls it part of her own discipleship. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 states, “And these words that I command you today shall be [...]
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 find most familiar and where I have seen joy, hope, and endurance grow immeasurably through the faithfulness of the Lord. My husband and I have experienced pregnancy losses. We have each lost jobs, [...]
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 refuge, that I may tell of all your works. – Psalm 73:25-26, 28 It has now been seven years since my husband Mike, a PCA pastor, went home to be with Jesus. As [...]
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 as possible. So, we would teach children’s church often to try and provide that time for the leaders. The importance for those in charge to be spiritually filled up, making time for sanctification [...]
Taking Children’s Ministry to the Lord in Prayer
Taking Children’s Ministry to the Lord in Prayer- I will never forget the day our bus caught fire. We were on the highway headed to an event about an hour north of the city. It was a hot Saturday morning in September, and the bus was warm. Halfway through our trip, the bus driver quietly whispered that the warmth was not the sun, but the engine had caught fire. The bus driver then calmly steered the bus off the highway, and a new bus came. Reflecting with the youth pastors on that trip, it was apparent that we had [...]
Quiet Prayer in the Midst of Children’s Ministry
Quiet Prayer in the Midst of Children’s Ministry— And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. – Mark 1:35 First Catechism Q. 109 What is prayer? A. Prayer is praising God, giving thanks for all his blessings and asking him for the things he has promised in the Bible. Prayer is an essential part of any ministry, but how in the world do I do that with the crazy demands of children’s ministry? How can I go into a closet to pray [...]
Grow Virtual’s Impact on My Ministry
Grow Virtual’s Impact on My Ministry - I attended the Children’s Ministry LEAD Conference for the first time in 2018, one year after becoming the Children’s Ministry Director of my church. I loved having a time to learn and grow in my knowledge of God and to learn how He can use me in ministry to the children and families in my church. I also loved being around other Children’s Ministry Directors who understand the blessings and stresses of children’s ministry. At the time, I had very little ministry experience so the time at the LEAD Conference was extremely [...]
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