Helpful or harmful Navigating AI and faith … Technological progress can be wonderfully helpful. In 1440, the invention of the Gutenberg printing press facilitated the mass production of Bibles – making them accessible and affordable. In recent years, the internet and mobile phones have been used for live-streaming services, sermon podcasts, downloading the Bible in […]
Initiating intergenerational ministry From age-isolated to age-integrated. How do you go about initiating intergenerational ministry in your church? Before answering this question, let’s define intergenerational ministry … Intergenerational ministry is two or more age groups intentionally cooperating in worshiping, witnessing and working together to connect people with Jesus and His Story. It’s where the experiences, […]
The health of children’s ministry is generally poor or failing, and growth is stagnant or declining. So how is the health of children’s ministry restored and growth regenerated? Briefly stated (each point should be an article in itself), here’s how to renew children’s ministry: Reimagine Bible engagement. Connecting children intimately with God’s Word is essential […]
To spiritually thrive and not just survive, we must include all age groups in the church’s mission. That’s sometimes easier said than done. Different age groups perceive the world, process information, and develop faith differently. So how do young and old join together meaningfully? Here are five suggestions for interacting with children: 1. Embrace children. […]
What will your children inherit when you die? Most parents have a legal document itemizing the distribution of their assets and the care of any minor children after their death. But a legal will, as crucial as it is, isn’t as important as passing our Christian values and beliefs from one generation to the next. […]
What is your church doing to help parents? Are you doing enough? Do you occasionally offer a marriage enrichment course? Could you do more? Pastors know how to prepare sermons but usually have little or no training in family ministry. Rhetoric alone doesn’t build healthy families. Parents need pastors to spend time with them. Families […]
Is your church intergenerational – where young and old worship, pray, serve, eat, sing, play, and live for Jesus together? Or are the different age groups mainly confined to age-segregated programs and activities? Professors Holly Allen and Christine Ross believe intergenerational communities are crucial and catalytical for the health and growth of children and adults: […]
There’s no magic bullet for successful children’s ministry, but there are ways to significantly improve what you’re doing. Here are ten ways to strengthen children’s ministry: 1. Cast a compelling vision. To envision is to imagine, plan beforehand, or ponder the possibilities. What has God placed in your heart and mind? People need to know […]
What’s involved in leading a child to Jesus? Aiming for Jesus. Children should aim for Jesus. He’s the bulls-eye. He should be the One at the centre of a child’s world. But that’s easier said than done. Children have many targets throughout their lives. The first target when they’re born is their mother’s breast. Babies […]
Ground-breaking new multi-national research by an international team of academic researchers and ministry practitioners from Brazil, Canada, the UK, and the USA asks, “Do church structures enable children’s and family ministry to grow?” This is a critical question if you’re a teacher, parent, volunteer or pastor involved with children’s or family ministry. Why? Because if […]
