Children's ministry
Books and conference seminar audio downloads that will help you think more about your ministry and Bible studies on three aspects of children's ministry: faith formation, under 5s and tweenagers (9-13s).
Browse the list or click to go to a section
Visions and strategy
Being child friendly
Bible studies
Also see
The theology of childhood & Child spirituality
Special concerns - difficult behaviour, special needs, keeping safe
Vision and strategy
|
|
Formational Children's Ministry (Ivy Beckwith, Baker) RRP £9.99
Kindle edition £8.54
Much ministry to children looks more like mere entertainment than authentic spiritual formation. But what if children's ministries were rooted in a mind set whereby we taught children, with our words and actions, how the story of God, the story of church history, the story of the local community, and the story of the child intersect and speak to one another? What if children's ministry was less about downloading information into kids' heads and more about leading them into these powerful, compelling stories?
This latest book from Ivy Beckwith (published 2010) aims to help us create a ministry that captures children's imaginations not just to keep them occupied. In addition to providing theological reasons for formational children's ministry, the book offers examples of how Ivy and other practitioners are implementing a formational model.
Sue says: taken with the latest thinking on child spirituality this book may make you completely reassess your ministry.
2011 conference recommended title
|
|
|
Postmodern Children's Ministry (Ivy Beckwith, Zondervan) RRP £9.99
Kindle edition £7.49
This practical, thought-provoking book presents a new paradigm for children's ministry in the emerging 21st century and explores how churches are currently putting that vision into practice.
Advocating the need to regard children as full participants in their faith communities, the book provides strategies for building intergenerational community where children feel they belong and have the opportunity to serve.
2011 conference recommended title
2010 conference recommended title
|
|
|
Mission-Shaped Children (Margaret Withers, CHP) RRP £7.99
Too often, nurture and worship for children is about containing and entertaining, rather than engaging with and growing young Christians who can give as much as they receive.
This book explores: how the dramatic cultural, social and economic trends of recent years have impacted on children's lives and how this affects the Church; developments in how the Church has nurtured children in the past 100 years; the many and varied opportunities there are to help children to experience Church and some of the challenges this presents for those working with children; and how the Church can shape itself around children and young people, rather than expecting them to fit in with the Church.
With many real life case studies, practical examples and questions for discussion.
2010 conference recommended title
|
|
|
Welcoming Children: a prcatical theology of childhood (Joyce Mercer, Chalice Press) RRP £18.52
A theology of childhood both from a theological perspective and from practical experience in children and youth ministry. The author draws insights from classic and modern feminist theologians, pastoral theologians, and contemporary cultural criticism to offer strategies for educational and liturgical practices in congregations that welcome children and contribute to their flourishing.
Exploring five basic theological claims: 1) children as gifts and parenting as a religious practice of stewardship; 2) welcoming those who care for children; 3) children as fully human; 4) children as part of God's purposes; and 5) acknowledging and transforming the sufferings of children, Mercer reframes ministries with children as processes through which the church can become the foundation for children forming identities that resist consumerist culture and instead walk in the ways of Jesus.
2011 conference recommended title
|
|
|
The Fabulous Reinvention of Sunday School (Aaron Reynolds, Zondervan) RRP £8.99
Unabridged audio edition £7.49
A guidebook to transformational teaching in children's ministries of every size and setting. Create excellence for kids through four ministry-rocking values. Unleash fabulous and powerful techniques that lead to unforgettable teaching moments. Consult a veritable handbook of twenty creative methods that bring any Bible story to life. Designed with whimsical quirkiness and written with humor and passion, this book will transform the way you and your kids experience the life-changing potential of Sunday school.
2011 conference recommended title
|
| |
Mega Top Tips on Offering the Best Children's Ministry (Paul Butler, Scripture Union) RRP £4.99
Full of practical advice and real-life stories to help you offer the best children's ministry. Includes ideas on how to build great ministry - in churches, in families, in the wider community and in the world, as well as Biblical insights into how we view and treat all children.
At 80 pages the Mega Top Tips books go deeper into a topiic than the regular Top Tips series.
Full list of Top Tip titles...
|
|
|
Rural Children, Rural Church (Rona Orme, Church House Publishing) RRP £5.99
Children make up nearly 20 per cent of the rural population. This short, accessible book offers practical resources and ideas to help churches build an effective children's ministry in a rural setting. Rona offers realistic and creative ways of engaging with children in the community by encouraging churches to make the most of opportunities to: share the Church's year with the community and the community's year with the Church; reach children and their families at significant rites of passage; and, enable the Church to be a gathering point and contributing partner in the community. Each chapter contains inspiring case studies and thought-provoking questions for discussion.
2011 conference recommended title
|
| |
Top Tips on Leading Small Groups (Simon Barker and Steve Whyatt, Scripture Union) RRP £2.99
Real stories and biblical patterns to inspire leaders of small groups. Practical advice on setting up a group and keeping it going – in a regular club, a Sunday group, a residential holiday or a holiday club - and guidance on leading a group-time so that all group members can meet with God.
Full list of Top Tip titles...
|
|
BUY...
|
It’s not what you do… (Mary Hawes, 2011 conference) £3.99
…it’s the way that you do it! How can we become good news for children? Creative strategies, practical ideas and challenges for living the good news that we seek to teach.
|
|
BUY...
|
Working with children in rural communities(Sandra Millar, 2011 conference) £3.99
Rural communities often mean small churches with wide age ranges and lots of community opportunities. Identify the challenges, explore some ideas and think about building relationships.
|
|
BUY...
|
Boys and girls are different – what does that mean for children’s ministry? (Sarah Smart and Andy Saunders, 2011 conference) £3.99
An opportunity to look at the similarities and differences between the needs of boys and girls and the issues facing them in today’s society. Explore and discuss what this means for your ministry.
|
|
BUY...
|
The discipleship of children: are we structured right in both content and intent? (Ian White, 2010 conference) £2.99
'Discipleship' and 'Nurture' are buzz words in children's ministry and seen as important in the role of the children's worker. But are we structured for a deeper intentional discipling of children, and what does it look like?
|
|
BUY...
|
The turning of the tide (Dave Roberts, 2009 conference) £2.99
What can we learn from the changes that have taken place in ministry to children in the last ten years as we plan for another ten years of progress?
|
back to top
Being child friendly
|
Boys, God and the Church (Nick Harding, Grove Booklets) RRP £3.50
This impassioned plea from an experienced children's worker sets out some striking reflection on why boys are seriously under-represented in church, and what their specific needs may be.
One of a series of booklets that you can also buy direct from Grove.
|
|
BUY...
|
Child friendly church (Jane Leadbetter, 2010 conference) £2.99
What makes a church child friendly? Do we automatically include children or try to fit them in? Practical help in welcoming and integrating children and their families into the worshipping life of their church.
|
|
BUY...
|
The church as an advocate for the child (Joel Edwards, 2009 conference) £2.99
Jesus overturned social convention when he honoured children. What are the issues facing children in our society? How can the church represent children in the wider platforms of society?
|
|
BUY...
|
The Bible in contemporary culture (Krish Kandiah, 2011 conference) £3.99
|
Bible studies
|
BUY...
|
Praying like Hannah (Sandra Millar, 2011 conference) £3.99
This is an invitation to pray passionately for children to know they are loved by God and God’s people. Based on the story of Hannah, this will offer creative study and prayer.
|
|
BUY...
|
Faith forming: Back to the source - Bible study (Ian White, 2009 conference) £2.99
|
|
BUY...
|
Tweenager's ministry: Back to the source - Bible study (Ruth Hassall, 2009 conference) £2.99
|
|
BUY...
|
Under 5s ministry: Back to the source - Bible study (Ishmael, 2009 conference) £2.99
|
back to top |
