Formational Children's Ministry (ēmersion: Emergent Village resources for communities of faith)

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? Beckwith aims to help ministers and parents create a ministry that captures children's imaginations not just to keep them occupied, but to live as citizens of the kingdom of God. 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.

From the Back Cover

"This is a genius book, written by an enormously gifted child educator who will help you reconceptualize your ministry to children. Both the child and the adult will be transformed by this book."--Dan B. Allender, PhD, professor of counseling psychology, founding president, Mars Hill Graduate School; author of To Be Told and Leading with a Limp

"Formational Children's Ministry reaches beyond guided conversation, creative storytelling, and the mere calls to build relationships to challenge us to engage in story-based, meaningfully-patterned, real-life interactions to find fresh faith in children's ministry."--Gregory C. Carlson, PhD, chair and professor of Christian ministries, Trinity International University

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We want to raise faithful children. But are churches today helping to fulfill that mission? Or do our children's ministries look more like entertaining babysitting services than places where true spiritual formation happens?

In Formational Children's Ministry, Ivy Beckwith helps ministers and parents create ministries that capture children's imaginations, not just to keep them occupied, but to live as citizens of the kingdom of God. She asks big questions, such as

What if we taught children how the stories of God, church history, the local community, and 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?

In addition to providing theological reasons for formational children's ministry, the book offers practical examples of how Beckwith and other practitioners are implementing a formational model.

If you're ready to create a place where children truly feel a part of God's story, where they don't just learn information but live it, this book is your first step.


Ivy Beckwith is the author of Postmodern Children's Ministry and has served churches of all sizes. She has worked as an editor and education consultant for Group Publishing and Gospel Light Publications. She currently serves the Congregational Church of New Canaan, Connecticut, as the Minister for Children and Families.