Within the context of a healthy, whole-church approach to faith formation, children’s ministry plays an undeniably crucial role.
In 2005, David Kinnaman, now president of Barna Group, summed up why: “Young people are spiritual sponges whose most impressionable years are too important to pass up.” His statement remains as true as ever.
As we continue our Faith Formation discussion, let’s ask these questions again: Are we resourcing and running children’s ministry, church services, small groups, and other ministries in essentially the same way we did twenty years ago? Are we passing on traditions and programs, only to have lost a clear focus on the very faith they are meant to foster?