Talking With Churches About Curriculum

As a curriculum consultant for Faith Alive Christian Resources, I’ve spent hundreds of hours talking to CRC children’s ministry leaders (I’ve called almost every church in the CRC!), receiving feedback about curriculum and helping with curriculum questions. I enjoy speaking directly with churches, hearing about their children’s ministry programs and how they’ve utilized Faith Alive curriculum.

From the 350+ CRC churches using DWELL, I have heard many positive responses. These are a few of my favorites:

• “I catch my grandkids singing the songs during the week!”

• “I appreciate the ‘for the adult’ section at the beginning of each lesson. When I teach, it’s a quick way to orient myself to the passage before I start thinking about the kids.”

• “Our church has been using DWELL for years on Wednesday nights, and just recently switched to using it on Sunday mornings. We love it and plan to continue using it.”

I love hearing about the impact DWELL is having in churches across our denomination! But I also know that every church is unique, which is why I hear a variety of other feedback about DWELL too. Some churches wish there were more activities in DWELL or that there were summer units (which there aren’t, but I recommend Walk With Me summer units). Others worry about how to balance the tight budgets they have been given. I encourage them, and all of our churches, to utilize the CRC Digital Library, which provides free online access to materials (for viewing only, not printing). Tech-savvy teachers can use mobile devices to access leader’s guides and save money. We also may discuss how using Kid Connection, Faith Alive’s other curriculum, might work better for their church’s needs.

Choosing the right curriculum for your church can feel like an overwhelming task, which is why I’m here to help you along the way! If you’d like to connect about how Faith Alive’s curriculum can fit into your ministry, I’m available for free telephone consultations on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I can be reached at 616-224-0795, or email me at [email protected].