I work as the Creative Resource Developer for Faith Formation Ministries of the CRCNA from my home in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. Working from home may sound like I work alone, but most days are anything but quiet as I’m participating in video conversations with individuals or groups who are engaged in ministry. Those kinds of interactions are what make the job so energizing!
I’ve been involved in children’s ministry since I was a child myself and I’m so thankful for the ways children have nurtured and continue to nurture my faith. I think it’s that kind of cross-generational faith nurture that led to my interest in intergenerational ministry. I love it when different generations gather in worship, in service, and to learn from and with each other. And studies show how important it is for God’s family to do together!
Over the years I’ve worked as part of a team to shape the children’s ministry curricula Kid Connection and Dwell, published by Faith Alive Resources. I’m also the author of the Home Grown Handbook for Christian Parenting and a contributing author/editor for the family devotionals You're Invited and God's Big Story cards.
My family and I attend The Journey church where you’re most likely to find me sitting on the floor asking wondering questions with a group of 4 year olds.
Baptism provides God’s big family with a beautiful opportunity to say, “Welcome to the family!” to the one being baptized. Use these easily adaptable ideas to help your church do that with arms open wide.
Have you ever ended a family Christmas celebration and realized you’d skipped telling the story you’d gathered to celebrate? Start a new tradition this year by using one of these meaningful and fun intergenerational storytelling ideas.
Looking for ways to surround your kids with more of the biblical Christmas than the commercial one? Here are twelve of them.
Imagine what might happen if you gave people the actual tools they could use to celebrate advent.
The prompts in this daily calendar provide an easy way to practice gratitude while nurturing faith.
These Nativity Sticker sets are so fabulous they may sell out before you finish reading this post. Here's why.
Looking for resources to strengthen your ministry with children? Join us for a 30-minute webinar introducing the Children's Ministry Toolkit!
Life has changed for families. Could it be that the church needs to change too?
Looking for a conference to encourage and equip congregational leaders who are engaged in faith formation ministry? Check this out.
My heart skipped a beat when I learned how this church encourages children to use their gifts.
Thanks for sharing what you learned at the conference, Ron. Thanks also for the reminder to all of us to brighten our eyes and welcome the teens and young adults in our midst this Christmas,...
Hi Angela,
I'm going from Faith Formation Ministries and we are hoping we will be able to send at least one other team member as well.
The Regional Gatherings happen over a dinner (...
When our children were preschoolers we loved using Little Visits for Toddlers by Mary Manz Simon. And I'm hearing great things about Snuggle Time Prayers and Snuggle Time Psalms by Glenys Nellist...
Thank you for sharing your idea as well as this hope-filled reminder, Shannon.
Hi Jay,
Have you explored the Building Blocks of Faith as a ministry evaluation tool? It was developed by Bob and Laura Keeley in 2014 and ministry leaders who use it have found it to be...
Great question, Sarah. Some of the ideas I shared are free (the Story Prompts, the list of questions from the Storytelling Toolkit and the Faith5 devotional method) and most of them could be...
What a beautiful example of how one generation can call to the next. Thanks so much for sharing it, Staci!
Hi Rachel,
I do hear that a lot! And I know from experience how frustrating it can be to have to remind folks that children are worth the one hour of prep time it takes to tell God’s story...
This is a wonderful resource, Danielle. Thank you for including such great ideas for talking with children about how they can welcome and love the refugees in their community.
Hi Eric,
Thank you for your comment. What a blessing that your 3 grandkids are so eager to go to their church on Sunday. As a parent that’s a dream I also share for my grandkids one day!...