The Child in Our Midst: The Shifting Trends in Ministry with Children and Families over the Past Forty Years

Abstract

For the past 40 years, the field of children and family ministries has emerged, developed, and been strengthened through the intentional engagement of various teaching/learning approaches, the influence of developmental theory, and the rise of a children’s ministry leadership vocation. The significant growth and development with children and family ministries have contributed to the movement away from a narrow and simplistic view of children to a deeper understanding of how children’s spirituality and faith develops. Yet, more diverse research and improved ministry practices are needed. Integrating children as full participants in the faith community, along with continued evaluation of and improvements in teaching and learning practices, integral partnerships between home and family, and additional voices and diverse perspectives will all aid in better understandings and practices in ministry with children and families.

Beyond Fun: The Need for Emotional Balance in Children’s Worship

“…Mimi Larson, writing on how children's ministries have changed in the last 40 years, discusses how children's ministry has moved from the original classroom model to a model focused on giving children enjoyable experiences which lead to a "trend in churches intentionally creating fun and engaging experiences that would be meaningful to the child" (Larson 2020). Ivy Beckwith, a children's pastor, writes that children's ministry is broken as it creates "playlands and entice(s) children to God through food fights and baptisms in the back of fire trucks", using fun as a way of marketing church to children and families instead of making church a place that takes spiritual needs seriously (Beckwith 2004).…”