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Helping Our Children Grow in Faith: How the Church Can Nurture the Spiritual Development of Kids (Baker, 2008)

Description
"Children have serious faith questions that require serious answers, answers that adults often
find themselves under-prepared to give. But the Christian community has a responsibility to
help its children develop a three-dimensional faith—a faith that affects their heads, their hearts,
and their spirits."

"Helping Our Children Grow in Faith is designed for children's ministry and worship leaders,
Sunday school teachers, and pastors—as well as parents—who want to nurture the spiritual
development of the children in their lives. It shows how to integrate children into congregational
worship, how to teach them the Bible but leave room for the mystery of God, and how to distinguish the difference between faith development and moral development."
—BakerPublishingGroup.com

Author
Robert J. Keeley is a professor of education at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and codirector, with his wife, Laura, of children's ministries at Fourteenth Street Christian Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan.

Endorsements
"Helping Our Children Grow in Faith offers a thoughtful, accessible, and practical introduction to the basic building blocks of effective ministries with children. Robert J. Keeley takes seriously children and their spiritual development, challenging congregations to move beyond simplistic approaches that don't fully engage children. In the process, he invites leaders to transform congregations to become communities where children are included, loved, valued, and nurtured by a whole community of caring Christians."
—Eugene C. Roehlkepartain, co-director, Center for Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence Search Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota

"Drawing on his rich experience as a Children's Ministry Director, Dr. Keeley offers practical suggestions for welcoming children into the faith community as authentic participants. He envisions church as a 'child-friendly culture,' an environment healthy for the spiritual growth of children. And he points the way to forming such a community."
—Cathy Stonehouse, dean, School of Practical Theology and Orlean Bullard Beeson Professor of Christian Discipleship, Asbury Theological Seminary

"I loved this book! Robert Keeley points us in the right direction for building a ministry strategy with children. It is a delight to find someone with a clear vision of how the entire life of the church needs to be developed if we want our children to have a healthy, growing faith in Jesus Christ. This is a 'must read' for every children's pastor and lay leader who cares about the spiritual nurture of children."
—Dr. Kevin E. Lawson, director, PhD and EdD programs in Educational Studies, Talbot School of Theology; editor, Christian Education Journal

" 'Biblical,' 'practical,' and 'scholarly' is one way to describe Robert J. Keeley's book. 'Warm,' 'gentle,' and 'encouraging' are another set of descriptors. Helping Our Children Grow in Faith weaves personal experience with scholarly research and biblical perspectives in offering pastors, parents, and church educators practical wisdom while gently challenging them to consider new ways to offer children a rich, vibrant faith. This would be an excellent study book for parents or a church's Christian education committee."
—George Brown, Jr., G.W. and Eddie Haworth Professor of Christian Education; associate dean, Western Theological Seminary

"Helping Our Children Grow in Faith is an engaging look at the opportunities and challenges of nurturing children's faith. Professor Keeley's clear explanation of faith nurture and thoughtful examination of the role of parents and congregations in the process is a refreshing invitation for the church to reprioritize its children's ministry."
—Darwin Glassford, associate professor of Church Education; director of MA Programs, Calvin Theological Seminary

"Christians love their children deeply and are concerned for their growth, especially their growth in faith. For that reason Robert J. Keeley gifts us with a delightful, helpful, and accessible book for parents and children's ministry leaders. Helping Our Children Grow in Faith is an excellent resource for shoring up children's growth in faith. It also is an entry point for exploring the burgeoning field of resources available that address the faith and spiritual life of children."
—Scottie May, professor, Department of Christian Formation and Ministry, Wheaton College

"Keeley has done us all a great service and made very insightful material available. I've always wanted our children to grow in faith, and I've worked hard at it. But now I understand better how it happens, what it takes, and how one stage is different from another. Growing their faith won't happen without growing a church in which they can grow. This book will take you inside the church by taking you inside the process of forming a child's faith!"
—Howard Vanderwell, Resource Development Specialist, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship

"Robert Keeley combines biblical grounding, educational research, and much experience to create this down-to-earth guide. Readers will find here not only practical advice but also a wise proposal about changing our congregational cultures in ways that benefit young and old. Above all, readers will be inspired by the deep love and respect for children shining through this book."
—Debra Rienstra, associate professor of English, Calvin College

"Though this book includes lots of specific 'we could do that' ideas, it is mainly a sweeping vision book. I'd buy it for a parent or committee member who is new to children's ministry or for one who has 'done it all' and needs to remember what it's all about."
—Carolyn Brown, children's ministry consultant and author

More information from Baker Books