Children’s ministry is a vital aspect of church life, serving as the foundation for the spiritual development of young believers. It goes beyond teaching Bible stories; it aims to create a nurturing environment where children can form meaningful relationships with God and with others.
Effective children's ministry fosters a sense of belonging, encouraging kids to explore their faith in a supportive community. As they grow and face various challenges, the connections they build with caring adults can significantly influence their spiritual formation and help them navigate their faith journey. In today’s ever-changing cultural landscape, it’s essential to revisit and strengthen the principles guiding our approach to ministry for the youngest members of our congregations.
In Forming Faith: Discipling the Next Generation in a Post-Christian Culture, the authors challenge conventional approaches to children’s ministry to rethink the foundations of faith formation for children.
Keep reading to find out more!
Belong, Believe, Become: Key Takeaways from Forming Faith | A Book Review
Content
Content
Purpose of the Book
From the authors: "Forming Faith is a book about perspective. Our aim is to give you a window of insight—a healthy, research-backed, and biblical perspective—to disciple today’s kids fruitfully in a world flooded with complexity."
Table of Contents
Introduction
CHAPTER 1 We’re Using Old Maps
CHAPTER 2 A Little Less Disney, a Bit More Mister Rogers
CHAPTER 3 The Old Map of Children’s Ministry
CHAPTER 4 Charting the New Map
CHAPTER 5 Our Single Most Strategic Opportunity
CHAPTER 6 Getting Unstuck from Our Stalemate: Moving from Declaration to Dialogue
CHAPTER 7 The Formational Church
CHAPTER 8 The Formational Home
Summary
In Forming Faith, the authors explore how many children's ministries often follow outdated discipleship models, shaped more by entertainment than biblical principles. Through eight insightful chapters, they redirect us toward a framework rooted in belonging, becoming, and believing. Each chapter begins with a “Gaining Perspective” section, which includes reflective questions designed to help readers examine their own beliefs and goals before engaging with the content. I found this approach particularly helpful, as it invites deeper personal reflection alongside practical application.
My Take: Belonging
This book introduces a 3B model for children’s ministry: Belong, Believe, Become. It prompted me to reflect on my own experience growing up in church, particularly the emphasis on children being connected to other adults in the congregation. The research highlights that having a meaningful connection with at least one adult in the church is a significant factor in a child’s continued faith formation. While intergenerational community isn’t a new concept, I realized I’ve often placed more importance on having a strong Christian peer group rather than on relationships with other Christian adults.
During my growing-up years, those key adults were my youth leaders and my best friend’s parents. They were people I knew well and felt comfortable talking to about the challenges I was wrestling with and the questions I had about faith. Their wisdom and prayers helped guide me through difficult family circumstances, and I always felt supported and understood.
Then I think about my own kids and the other adults in their lives. I notice how they interact with their friends' parents, our life group, their coaches, and our neighbors. While they can be shy at times, I also see how easily they connect with these adults at school or in sports.
This reflection also makes me consider how intentional I am with the kids in our church. During our child dedication services, there’s a moment when we all stand to commit to helping parents raise their children. It’s a serious commitment, and I want to be mindful of how it applies to me and how I can contribute. This challenges me to be more intentional—whether it’s saying hello to the kids I know, using their names, or simply paying attention and letting them know I see them.
While it may seem daunting, there’s always a lot on our minds, the investment in our kids to feel belonging and connected to Christian adults propels a lasting faith. So it’s worth reflecting on how you can be a part of raising our next generation.
My Recommendation
If you are involved with leading children’s ministry, this resource provides an important perspective for reflection on the purposes and vision for discipleship of our kids. I’d recommend it.
Quick Stats
# of Pages: 256
Level of Difficulty: Easy
My Rating: 4 stars
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Scriptures About Passing on the Faith
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. (Deut. 6:6-7)
You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. (2 Tim. 2:1-2)
That the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children (Ps. 78:6)
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Tim. 3:14-15)
But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 19:14)
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*A big thanks to Moody Publishers for the complimentary copy of this book and for the opportunity to post an honest review.