Resources

Since the very beginning of time, the Story of God and His story of man has been told verbally. It has been handed down from generation to generation via the personal telling-and-receiving of the spoken word. Storytelling is an art of communication that remains as viable today as it was in the Garden. Research verifies that the greatest learning takes place where we can be involved in the story experience itself. The storytelling format can include both passive listening/watching, and active participation in the telling of the story. The listeners can have opportunity for hands-on portions of the telling. This...

Teams are most successful when working together, and the faith-forming team of church and home is no exception! The church, or faith family, plays an active role in forming children. Teaching classes, providing snacks, and holding babies in the nursery are common ways we serve. These opportunities, along with following a curriculum and providing safe environments, are all pieces in the larger faith formation puzzle. Spiritual benchmarking provides another critical piece to that puzzle. These markers help parents and faith families walk alongside children as they grow in Christ. We call them GrowthRings®. We’ve taken twenty years of GrowthRings®and grouped...

In a media driven age when children, youth and adults have become mostly passive participants in life, spending hours upon hours in front of screens and texting, we can miss the value of participating IN the experience of life itself. Where we used to connect with others face to face, connecting via media has removed communication nuances such as facial expression and body language that are part of the communication experience. When we don’t “see” those we are connecting with, our communication can be misinterpreted, and can lead to false or misleading understanding. Let’s pause and delve into a process...

I made a significant mistake early on in my ministry career. I made several decisions that were unpopular — but that was not my mistake. We are going to make decisions that don’t please everyone. That is a good case of the normals. My mistake was in recruiting some individuals who were vehemently opposed to the changes that I was making. My mistake came when I thought about the old axiom, “Keep your friends close but your enemies closer.” Of course I don’t want to view these individuals as my enemies by any stretch of the imagination! However, I thought...

Children are naturally curious about others who are different. Although their initial reactions can seem rude or embarrassing to parents, children need to know it’s okay to ask questions. In the book God Made Me Unique, author Chonda Ralston shares how one Sunday School teacher helps students learn the value of every person regardless of their appearance or ability. Chonda and I served together as editors and contributors on numerous Joni and Friends resources over the past decade. This picture book is part of a series from Joni and Friends with New Growth Press. I wrote the adult study, The...