Children's Ministry That Fits: Beyond One-Size-Fits-All Approaches to Nurturing Children's Spirituality - Hardcover

by David M. Csinos (Author), Joyce E. Bellous (Foreword by), Brian D. McLaren (Afterword by)

Children know God. They encounter God in diverse ways as they walk along the spiritual journey. Amidst this diversity, four distinct avenues for connecting with God emerge in the lives of children: word, emotion, symbol, and action. These are the four spiritual styles, broad approaches to spirituality and faith through which children experience God and make sense of their lives in the world around them. Children's Ministry that Fits blends insightful research, relevant theory, and practical ministry into a guidebook for discovering and understanding children's spiritual styles. Drawing from theology, personal experience, and the spiritual lives of children, David M. Csinos offers practical wisdom that will help pastors, parents, and teachers to move beyond one-size-fits-all approaches to children's ministry and begin nurturing the spiritual lives of children in welcoming and inclusive environments.

Author Biography

David M. Csinos is founder and president of Faith Forward, an ecumenical organization for innovation in ministry with children and youth. Dave is author of Children's Ministry that Fits and Children's Ministry in the Way of Jesus (with Ivy Beckwith), and editor of Faith Forward, volumes 1 and 2 (with Melvin Bray). Dave is a regular speaker on topics such as children and youth, faith formation, and intercultural ministry. An inaugural Teaching for Ministry Fellow at Emmanuel College of Victoria University in the University of Toronto, Dave holds degrees from Wilfrid Laurier University, McMaster University, and Union Presbyterian Seminary. Dave and his wife, Jenny, live in Halifax, Nova Scotia.