In this special edition of the podcast, you’ll hear Elizabeth Mitchell’s mainstage talk from the 2024 Child Discipleship Forum. As she shares her very personal journey of love and loss, she’ll encourage you to run to the God of all comfort for your help and hope. Listen in as she encourages those facing difficult times to turn their face, and not their backs, to God.

SHOW NOTES

Find more Child Discipleship resources at ChildDiscipleship.com.

Learn more about the Child Discipleship Forum.

The post Running to the God of All Comfort appeared first on Child Discipleship.

In this heartfelt episode, Blair Linne joins Mike Handler and Melanie Hester to discuss the church’s call to live out pure and undefiled religion by caring for the fatherless, widowed, and vulnerable in our communities. Drawing from Scripture, personal testimony, and practical insights, Blair shares how discipleship includes everyday acts of love—mentorship, sharing life’s experiences, and building Christ-centered relationships. Listen as she unpacks the transformative power of discipleship and how the church can fill the gaps left by a broken world, offering both the love of Christ and the hope of an eternal inheritance.

SHOW NOTES

Listen to Blair Linne’s talk, “A Family for the Fatherless,” from the 2024 Child Discipleship Forum here.

For more Child Discipleship resources, visit childdiscipleship.com.

The post Caring for the Vulnerable: Being the Hands and Feet of Jesus appeared first on Child Discipleship.

In this episode, Jay Kim, an author and pastor in Silicon Valley, shares his journey and the unique challenges of pastoring and parenting in a fast-paced, achievement-driven culture. He emphasizes the importance of slowing down and following Jesus. Jay encourages listeners to grow good fruit where God has planted them, reminding us that it’s not about the location but about experiencing God’s presence.

SHOW NOTES:

Check out Jay Kim’s full talk, “Technology and the Gospel,” from the 2024 Child Discipleship Forum here.

For more discipleship resources, head to ChildDiscipleship.com. 

The post Peace in a Fast-Paced Culture appeared first on Child Discipleship.

In the final episode of this four-part series, Mike Handler and Sam Luce stress the significance of language in shaping the values of both church and home, encouraging listeners to prioritize intentional conversations and create dedicated time for discipleship activities. Additionally, the episode highlights the importance of intergenerational relationships and how community involvement can enrich the discipleship process.

SHOW NOTES:

Purchase your copy of your Forming Faith.

Check out our booklets, “What is Child Discipleship?,” “Creating a Culture of Discipleship in the Home” and “Creating a Culture of Discipleship in the Church.”

Ready to help your families create a culture of discipleship in their homes? Check out our Formational Home Event Kit!

ChildDiscipleship.com

The post Creating a Culture of Discipleship: Language and Community appeared first on Child Discipleship.

In this episode, Sam Luce and Mike Handler explore the vital role of vision and deliberate discipleship in both the church and the home. They emphasize the necessity of a long-term vision for child discipleship and the importance of parents partnering with the church in this journey.

The conversation dives into the central formational objectives of vision and the concept of time and place, highlighting practical strategies for maximizing time and creating vibrant discipleship communities. Sam and Mike discuss how to foster a culture of discipleship that not only involves parents but also engages children in meaningful dialogues about faith.

SHOW NOTES:

Purchase your copy of your Forming Faith.

Check out our booklets, “What is Child Discipleship?,” “Creating a Culture of Discipleship in the Home” and “Creating a Culture of Discipleship in the Church.”

Ready to help your families create a culture of discipleship in their homes? Check out our Formational Home Event Kit!

ChildDiscipleship.com

The post Creating a Culture of Discipleship: Vision and Time appeared first on Child Discipleship.

In the second episode of our Forming Faith series, Matt Markins and Mike Handler tackle the pressing need for a new map in the journey of forming lasting faith in children. They explore the disconnect between the church’s messaging and today’s cultural realities and introduce a fresh approach to discipleship, emphasizing the importance of community and scripture engagement as the foundations of lasting faith.

Listen in as they outline the four central objectives of the forming faith pathway: vision, time and place, language, and community, offering a roadmap for churches seeking to engage effectively with families.

SHOW NOTES:

Purchase your copy of your Forming Faith.

Check out our booklets, “What is Child Discipleship?,” “Creating a Culture of Discipleship in the Home” and “Creating a Culture of Discipleship in the Church.”

Ready to help your families create a culture of discipleship in their homes? Check out our Formational Home Event Kit!

ChildDiscipleship.com

The post Navigating Lasting Faith in Children appeared first on Child Discipleship.

In this thought-provoking podcast, we dive into the urgent need for a fresh approach to children’s ministry as we grapple with the realities of an increasingly secular world. Join Matt Markins and Mike Handler as they unpack the limitations of outdated church growth and entertainment models, emphasizing the importance of nurturing lasting faith in the next generation. Using the powerful analogy of walking upstream in a flood, we explore the disorientation many churches face and discuss the necessity of a new map to navigate this complex cultural landscape. Tune in as we set the stage for transforming children’s ministry, and be sure to join us for the next three episodes in this four-part series!

SHOW NOTES:

Check out The Formational Home Event Kit and help parents Create a Culture of Discipleship in their Home!

The post Walking Upstream: Navigating Children’s Ministry in a Post-Christian Culture appeared first on Child Discipleship.

Welcome to the Child Discipleship Podcast! Listen to this short update to learn what’s new and what you can expect from season 5.

Show Notes:

The post The Child Discipleship Podcast: Season 5 appeared first on Child Discipleship.

Jared Kennedy and Melanie Hester walk through Jared’s life that has been centered around intentional family discipleship. Jared also shares four things he believes ever children’s ministry should be about.

SHOW NOTES

SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never miss an episode. 

Watch Today’s Conversation

Ready for more? Childdiscipleship.com is your one stop shop for resources dedicated to helping kids form lasting faiths in Jesus, including Jared’s full talk at the 2023 Child Discipleship Forum. 

You can leave a voicemail for the show at 630-289-5353 and email the show at [email protected].

The post Jared Kennedy: Four Things Every Children’s Ministry Should Be About appeared first on Child Discipleship.

Julie Lowe, Melanie Hester and Shawna Murlin sat down to discuss Julie’s book Safeguards: Shielding our Homes and Equipping Our Kids.

SHOW NOTES

SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never miss an episode.

Looking for more ways to keep your kids safe? Check out the following resources:

Find even more resources at Childdiscipleship.com.

You can leave a voicemail for the show at 630-289-5353 and email the show at [email protected].

The post Julie Lowe: Safeguards for Kids appeared first on Child Discipleship.