The Child in God's Church

Publisher's Description:

Most pastors and congregations would agree that developing a child’s faith and including them in the life of the church deserves real thought and effort. However, so often the opposite is true in practice: Sunday schools are treated as child-minding services that allow the adults to have the actual gathering as God’s people; parenting and children’s ministries are siloed; older members of the church never speak to a single child there.

In The Child in God’s Church, Tim Beilharz provides the biblical reasons for including and nurturing children as precious members of the body of Christ. He sets the theological and theoretical foundations for understanding children and the church, then provides a framework for practising children’s ministry in the local church.

This book is a unique and invaluable resource that provides churches with the necessary foundations for revitalisation and growth.

Key Benefits:

• Addresses low youth retention rates in churches.
• Provides biblical principles and practical examples without being prescriptive.
• Encourages and excites with its message of every-member intergenerational ministry.

Target Audience:

• Children's and Youth ministers
• Senior ministers

About the Author:
Tim Beilharz is a theologian and educator with over 20 years of experience in children’s ministry. He has a passion for integrating children fully into the life of the church and has written extensively on the subject.

Endorsements:
Two distinct contributions make this book from Tim Beilharz a must-read for youth and children’s ministers. First, everything in the book is framed by biblical theology. Second, the discipleship strategies that Tim develops are enriched with developmental research without diminishing faithfulness to Scripture in any way. The result is a richly biblical and practical approach to forming the faith of the next generation.
– Dr Timothy Paul Jones, Professor of Apologetics and Family Ministry at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, USA

If you love this quote, you’ll love this book: ‘As children’s ministry leaders, we can … teach and equip others to see the youngest brothers and sisters of their church as fellow members of Christ’s body—valuable members of the church today, not just in the future’. Tim has done the hard work for us, taking us on a journey through the historical factors that have shaped how we think about kids’ ministry today. Yet Tim’s commitment is to let the Bible have the final say. This book is a must-read as we think intentionally about discipling children in the context of the family, the age-specific kids’ church and the intergenerational context of the church community.
– Sandy Galea, Founder and Director of Kidswise

You have in your hands a rare thing in children’s ministry—in fact, it’s unique. It’s a book that takes the Bible, the social sciences, the church, the family and the child seriously in equal measure. What Tim has done to balance these elements and place them in their proper place is crucial to undergird, equip and inspire children’s mission and ministry today. We needed this book.
– Gareth Crispin, Lecturer in Practical Theology, Cliff College, UK

Instead of simply offering ‘how tos’ and then tagging on a Bible verse to justify his recommendations, Tim has offered a biblically rich and pastorally wise framework for Christians who want to call children into lifelong faith. I highly recommend The Child in God’s Church to ministry leaders who want to see the next generation become adults who serve the Lord.
– Mike McGarry, Founder and Director of Youth Pastor Theologian; author of A Biblical Theology of Youth Ministry: Teenagers in the Life of the Church

The Child in God’s Church presents God’s beautiful vision for children in his church. Each chapter is theologically rich, robust and nuanced, accessible to pastors and parents, children’s ministry leaders and spiritual grandparents. Tim’s three-sphere framework is compelling and challenging. Rather than pursuing the latest strategy, the three spheres enable us to reflect theologically, practically and contextually in order to see children come to Christ and grow as lifelong disciples of our Saviour.
– Ed Springer, Senior Minister, Orange Evangelical Church Australia