DESCRIPTION: Why are children becoming the prime ministry target in many
churches? What does a person need to know about a child in order to effectively
promote formation? What factors affect who the child is today? What skills and
abilities has the Creator poured into these early years of life? This course
deals with the biblical and educational perspectives of the foundation years in
a life. What are the needs of the child that cause this to be a vulnerable
period of formation? How does it feel to be a child and see life through
limited perceptions? If these are to be years of formation for Christian
concepts, what do we know about how the child learns best? How the child sees
self and the significant others will further or hinder the child's grasp and
application of biblical truth. What factors have been found to build
self-esteem and socialization in the person of the child? This course will aid
the student in becoming a Parent Equipper, Agent of Salvation, Discipline
Designer, Ministry Engineer, and Learning Enabler.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: Learners will become persons who
recognize the priority of the spiritual formation of children and who will be
able to design opportunities for children to grow in knowing Christ and
following him. This means learners will be familiar with the characteristics of
children and with the biblical, educational, psychological, and faith-building
concepts for helping children learn and grow. As they come to see through a
child's eyes, learners will commit themselves to responding so as to enable
children to grasp God's truth and to come to rely on it in faith in all areas
of living. To express this commitment learners will develop and demonstrate
learned abilities to equip parents, children, and church to experience a newly
energized discipleship focus among children.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: This course enables participants to recognize the
place of children in the ministry of the home and church and equips with skills
to minister to and program for children.
COURSE FORMAT: Class meets for two-hour sessions twice a week with
demonstrations, discussion, and small group involvement in class.
REQUIRED READING: