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Abstract

Although the church has long practiced ministry with children, this field of ministerial practice is taking new and exciting shapes in the 21st century. Because of the expanding and substantial body of literature produced in this discipline over the last several decades, we have assembled an annotated bibliography intended to give scholars, practitioners, and church members an overview of the more significant printed work that addresses Christian perspectives on ministry with children.

Author Bio

Shannon Clarkson Rains (DMin, Abilene Christian University) is the Assistant Professor of Children’s Ministry at Lubbock Christian University. Before her appointment, Dr. Rains served in children’s and family ministry for fifteen years. She holds a Master of Science in Christian Education from ACU. She completed graduate coursework in Family Ministry from Lubbock Christian University and Early Childhood Education from Concordia University, River Forest. Dr. Rains holds a Doctor of Ministry from ACU with a concentration in Spiritual Formation. Her project-thesis is titled “The Practice of Children’s Ministry: Developing a Cohesive Vision of Practice with Church Leaders.” Dr. Rains lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband David and their children River (2003) and Reese (2009).

Jennifer Reinsch Schroeder (DMA, Michigan State University) is the Children’s Minister at North Atlanta Church of Christ in Atlanta, GA. She has served in ministry for 15 years and has a deep desire to see children recognize their full potential as part of God’s kingdom. She has an M.Div. Equivalency from Abilene Christian University with plans to begin work on her Doctor of Ministry degree at ACU in 2020. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Michigan State University, a Master of Science in Family Life Education from Lubbock Christian University, and both a Master of Music and Bachelor of Music from the University of North Texas. Additionally, Dr. Schroeder holds Texas State Teaching Certificates in the areas of Special Education (All-Level), Music Education (All-Level), and Early Childhood through 4th Grade (Generalist). Dr. Schroeder lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband Greg and their four children—Jack (2012), Lillian (2013), Harvey (2013), and Matilda (2013).

Ron Bruner (DMin, Abilene Christian University) has served as the executive director of Westview Boys’ Home in Hollis, Oklahoma, since 1999. He co-edited Along the Way: Conversations about Children and Faith with Dana Kennamer Pemberton. Bruner co-edited Owning Faith: Reimagining the Role of Church & Family in the Faith Journey of Teenagers with Dudley Chancey. As an adjunct in ACU’s Graduate School of Theology, he teaches Children’s Ministry. Because of his interest in practical theology—especially in the fields of intergenerational, children’s, and youth ministry—Bruner edits the e-journal Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry. He and his wife, Ann, enjoy life with their three adult children and five grandchildren.

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Creative Commons License
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