This is perhaps the most sobering and inspiring book on children's ministry to date. An essential read for anyone working with children in the church today. -- Gary M. Burge, professor of New Testament, Wheaton College Jesus Christ has called us to make disciples who will mature in the Christian faith and reproduce their kind. Dan understands that children and youth comprise a fertile field where we can work. -- Lyle W. Dorsett, Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism, Beeson Divinity School Dan is a voice to be reckoned with. The ideas he shares in this book will empower families and church leaders to transform our kids into lifelong disciple makers. -- Steve Carter, teaching pastor, Willow Creek Community church; author, This Invitational Life Amid all the stories about young people leaving the church, this book offers great encouragement for revitalizing the formation of the young. -- Vincent Bacote, Associate Professor of Theology, Wheaton College Dan has it right. His observations and practical advice can help church ministry leaders immeasurably. -- Jack D. Eggar, president/CEO, Awana Dan reminds us that real spiritual growth happens through relationships, and gives practical help and direction on how to realign ministries to this mission. -- Mindy Stoms, Promiseland director, Willow Creek Community Church Dan does an excellent job of saying what most of us are thinking, but then takes it a step farther with compellingly clear guidance to implement effective plans in our ministry. -- Heidi M. Hensley, children's pastor, Bayside Church

Children’s ministry has the power to change the lives of kids and families. Unfortunately, it’s not always clear that the work a person does with kids is really making a lasting difference. Ask children’s ministry leaders and kid-influencers if they are making the impact on children’s lives as they had hoped and most likely the responses will be mixed. And for good reason. Research over the past decade has revealed an alarming lack of long-term growth in the faith community as children progress through student ministries into adulthood.

Clearly, something needs to change.

Relational Children’s Ministry seeks to reverse this trend by equipping children’s ministry leaders with practical tools to disrupt the status quo approach to discipleship with children and realign their ministries for greater long-term impact. Ministry leaders will:

• Learn how to relate intentionally to kids and families by putting five discipleship invitations modeled by Jesus into practice
• Explore practical approaches to realign their children’s ministry for a new trajectory by hitting three “reset buttons” to ensure long-term discipleship is embedded
• Encounter examples of disruptive disciple-makers in action and learn key principles that can be translated into their own ministry context

Children’s ministry leaders will receive practical training to refocus their children’s ministry along with time-tested tools to personally recommit to lifelong discipleship. Kid-influencers can become a disciple-making community that redirects the current trajectory for this and future generations.