Research shows that by the time many children are thirteen years old they feel they know everything there is to know about the Bible and God, and feel no further need of attending church. Could this be because we have underestimated their spiritual potential, and been content to feed them a repetitive spiritual diet of basic Bible stories over and over again? Just how many ways can we repackage Noah's Ark anyway? It's time the collective body of Christ re-evaluate children's ministries and redefine what valid, disciple-making, equipping children's ministry really is.

We have a crisis in the Church in regards to our children. Research shows as many as 70% of the children who have been raised in our Bible believing churches and families are leaving our ranks in droves when they reach their teens and young adult years. What's worse is very few of them ever return. By the time many of these kids are thirteen years old they feel they know everything there is to know about the Bible and God, and feel no further need of attending church.Could this be because we have underestimated their spiritual potential, and been content to feed them a repetitive diet of basic Bible stories over and over again? Just how many ways can we repackage Noah's Ark anyway? It's time the collective body of Christ reevaluate and redefine what valid disciplemaking, equipping children's ministry really is.

"This book by Becky Fischer book has opened my eyes to the seriousness of the crisis in contemporary children's ministry. It showed me how devastating the consequences can be if the church does not make radical changes. While translating this book I have experienced the conviction of the Holy Spirit many times. He revealed to me the areas in the church and in my personal life where an urgent transformation must take place, because I am also a mother of two sons. On the other hand, Becky gives practical guidance that all parents can implement immediately as well as church leaders. This book made a strong impression on our entire team, all those who worked on preparing the book for printing. Yula, who worked on editing the texts, who is also one of our children's ministers immediately began to apply the principles. The changes which took place in our children's ministry began right after reading the first few chapters. I believe that this message is extremely urgent for today. Let's raise up a generation of radical servants of Jesus Christ. Those who are listening to His voice and obeying His will to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, and to preach the Good News of Jesus to a lost world. Natasha Lazuka, Ukrainian Harvest Ministries

This practical, thought-provoking book presents a new paradigm for children’s ministry in the emerging 21ST century and explores how churches are currently putting that vision into practice. Advocating the need to regard children as full participants in their faith communities, the book provides strategies for building intergenerational community where children feel they belong and have the opportunity to serve.

If you are Korean, or conduct ministry trips to Korea, please be aware we have Becky Fischer's best-selling book REDEFINING CHILDREN'S MINISTRY IN THE 21ST CENTURY in the Korean Language. Together let's invade Korea with a supernatural gospel for Korea's next Generation! CONTENT: Research shows that by the time many children are thirteen years old they feel they know everything there is to know about the Bible and God, and feel no further need of attending church. Could this be because we have underestimated their spiritual potential, and been content to feed them a repetitive spiritual diet of basic Bible stories over and over again? Just how many ways can we repackage Noah's Ark anyway? It's time the collective body of Christ re-evaluate children's ministries and redefine what valid, disciple-making, equipping children's ministry really is.

"Easy-to-copy reproducibles included"--Cover.

“Contemplative Youth Ministry is refreshing rain for dry youth workers and barren youth ministries. More than the same old youth ministry tips and tricks, it gives principles and practices to soak in God’s grace, love, and power. I wish I had read it 15 years ago.” - Kara Powell, Ph.D., executive director, Center for Youth Ministry and Family Ministry, Fuller Theological Seminary “Mark invites readers to be encountered by the presence of Jesus who is always near. This book is transparent about the challenges that churches and families face as they desire to be effective in youth ministry. The book is filled with the honest stories of different kinds of youth ministries representing the breadth of Christianity in the United States. I heartily endorse Contemplative Youth Ministry as a rich encounter with the souls of youth and adults whose lives have been transformed by our very present God.” - Bill Kees, director of youth ministries, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) “Mark Yaconelli not only reminds us of some of the long-forgotten pathways of faith, he shares with us how it actually looks when men and women who love God practice it with young people. I especially appreciate Mark’s optimism in his perspective of today’s kids, for his insights are grounded in God’s view of them.” - Chap Clark, Ph.D., associate professor of youth, family, and culture, Fuller Theological Seminary “Mark Yaconelli was experimenting with contemplative youth ministry practices before contemplative youth ministry practices became cool. This book has about it the unique air of authenticity. He shares with us in these pages his own journey as a youth worker who actually believes that God’s still small voice speaks louder than the roaring windstorm of our busy youth ministry calendars. It’s a book about creating for our students places of silence and opening up spaces for God to speak.” - Duffy Robbins, professor of youth ministry, Eastern University; author of Enjoy the Silence and This Way to Youth Ministry “Mark Yaconelli has emerged as one of youth ministry’s most provocative ‘voices in the wilderness,’ calling us back to our theological taproots: The contemplative practices that bind our lives to the life of Christ. If Mark’s research has taught us anything, it’s that these practices do not cause youth ministry to take fl ight into a spiritual never-never land; rather they anchor young people—and their churches—in the fertile soil of Christian tradition, in the nitty-gritty of daily life, and in the explosive transformation that awaits us when we wait upon God.” - Kenda Creasy Dean, parent, pastor, and professor of youth, Princeton Theological Seminary; author of Practicing Passion: Youth and the Quest for a Passionate Church