Welcoming Children

This book develops a theology of childhood both from a theoretical basis in biblical theology (especially the gospel of Mark) and practical experience in children and youth ministry. Mercer builds on classical theologians such as Augustine, Calvin, Barth, and Rahner as well as modern feminist theologians such as Brock and Russell. She gains insights from pastoral theologians such as Capps and Couture and from contemporary cultural criticism. Mercer challenges approaches to educational and liturgical practices with children in congregations that segregate children from the rest of the church and its key practices of service, mission, worship, care, and learning. She reframes ministries with children as processes through which the church as a "community of practice" forms children into an alternative identity that resists surrounding consumerist culture and walks in the ways of Jesus. This book offers strategies for educational practices with children in congregations as it seeks to address the question, "What might educational practices that welcome children and contribute to their flourishing look like in the context of a faith community where children's learning happens in collaboration with experienced practitioners of faith?" Outlining a feminist practical theology of childhood, it explores five basic theological claims: (1) children as gifts and parenting as a religious practice of stewardship; (2) welcoming those who welcome and care for children; (3) children as already fully human; (4) children as part of the purposes of God; and (5) acknowledging and transforming the sufferings of children.

The Christian Church has been "welcoming the children" in everygeneration since Jesus' earthly life. The early church, and generations of Christians since, would find expressions of care, appropriate for their times, to help needy families and dependent children.This story is about how the Christian church, with the major focus upon Arizona Baptist Children's Services (ABCS), has responded to the mandate of Jesus to "welcome the children" whose families have been crippled or absent. To tell that story, the writer has chosen to go back in time to create a context of historical examples. What ABCS and other Christians are doing in the Year of Our Lord, 2010, is little different than the experience of how the church responded to the needs of children in the first, fifth or eighteenth centuries. Only the methods have changed.The methods have evolved from foster family care to specialized services for children and families. These state-of-the art modern methods of care are described in detail. This should be helpful and informative to social workers and others who work with troubled families and children in out-of-home care in a faith-based context.

The purpose of this book is to combine perspectives of scholars from Africa on Child Theology from a variety of theological sub-disciplines to provide some theological and ministerial perspectives on this topic. The book disseminates original research and new developments in this study field, especially as relevant to the African context. In the process it addresses also the global need to hear voices from Africa in this academic field. It aims to convey the importance of considering Africa’s children in theologising. The different chapters represent diverse methodologies, but the central and common focus is to approach the subject from the viewpoint of Africa’s children. The individual authors’ varied theological sub-disciplinary dispositions contribute to the unique and distinct character of the book. Almost all chapters are theoretical orientated with less empirical but more qualitative research, although some of the chapters refer to empirical research that the authors have performed in the past. Most of the academic literature in the field of Child Theologies is from American or British-European origin. The African context is fairly absent in this discourse, although it is the youngest continent and presents unique and relevant challenges. This book was written by theological scholars from Africa, focussing on Africa’s children. It addresses not only theoretical challenges in this field but also provides theological perspectives for ministry with children and for important social change. Written from a variety of theological sub-disciplines, the book is aimed at scholars across theological sub-disciplines, especially those theological scholars interested in the intersections between theology, childhood studies and African cultural or social themes. It addresses themes and provides insights that are also relevant for specialist leaders and professionals in this field. No part of the book was plagiarised from another publication or published elsewhere.

The Christian school community has a unique impetus for impacting the lives of students with special needs. Doctors Lane and Kinnison present this groundbreaking guide for administrators to lay foundational components in order to develop a successful and sustainable special needs program in a Christian school. Kinnison outlines God's purpose for bringing children with special needs into the world. Lane provides step-by-step guidelines for fostering an inclusive and sustainable school environment. This book seeks to support Christian school educators, parents of children with special needs, and disability ministries servants in their quests to transform an under-equipped, private educational institution into the indefatigable arms of Jesus that welcome. This book provides guidance to individuals who have and those who intend to develop a special needs program. Special education professors and researchers will find this text vital for working with pre-service Christian educators who wish to serve children with special needs. Christian schools--especially those that may have attempted and failed, or continue to struggle with developing their programs--will find this text an oasis for frustrated spirits. The past applications of these principles have achieved remarkable success. Now, with this text, leaders and innovators have a succinct, well-ordered guide for expediting their successes.

Welcoming Young Children into the Museum provides all of the information practitioners need to consider when making the decision to engage with this audience and their carers. Meeting the reader where they are, this guide enables professionals to work toward outcomes that fit with their needs. Working methodically from the initial stages of bringing staff on board, through to implementation and evaluation, readers are carefully steered through each phase. "Big-picture" needs, like adherence to mission, are considered alongside logistical components, like cleaning schedules, to ensure that museums cater to young children in a way that is beneficial to both the visitors and the institution. Drawing on current neurological research and best practices in early childhood education and development, this guide presents case studies from a variety of different institutions around the world that demonstrate that creating interesting, developmentally appropriate opportunities for young children is about much more than just simplifying what is already on offer. Erdman, Nguyen and Middleton demonstrate that the age and needs of the visitors must be taken into careful consideration, as well as the assets and potential obstacles of the institution. Welcoming Young Children into the Museum will be essential reading for professionals working in museums large and small, regardless of type. It will be useful to those who are considering setting up new programmes for early years audiences and those with existing programmes, who would like to improve their offering.

A guide to children's ministry that serves families with special needs Jesus set a high standard when He said "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." The call is not limited to children who will sit quietly at His feet and listen, who color between the lines, who raise their hands and wait to be called upon, and who work at grade level. Children's ministries are responsible to be ready to bring children with disabilities to Jesus' feet too. Every Child Welcome is the guide for leaders and volunteers to assist in purposeful planning and skill development for a ministry inclusive of children with unique needs. Experienced children's ministry leaders, and parents of special-needs children themselves, the authors are superbly equipped to offer a thoughtful, thorough approach to creating a positive environment for children--one where all children will be able to digest the important concepts being taught. For leaders and volunteers, Every Child Welcome will provide the knowledge and tools to * create a welcoming environment before kids arrive * help children learn more effectively by connecting new information to what they already know * reinforce the main idea of a lesson, building background knowledge and reviewing important concepts * supplement instruction with hands-on activities to increase attention and participation * reinforce and wrap up an activity effectively

Deacon Larry Sutton knows first-hand how important and rewarding catechizing children with developmental disabilities can be. In How to Welcome, Include, and Catechize Children with Autism and Other Special Needs, he provides bishops, pastors, DREs, and other diocesan and parish leaders with a guide for creating a program that addresses the needs of children with physical, developmental, and cognitive disabilities and welcomes them into the life of the parish. How to Welcome, Include, and Catechize Children with Autism and Other Special Needs helps parishes: Understand disabilities—and abilities Build relationships with children with special needs? Provide one-on-one customized catechesis using existing resources Inspire teens to volunteer Revitalize, educate, and involve the entire parish How to Welcome, Include, and Catechize Children with Autism and Other Special Needs provides the insights needed to build an effective faith formation program. By sharing stories of success and inspiration that affect everyone—pastor, parent, student, teenager, and teacher—he delivers the unexpected: that catechizing children with special needs actually nurtures the faith of the entire parish.