There is growing interest in the study of children‎'‎s spirituality within the academy and the church‎.‎ How do children experience and understand God‎?‎ How can ministry leaders‎,‎ parents‎,‎ and teachers help children develop their life of faith‎?‎

Throughout more than a decade of field research‎,‎ Catherine Stonehouse and Scottie May listened to children talk about their relationships with God‎,‎ observed children and their parents in learning and worship settings‎,‎ and interviewed adults about their childhood faith experiences‎.‎ This accessible resource weaves together their findings to offer a glimpse of the spiritual responsiveness and potential of children‎.‎ Through case studies‎,‎ it provides insight into children‎'‎s perceptions of God and explores how they process their faith‎.‎ In addition‎,‎ Listening to Children on the Spiritual Journey suggests how adults can more effectively relate to and work with children and pre‎-adolescents to nurture their faith‎,‎ offering a compelling picture of adults and children on the spiritual journey together‎.‎ The book will be of immense value to professors and students in children‎'‎s spirituality‎,‎ Christian education‎,‎ spiritual formation‎,‎ and ministry courses and will benefit those who minister to children in churches‎.‎

Contents

Introduction

1‎.‎ Why Listen to Children‎?‎

2‎.‎ Knowing God in Childhood

3‎.‎ Experiencing God in Everyday Life

4‎.‎ Children Experiencing God at Church

5‎.‎ The Formative Power of God‎'‎s Story

6‎.‎ Let the Children Come‎:‎ Loving‎,‎ Knowing‎,‎ and Following Jesus

7‎.‎ Celebrating Compassion

8‎.‎ The Church Partnering with Parents

Appendix A‎:‎ The Research Designs

Appendix B‎:‎ Resources and Ideas