Ministering to children’s spirituality is a core function for the Church rather than a luxury add-on, argues Dr Rebecca Nye in ‘Children's Spirituality’, a new book from the Church of England’s official publishers. Local churches have a crucial role in listening to children’s verbal and non-verbal expressions of spiritual searching and wonder, and must be careful in how they use ‘teaching’ methods to ensure they do not inadvertently stifle long-term spiritual development, she says. Alister McGrath, Head of the Centre for Theology, Religion and Culture at King's College, London, describes the book as ‘a powerful reaffirmation and exploration of the importance of childhood spirituality for the ministry and mission of the Church, which will be welcomed by all working in this field.’ Dr Nye argues that children’s capacity for exploring faith is significant and that churches should be more concerned with nurturing children’s ways of ‘being with and knowing God’, rather than the transmission of religious knowledge.
Pray: for churches to place children at the heart of their ministry nurturing their spiritual growth. (Ep.6:4)