The Child in Our Midst

Why is it so hard to get ready for church? with Esau McCaulley

Life with young kids can be chaotic. So many things are competing for our attention, and we might not even be aware of where our priorities lie.  Esau McCaulley joins Lindsey and Ahyuwani to talk about the process of getting ready for church with a family, how church forms us, and why prioritizing spiritual formation for children is important.  The Child in Our Midst is a podcast of the Center for Faith and Children [http://faithandchildren.org], where we’re reimagining church where a child’s faith flourishes. Visit our website [https://faithandchildren.org/podcast/] for more about this episode. It’s produced by Area Code Audio [https://www.areacodeaudio.com].

Are people annoyed by my kid? Should I care? With Kaitlyn Schiess

Welcoming children just as they are is a counter-cultural practice that invites us to examine our values and what we believe about the kingdom of God. Kaitlyn Schiess talks with Lindsey and Ahyuwani about what this question shows us about what we might believe about the church, who we might be excluding, and what opportunities we might be missing as a result. Children share how they know someone likes having them around.  The Child in Our Midst is a podcast of the Center for Faith and Children [http://faithandchildren.org], where we’re reimagining church where a child’s faith flourishes. Visit our website [https://faithandchildren.org/podcast/] for more about this episode. It’s produced by Area Code Audio [https://www.areacodeaudio.com].

What do I do when my kid thinks church is boring? With Tim Beilharz

When our kids say church is boring, we might think we’ve failed them in some way. But what if this statement is an invitation to deeper conversation and an opportunity to learn how children experience church.  In this week’s episode, Lindsey and Ahyuwani learn from Tim Beilharz, a kid’s pastor at Soul Revival Church and lecturer in intergenerational ministry at Youthworks College in Australia. Tim shares how helping kids identify with the people of God addresses this issue.  Visit our website [https://faithandchildren.org/podcast/] for more about this episode.  The Child in Our Midst is a podcast of the Center for Faith and Children [http://faithandchildren.org], where we’re reimagining church where a child’s faith flourishes. It’s produced by Area Code Audio [https://www.areacodeaudio.com].

Is it okay if my kid draws through the whole service? With Robin Barfield

How do we know if kids are paying attention? What ways of participating in church actually “count”? Do questions like this help us or make it harder for us to connect with our kids around faith?  Dr. Robin Barfield, a lecturer in children’s ministry from the UK and a parent of four, talks with Lindsey and Ahyuwani about questions of agency, artistry, and responding to God.  The Child in Our Midst is a podcast of the Center for Faith and Children [http://faithandchildren.org], where we’re reimagining church where a child’s faith flourishes. Visit our website [https://faithandchildren.org/podcast/] for more about this episode. It’s produced by Area Code Audio [https://www.areacodeaudio.com].

Should we make kids sing in church? With Kelsey Kramer McGinnis

What can we control, and what can’t we control about how our kids engage in worship? Do our worship services even acknowledge that kids will be there?  Kelsey Kramer McGinnis, musicologist and mom of small kids, helps us think about the role of music in the life of the church and challenges the idea that we can “make” our kids do anything. Kelsey and our hosts explore what it means for children to be participating in singing and how parents and ministry leaders can get buy-in from kids. Spoiler alert: it’s simpler than you might think! Kids share their stories and thoughts about singing in church.  The Child in Our Midst is a podcast of the Center for Faith and Children [http://faithandchildren.org/], where we’re reimagining church where a child’s faith flourishes. Visit our website [https://faithandchildren.org/podcast/] for more about this episode. It’s produced by Area Code Audio [https://www.areacodeaudio.com].