Customer Reviews

Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions: Why Children Should Be Your Church's #1 Priority

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This is a good solid book. Too many churches treat children's ministry like a babysitting service and an afterthought. I work at a school that provides MA in Children's and Family ministries and the many many students we have in the program are getting a graduate education in Children's & Family ministries. They are taking this seriuosly, their churches are taking it seriously, and so is George Barna in this book.

There are many stats to back up what he is saying and it is done in plain english. I appreciate the way Barna shares his research and does not seem so profit driven as other Christian writers from big publishing companies.

This, is a good book. Every elder in any church that cares should pick this up and give it a look before the church budgets are set for the following year. I highly recommend it. Joseph Dworak

Barna is known for writing books based on superb research - and this one is no exception. Drawing from several national studies conducted among children, as well as others among families and church pastors, this book really challenged me to re-think my own assumptions and behavior regarding the importance of ministry to children. The book was helpful to me personally, not only by giving useful insights into why focusing on substantive ministry to children is so critical - he offers some very eye-opening information in that regard - but also providing specifics on how to reach kids more effectively. The last few chapters outline what churches can do to facilitate parents being more effective and how churches can assist parents rather than replace them. A disturbing book in some ways - the spiritual state of children, as described, is frightening - but a hugely helpful, practical and needed book. Every parent and every pastor should read this one!!!

I have never read anything by George Barna, though I have heard a great deal about him, as his statistics seem to be quoted by every Christian speaker under the sun. From that perspective, I expected great things from this book. Truthfully, I was disappointed.

To be fair, he does present a solid case that God cares deeply about children, so the church should care about children, too. But that's not something that any reasonable church leader would dispute.

His description of what effective churches are doing was compelling and caused me to consider those various strategies. However, I wish that he had been more specific through that chapter, to identity what specific churches had done in detail. Instead, he chose to speak in very general platitudes. Again, with such generalities, it is hard to disagree, but it also tends to be much less instructive to the reader.

My first primary criticism of the book is that, as mentioned in some other Amazon reviews, the statistical data seemed to be rather sparse. The book served largely as a forum for Barna to sermonize about ministering to children. Though he had some good things to say, his reputation suggests that he comes from a very objective place of analytical research. That did not seem to be the primary thrust of this book. Maybe I had unreasonable expectations, but this book is not a statistical analysis of the state of contemporary church ministries to children. A few stats are mentioned (and even repeated) throughout, but I wanted more.

I also felt like his claim that children's ministries should be THE primary focus of church ministry was a stretch, and not well-supported. That churches should make ministry to children ONE OF THE primary focal points is something worth articulating. And he raised good questions as to whether this is even the case in many churches. But to suggest, rather flippantly, that children's ministries should be elevated above all others seems to be such a dramatic charge that it ought to be extremely well-supported. Based on a lack of the unarguable factual data that I was anticipating, that case was not well made.

And as a final, if rather insignificant, complaint, one of the data charts was totally unreadable. I studied the chart for ten minutes and could not figure out what it was trying to illustrate.

I would suggest this book for anyone who thinks that children ought to be an afterthought for church leaders because Barna conclusively argues that this is far from the heart of God. But if you start with the perspective that children are important, I'm just not sure that Barna has much to offer.

An excellent book that challenges, encourges parents and churches to partner together to mentor children from the earliest years of their lives. Barna admits that for years his focus, and the churches, has been focused on adults when 80% of decisions for Christ are made before the age of 13. A strong case for churches to rethink where their priorities should be in ministry.

This is a must read for any pastor or children's director who wants to affect change in the future of the church. VERY EYE opening. Laden with statistics, but important ones!

Will help you redefine your understanding of parents and the effective ministry to their children.

I've worked with children for years, understanding that, as someone? has said (can't remember the exact quote), "It's easier to raise healthy children than it is to fix broken adults." Mr. Barna excellently explains and promotes this truth: pouring into them while their young so the foundation in Christ is firm and immovable. If you're planning to nit-pick the details and statistics as several readers that reviewed the book did, then I guess this book isn't for you. If you're looking for specific how-to's, it isn't the book, either. But, if you're looking for a book that grabs your heart and stirs you in ministry to children (or your own), and you're willing to ask the Holy Spirit, "How, specifically, do we do minister to children in OUR church (or family)?" then this is THE ONE! This book has stirred me to have faith for greater results, give more, reach higher, pray more earnestly, love more unconditionally, lay down my life more sacrificially than any other book I've read on the subject. I'm in the middle of reading it a second time and have it now as a must-read for all new teachers!

I made the mistake of looking at the title of this book and assuming the book was a resource for parents on how to transform their children into spiritual champions. It is not and I feel a little like this is a bait and switch. The sub-title, in small print, is what this book is primarily about, "Why Children should be your church's #1 Priority". If you already know that children should be your church's number 1 priority, you don't need this book. If you are a parent looking for practical ideas and strategies on how to disciple your children, don't buy this book. If you are an academic, wanting to see research on how most people's ideas and world view are shaped growing up, this is the book for you. If you are a Christian parent looking for practical stuff on how to be more effective in discipling your children, I would not recommend this book.

There is a chapter on what kids need but most Christian parents already know this. We need creative and practical ideas on how to facilitate Bible study, worship, evangelism, and service. To sum up, if you already know that you shouldn't relinquish the spiritual growth of your children to your church, if you accept responsibility for your children's faith and passion for God, you don't need this book. I believe the title is misleading and would submit that the author and publisher should make the sub-title, which is what the book is really about, the actual title. That is why I only rated it as a 1-Star.

Barna provides here a good, concise case for top-notch children's ministry. The information really isn't new to anyone who has read and studied on the subject. The greatest strength of this title is the gathering together of spiritual, statistical and sociological information into one small volume.

This book should be on every pastor's shelf, and would be a great help to anyone teaching children or working in a children's ministry.

I recommend it highly.

If you are like most passionate followers of Yehshua we do not want to lose another generation from the church. This book is a must read for pastors, youth pastors, lay ministry workers and the body of Christ at large. In practical everyday language George Barna hits home the message that if we do not reach this up and coming generation for Jesus it will be to our peril. It begins at the home level so parents get this book, read it, pass it on, tell everyone you know to read it. Life impacting, life changing!

This book is fantastic. I actually would go past fantastic. George Barna is rethinking ministry and through this book will reshape the minds of pastors in churches. I agree with him the children are most important in the church. This idea has revolutionized the ways many think about Children's Ministry and for those who may be skeptical; the statistics he provides are very compelling. This book makes an excellent case and delivers home the point of the church focusing the ministry of children.

I am a college student and have been involved with a few different children's ministries. There are many times where children's ministry has been an afterthought. There are some who say that children's ministry is another name for babysitting. Being frustrated hearing that I want to encourage any parent and pastor to read this book. George Barna puts into words how I feel about Children's Ministry and backs up the importance of Children's Ministry with statistics. Barna also really captures the importance of Children's Ministry and why it is important to their spiritual formation.
The message is simple in this book. Make sure churches focus on getting children in a loving relationship with Jesus at a young age, otherwise they may lose them. This book doesn't put all the stress on churches to learn the child, but to equip parents to be spiritual leaders for their children. The effort in Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions is one with the church and parents active in their lives, but being on the same page.

Barna realized through his studies that parents were ill equipped to spiritually form their children and that parents mostly leave the church to spiritually form their children. Barna discusses how that is wrong and why that is wrong.
There was a specific chapter that I found very interesting. It was towards the end of the book and it was all about evaluating. Many people try something they think is good and expect growth. Barna stresses the importance of evaluation to grow. This chapter is great and I can talk on it more, but I wouldn't want to ruin it for you all.
Overall this book is fantastic and I recommend all those involved with church and ministry read it. The book has started to revolutionize churches and is the lead in making ministry family oriented rather than the segregated way it has been run before. By that I mean this is just adult ministry, this only in youth ministry and that there is Children's Ministry. But this book can and is reshaping the minds of many into forming family ministries where they can equip parents to teach their kids, and also challenge kids spiritually.

Also in this review I have shared different topics or points George Barna makes in this book. They are good points, but I stress to you that there is so much more in the book that the few points I have taken out of the book. I encourage you to get this book and maybe even suggest your pastor to read this book.