Faith Formation in Children

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Faith Formation in Children Block Course

9-13 September 2024
9.30am-4.30pm
Other Zoom dates TBD

How does your faith community view children and their place within the church? What do you believe about the faith formation of children, and the role of parents and the wider faith community in this? How does that inform your practice? If you love helping our tamariki encounter the love of Jesus, then this one-week block course is for you.

Over the course of the week, local children’s ministry experts Annette Osborne and Jan Ozanne, alongside special international guest lecturers, will equip and refresh you for ministry in your context. You’ll get to explore child spirituality, family-focused faith formation, how to bring the whole church together to invest in your young people, and so much more! It is going to be a rich time of connecting, learning, and being inspired, and we would love for you to join us.

Your Guest Lecturers

David Csinos is the Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Atlantic School of Theology in Canada, and the author of ‘Children’s Ministry in the Way of Jesus.’ He will share Biblical and theological perspectives on faith formation and child spirituality.

Rachel Turner is the founder of Parenting for Faith in the UK, and author of ‘It Takes a Church to Raise a Parent.’ She will encourage us to consider a ‘family at the centre of faith formation’ approach.

Christina Embree from reFocus Ministries in the US, will share her passion about connecting the generations at church and home, and the church’s role in helping to raise spiritual champions.

Children reading a book

“The qualifications that Carey offers for those pastoring children are the best available in New Zealand. You will get the skills, theological guidance and cultural understanding you need for effective ministry and mission with children in Aotearoa.”

– Karen Warner, Leadership Director, BUNZ

Ways to Enrol

There are two ways to enrol. You can either include this Block Course as part of wider study through enrolling in a Certificate, or you can take it as a one-off course through Special Interest Study. Find more details on both options below.

Carey students in class

New Zealand Certificate in Christian Studies (Children and Families)

Engage with the Children’s Ministry Block Course as part of wider study, and as a credited course, by enrolling in a Certificate. 

Find out more
Jonathan Chou and Eunice Tong used to promote Diploma in Pastoral Leadership

Special Interest Study

Participate in the Children’s Ministry Block Course as a one-off course by enrolling as an Audit Student.

Find out more

“At Carey we believe that the God of mission is at work in the world by the Spirit to renew people and places in Christ. Our calling is to equip Christian leaders with the convictions, competencies, and capacity to participate in that mission, bringing gospel renewal in churches and communities across Aotearoa and around the world.”

– John Tucker, Principal