Steven J. Adams - Childrens Ministry on Purpose: A Purpose Driven Approach to Lead Kids toward Spiritual Health

For more than twenty years Ive had the privilege of learning to lead childrens ministry directly from Steve Adams. This book is not theoretical ideas. These are principles and practices I have seen Steve implement over many years of real-life, daily leadership in the local church. I am excited for you to have access to the wisdom and experience that has mentored me for so long. This is an important resource for all of us who are passionate about leading kids and families. Applying what is taught here will lead to stronger, healthier ministries.

R ANDY I SOLA , Childrens Pastor, Christ Community Church, St. Charles, IL

Childrens Ministry on Purpose is a book that is not just a theory or a concept on how to; instead we hear the heart of Steve Adams as he poses questions for us to explore. Steve is by far one of the leading childrens pastors of our time, and the wisdom gained by reading this book impacts me personally, which in turn flows into my ministry. This books layout makes thinking about your journey an easy one as you explore your world and ministry to be more purposeful, strategic, and all God intended it to be. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!

A NDY K IRK , ACCkids National Director, Australian Christian Churches

Having been the childrens pastor for the last twenty-four years at Fellowship Church, I understand the extreme importance of being purposeful in everything I do to accomplish Gods plan in the lives of the children He has given to me. However, I have found that being purposeful in childrens ministry is more difficult today than ever before. In this age of quick fixes and instant impact, weve become accustomed to wanting to see the fruits of our labors immediately. Unfortunately, when working with kids, this just does not happen. When we dont see immediate results, we begin to lose focus on our end goal and wonder, Am I really making a difference? But this doesnt have to happen to you! Take the principles found in this book to heart and you will soon find the rejuvenation and confidence in knowing that, by developing and maintaining a long-term purpose within your ministry, you will be making a difference.

M IKE J OHNSON , Global Childrens Pastor, Fellowship Church, TX

Since I first heard Steve Adams share the way childrens leaders should have a strategy about being intentional and balanced, my life and ministry have never been the same. His teachings can be customized to your own church and country. This book shares his love and passion for childrens souls and will guide you as a leader and help you radically change your childrens ministry. After reading this book, you will join this huge army of Gods soldiers, as Steve says, that will change the childrens landscape of eternity.

S ORANLLY C AMPOS L EN , Childrens Ministry Pastor, Comunidad Cristiana Lirio de los Valles, Alajuela, Costa Rica

Pastor Steve has been a mentor of mine for over a decade. He is a brilliant leader and knows how to pull the best out of people. Childrens Ministry on Purpose takes all of his years of learning and distributes it into a book that will help childrens leaders everywhere. Through his unique approach, Steve strategically leads you through a process of developing the right systems for the structure that is appropriate for your setting. It does not matter if you are full time, part time, or volunteer, this book will help you decide why you do childrens ministry, define the appropriate structures, walk through how to build those structures, and determine who to get in place to make it happen! Whether you have well-defined processes and structures or if you are just starting to build them, Childrens Ministry on Purpose will help you evaluate how you are raising a spiritually healthy generation. Together, as we continue to refine our strategies, we will become more effective in our efforts to shape the landscape of eternity.

M ICHAEL G ROVE , Childrens Pastor, Calvary Church of Naperville, IL

It is not uncommon in the church world for people to stress the importance of ministry to children. However, in most churches this is the area where the highest percentage of leaders have the least amount of training and support to make it happen. In Childrens Ministry on Purpose, Steve Adams provides some of the most foundational and practical insights to help create a structure where both spiritual and numeric growth happen while at the same time helping leaders feel more confident to fulfill their commitment to the parents, church, and children. This is by far the best book your childrens leader will ever read if they want to laser focus their ministry to become everything God wants it to be.

M ARK E NTZMINGER , Senior Director of Childrens Ministries, General Council of the Assemblies of God

I have worked with Steve Adams at Saddleback Church for a long time. I have often said that I have never met anybody with a better understanding of leadership and local church ministry than Steve, and that is why I am so excited about Childrens Ministry on Purpose! This book is, without question, the best childrens ministry book I have ever read, but it is much more than that. In Childrens Ministry on Purpose, you will learn from an incredibly deep well of childrens ministry, leadership, and church experience. There are lots of childrens ministry books and all sorts of strategies and paradigms designed to help you do what you do a little better, but I am a believer in the strategy outlined in these pages. My own children are the byproduct of Steves leadership and the childrens ministry here at Saddleback. Also, this strategy is blatantly biblical in every area. And... it works! Each week, the childrens ministry at Saddleback ministers to thousands of children, and churches all over the world have adapted the purpose-driven strategy in their own childrens ministry with tremendous fruitfulness. Simply put, the proof is in the pudding... and no childrens ministry is complete without a little pudding! I am so glad you purchased this book, and soon you will be too!

K URT J OHNSTON , Pastor to Students, Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, CA

Finally! A book that shares the foundational principles of developing and sustaining a healthy childrens ministry. Childrens Ministry on Purpose is a practical and transferable tool for a church of any size, anywhere. Steves authenticity is woven into each chapter of this book, and you will be encouraged by his heart for serving God by serving children and childrens leaders!

C YNTHIA P ETTY , Childrens Minister, Saddleback Church

The first time I heard Steve speak was at a conference where he laid out in a wonderfully concise way, the building blocks of an effective childrens ministry. He knows what hes talking about when he talks about church and ministry. Doing tasks without purpose or intentionality is a major source of frustration and limitation in ministry. I have no doubt that this book will change the way you approach ministry to kids and provide you with a framework for maximizing your opportunities. Read this book and discover purpose for your ministry.

D AVID W AKERLEY , Hillsong Kids Pastor and Creative Director

ZONDERVAN

Childrens Ministry on Purpose

Copyright 2017 by Steven J. Adams

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

ePub Edition February 2017: ISBN 978-0-310-52302-4

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.