Mimi Larson

@Markins @Awana This is a worthy question. It also brings to question how does suffering build resiliency and how do you have resiliency to face suffering? Happy to be a dialogue partner if you need it.

My opinion? I think your observation and question highlights the orthopraxy conundrum. Although it’s true that there are plenty of cases of church abuse or churches behaving badly… That doesn’t mean we equate that to all suffering or all resistance is bad. I don’t really have any answers right now… It just seems like a worthy conversation. I’m thinking and praying.

Pastors, are you experiencing this? @Awana hosted a KidMin Influencers round-table today. The loudest theme that emerged was the toxic nature of “Gentle Parenting” (their boots on the ground perspective). Some parents are even asking kids pastors to not discuss the crucifixion. They are afraid of “church trauma” and kids pastors are concerned these kids will lack resiliency (overall & spiritually).

A church in York Pa has issued a "Loud Kid Policy."

@Jeb_R My mom would always remind me that 50% of receiving a doctorate was perseverance and grit…and that is what is needed for the bureaucracy, instability, and funding.

The hardest part of the PhD is not the dissertation writing and research (that's the fun part) -- it's the bureacracy, instability, and fight for funding.

@courtneyellis @revdarylellis Winter Olympics, especially Curling (grew up in hot summer, cold winters)

The Winter Olympics are clearly the best but @revdarylellis insists that the summer ones reign. I grew up in the cold. He in the heat. Which is your favorite, and did you grow up in a hot climate or a cold one?

@Jeb_R Ah you have now crossed a threshold and are part of us! Congratulations! (It does feel weird, doesn’t it? Still is weird for me to call Dr. Guthrie “Donald”!)

One does not simply start referring to his doktorvater by his first name.

@Jeb_R Congratulations!!

The dissertation was defended successfully! Clear pass for TEDS. Summa cum laude distinction for the University of Geneva. I am beyond honored and so relieved to be done. Praise God.

When you give to the Center for Faith and Children, you’re helping us equip children's ministry leaders with the knowledge and skills they need to make an impact in their churches. Give today! tiu.edu/giving/faith-c…

I was thrilled when Sarah told me about her experience with our Children in Worship pew card. Read her story here: mailchi.mp/abe3ffcc6bc9/y…

At the Center for Faith and Children, our podcast helped Rebecca have a wonderful conversation with her son about talking to God. Read the full story here: mailchi.mp/3a38cecf5379/s…

@Jeb_R Congratulations

Might have shed a few tears of sheer relief and gratitude after formally submitting my dissertation yesterday. It’s the culmination of nearly 5 years of research and writing.

Another tale from the intergenerational church: Little ones, you were quiet today, but I saw your joy as we smelled the incense. I heard your amens as we said the liturgy. And I felt your energy as you rushed past to get to communion. I’m glad we were in church together today.

@courtneyellis We first heard him years ago when vacationing in Maine and he did one LL Bean’s free summer concerts. We fell in love then and have been hooked ever since.

@MimiLarson16 He is AMAZING

Got to hear Martin Sexton at a little venue with Daryl and dear friends last night. Early in the show, Martin said, “I don’t like making music for people as much as I like making music WITH people” and then invited us to sing harmonies and clap along and echo back. Such JOY.

Little ones, you shouted much in church today. Thank you for reminding me of the canticle: Thank the Lord & sing his praise; tell everyone what he has done….he leads his people forth in joy & with shouts of thanksgiving. Alleluia! I’m glad we were in church together today.

Another tale from the intergenerational church: Little ones, you played with your toys on the sanctuary floor, joyful and at ease in God’s presence. May we come to worship with the same joy and open hearts. Grateful we were in church together today.

In trying to serve people where they are, churches have sorted them by life stage, with children, teens, young adults, and empty nesters siloed from one another. But what many churches are missing is slow, relational, generational formation. christianitytoday.com/2025/09/dont-s…

@Markins One of my husband’s favorite books. When I read it, I could not put it down.

There’s not a good movie adaptation to The Count of Monte Cristo (in English). This is a problem that needs solving.

@Markins I agree and wish we could grab coffee and talk more. Reading Westerhoff, I wonder if deconstruction is part of his faith paradigm and "Searching Faith," where individuals need to question and internalize what they have been taught. It's part of the way they make meaning of faith.

As Christians we tend to think of the word "deconstruction" in a negative light (and for many good reasons). But the Christ follower must deconstruct the worldly ways we've been formed. Jesus said, broad is the path that leads to destruction and narrow is the path that leads to life in Matthew 7. How might we have been formed by worldliness and not even realize it? Let's untangle ourselves from the ungodliness of our sin and the patterns of this world to walk in Jesus narrow way.

@Markins Yes! Memorization is foundational to our learning. It just doesn’t stop there!!

When God directed my steps to become a Children's Ministry Curriculum Publisher in 2005, there was an undercurrent in this space where the importance of "Bible memorization" and "rote memory" and "Bible literacy" were downplayed. The dominant philosophy at that time was "helping kids apply the Bible to their lives" and it came at the exchange of abdicating kids Bible basics. I rejected this thinking at that time and I still reject it today. Why? A competent surgeon must know the basics of his/her profession in order to thrive as a doctor. Same goes for a lawyer, an athlete, a pastor, a factory worker, a biologist, etc. In these fields we don't "skip straight to application" ... rather we teach the fundamentals first as building blocks. Application of these particulars comes only after a certain amount of basics have formed the young professional to have the context to know how to do the functions of the job. At that point, then the practicum can begin. Kids need to know how to apply the Bible -- 100% yes! But church leaders and parents must prioritize Bible memorization, Bible engagement (how to read and understand the Bible), rote understanding and Bible literacy. If we skip this, it's like sending a surgeon into the operating room, under formed and unprepared. This is a cautionary tale. The wise kids pastor, church leader and parent will give their young people Bible basics while shepherding and discipling them toward application as they form. This is one of the three basic building blocks of forming the faith of children. @Awana