Mike Harrowing's Groups
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students in the way
5 members
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children's worship songw…
20 members
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Theology of Children
55 members
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Web Ministry
17 members
Mike Harrowing's Page
Profile Information
- Have you had any formal training for your role
- -Youth and Children's Work OCN
-Children's Evangelism and Nurture Diploma
- Hometown:
- Tonbridge, Kent
- What church denomination do you belong to
- Denomination Smeenomination
- What type of work with children are you involved in
- Primary School-age Evangelist
- Are you a volunteer or an employee
- Worker with Christian agency
- Which of the following interest groups might you be interested in
- Churched Child, Unchurched Child, Christians in Schools, Children and Culture
Mike Harrowing's Blog
child potential
(This is a Norwegian advert for something)
Posted on May 13, 2008 at 1:50pm — 1 Comment
autism assistance dogs
interesting section about about a dog being used to support an autistic child, much like guide dogs support the blind.
I guess not so much a guide dog as a bridge dog.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/page/item/b0091xyg.shtml?filter=category%3AletterO&scope=iplayercategories&start=1&version_pid=b0091xtr
the article starts 7 and half minutes in, unfortunately you can't fast forward.
i gather that a docu-fiction programme wi… Continue
Posted on February 29, 2008 at 11:00pm —
child evangelist documentary on channel 4
Cutting edge documentary about 3 child preachers in america.
"Baby Bible Bashers follows the extraordinary stories of three of the Lord's 'chosen children', and their relationships with God, their families and their congregations.
This film by BAFTA award-winning director Amelia Hann, follows these pint-size preachers as they go about their missionary work spreading the word to 'drunkards, adulterers and thieves' and uncovers the unsettling and often dis… Continue
Posted on February 14, 2008 at 12:02am — 12 Comments
The message (kids version)
it's brilliant!
the pages pictures and graphics are lush, the text is easy to read with a flowing style (as you expect from the message). no only that but thought prompting questions are found though out as well as suggested prayers and activities to coincide with the events.
basicly i highly recomend it since it combines everything that children need and enjoy.… Continue
Posted on February 13, 2008 at 11:43am — 8 Comments
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Comment Wall (6 comments)
I studied children's ministry at ICC (Glasgow) and finished some years ago so much of the following is from memory! I thought I'd chip in a bit about your question on the new group you've started. Since I'm not formally studying now I thought best to contact you rather than join the group.
Anyway ... Westerhoff's model? This would be a good point to discuss on the Children and Theology Group so you could ask for comments there also.
Westerhoff has been a leading voice in the whole area of Christian faith development - but now that the idea of faith development is on the agenda there are more contemparary voices. Fowler is more general, i.e. concerned with models of development for any faith/religion. What I love about Westerhoff's model is that it clearly identifies how children of all ages have 'appropriate' faith (but still equally valued faith) that equates to their growth stages (physical, emotional and mental developmental). It also speaks to issues surounding faith and people who have physical or mental impairment - not excluding them for participating in the faith community or from being seen as having 'real' faith. Many adults would also go through the various stages of Westerhoff's model to reach an 'owned faith', and within this model there is the possibility that a child could be further along the road, faith wise, than an adult - which is an interesting thought! I hope I'm not confusing you!?!
My issues with his model? :-
Westerhoff sees the idea of 'conversion' to faith as the point at which someone 'truly' submits/surrenders to Jesus as Lord. This is something he belives can't happen before late adolescence or early adulthood (approx. 18 years). SO ... although one stage of faith is not any more valid than the other, the ultimate point is the 'conversion' point. Whilst I believe that we can help or hinder the spiritual growth and faith development of a child, I would never be happy to say that the point of conversion (in Westerhoff's understanding) always happens after adolescence or in early adulthood. That is undermining the work of the Holy Spirit in the 'whole' life a child, and devalues not just the work of God but the significance of childhood in God's divine plan for humanity. There are tensions when holding 'faith development' and 'conversion' together. If the actions of Jesus puting a child in the midst of the disciples is a lesson on true discipleship (to become like a child) then we are not fully grasping something of what God is saying if we only value 'adult' responses to Jesus.
So ... that's my thoughts on Westerhoff. The model is very useful - but not in isolation to other thinking and developmentalists.
Blessings and happy studying!
Lorraine
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