
Child Discipleship and the Theology of Technology
Jeremy Pettitt is a communications professor at Moody Bible Institute and has a Masters in Communication and Culture. He and Ross Cochran discuss what...
Resilient is an honest calling to ask robust questions about the future of faith. It is a timely conversation in the midst of changing cultural landscapes. It is a love letter to the church about the children who will one day lead and minister in the face of cultural adversity.
Jeremy Pettitt is a communications professor at Moody Bible Institute and has a Masters in Communication and Culture. He and Ross Cochran discuss what...
A Journey Through Holy Week is a special edition of the Resilient Disciples Podcast. SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never...
A Journey Through Holy Week is a special edition of the Resilient Disciples Podcast. SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never...
A Journey Through Holy Week is a special edition of the Resilient Disciples Podcast. SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never...
A Journey Through Holy Week is a special edition of the Resilient Disciples Podcast. SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never...
A Journey Through Holy Week is a special edition of the Resilient Disciples Podcast. SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never...
A Journey Through Holy Week is a special edition of the Resilient Disciples Podcast. SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never...
A Journey Through Holy Week is a special edition of the Resilient Disciples Podcast. SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never...
A Journey Through Holy Week is a special edition of the Resilient Disciples Podcast. SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never...
On Tuesday March 23rd Awana hosted an online event, Coming Back to Different, featuring a panel of children’s ministry experts. Moderated by Ross Cochran,...
Pastor Gina Spivey shares about her experience leading Calvary Community Church’s Special Abilities Ministry. Gina and Ross Cochran discuss why making the Gospel accessible...
Brian and Sandee Rhodes have served in a variety of roles around the world with Awana. They shared how child discipleship played out in...
Miguel Perez, Awana Global Vice President for Latin America, shares why empowering leaders is at the core of his ministry. He and Ross Cochran...
We invite you to listen to a special edition of the Resilient Disciples Podcast each day of this week. You can listen below, or...
Andi Dina is serving in Central Europe with Awana and he joined Ross Cochran to share how child discipleship is changing the countries he...
Stephen Maphosah, Global Vice President of Awana serving in Africa, shares how child discipleship has been impacted by the coronavirus and how all leaders...
Child discipleship has been impacted by the coronavirus all over the world. On this episode, Gajendra Tamang and Steve Cohoon share perspective from around...
Mark Matlock, coauthor of Faith for Exiles, and Ross Cochran discuss the latest research regarding youth discipleship and how the church can best serve...
Dr. Denise Muir Kjesbo shares practical wisdom on how churches and families can work together to disciple the children in their communities. We also...
Shawn Thornton, Senior Pastor at Calvary Community Church, shares his passion for caring for people with disabilities. Shawn and Ross Cochran discuss there that...
Matt Markins, President and Chief Strategy Officer at Awana, shares his thoughts on the current state of child discipleship at the start a new...
Has anything stopped you in your tracks recently? For every moment that catches our eye, there are hundreds of beautiful moments that go unnoticed...
Charlie and his wife Nettie are remarkably generous and have been focused on child discipleship for their entire lives. They are part of the...
Has anything stopped you in your tracks recently? For every moment that catches our eye, there are hundreds of beautiful moments that go unnoticed...
MOPS International (Mothers of Preschoolers) exists to help support and connect moms. Sherri Crandall, MOPS Vice President of Global Ministry and Leadership Experience, and...
Has anything stopped you in your tracks recently? For every moment that catches our eye, there are hundreds of beautiful moments that go unnoticed...
Theresa Sidebotham ESQ, founding attorney at Telios Law PLLC, works closely with the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention. This group of outside experts help...
Has anything stopped you in your tracks recently? For every moment that catches our eye, there are hundreds of beautiful moments that go unnoticed...
During 2020, have you found yourself feeling discouraged or distracted? No wonder! What were normal events just last year have become almost impossible due...
Arthur C Woods joins Ross Cochran to discuss the Biblical mandate to care for the most vulnerable in our society, and how that relates...
How do I, as a parent, get past my own anger, disappointment, or frustration in order to get to the point that I can...
Veterans Day is a time for us to pay our respects to those who have served. For one day, we stand united in respect...
Samuel Porcha, Director of Child Discipleship for the Southside of Chicago at Awana, shares how important it is for the church to be unified...
Kris Smoll, Executive Director of Discovery Land Ministries, leads the children’s ministry team at Appleton Alliance Church in Wisconsin. She joined Ross Cochran along...
Terri Youngblood and Catherine Tucker lead Awana at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship and they joined Ross Cochran and Melanie Hester for a conversation about...
Awana US Latino Director Abel Lopez discusses the future of child discipleship, why caring for pastors is so important during this pandemic, and the...
Mom, COVID has changed everything and it makes me sad. My 7-year-old son shared this with me through tears last week when, once again,...
It feels like forever since Covid-19 changed all of our lives in March and we’ve been able to meet in person for club, Sunday...
Tom Chilton, Awana Area Director of Europe and North Asia, and Ross Cochran discuss the state of Christianity in Europe and the flawed thinking...
Valerie Bell shares what she believes to be the most important question we all could be asking ourselves in the wake of COVID-19. Valerie...
Josiah Williams is a Christian Hip-Hop artist and a disciple of Jesus. Josiah and Ross Cochran discuss the power of loving caring adults and...
Around the country, church leaders have been wrestling for months – what do we do about ministry programming this fall?! With constantly-shifting tides related...
When I was a kid, I hated change. I loved being able to know what to expect, I loved routine, and when that was...
We are so excited to introduce brite*, a new digital weekend curriculum from Awana. On this episode we dive into the specifics of brite*...
Nine-year-old Amelia, along with her mom Celeste and her ministry leader Becky Friberg, joined Ross Cochran to share how their ministry and parenting have...
If you trust Awana, you’re going to want to check out brite*. The new digital weekend curriculum is built on the resilient child discipleship...
As part of a larger conversation from 2017, Valerie Bell shared the vision and mission for all of us to be “fire carriers” for...
Ten-year-old Joanna and her mom Pricilla joined their Awana Leader Asha to share the story of what discipleship has looked like during the time...
Kris Smol, Executive Director of Discovery Land Ministries, leads the children’s ministry team at Appleton Alliance Church in Wisconsin. She joined Ross Cochran along...
Matt Markins and Melanie Hester join Ross Cochran to preview the upcoming event, Awana Clubs in the New Normal. Join us live at 1...
How would you respond if your church was directly impacted by the coronavirus? In this episode you’ll meet Dan, whose church was impacted by...
Melanie Hester and Brian Rhodes return to the podcast to share their own experience and insight into the power of surrounding children with a...
Ross Cochran connected with Stephanie, Awana leader Mary Jane, and eight-year-old Cooper. Cooper is a great example of what it means to be a...
The gospel is at the very heart of the Awana ministry. We’re committed to proclaiming and living out the gospel with clarity and urgency....
We need to stop just volunteering and start leading. David’s story is an outstanding example of a loving, caring adult whose relationship went far...
Samuel Porcha and Matt Markins continue their conversation on how parents and church leaders can guide the children in their life through talking about...
Samuel Porcha and Matt Markins open a conversation on how parents and church leaders can guide the children in their life through talking about...
Jeff Dalrymple, Executive Director of The Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention, joined Ross Cochran and Kevin White, the Chief Operating Officer at Awana for...
Taylor and Leah Baugh join Ross Cochran and Awana Missionary Brian Lunger. Taylor and Leah are part of a military family, and have lived...
In this two part episode, Valerie Bell shares a vision of the “greatest generation of disciples ever” that was originally heard during the Make...
Chris Marchand returns to the podcast to discuss what discipleship looks like in an era of social distancing and in an increasingly screen dependent...
As part of the Make Resilient Disciples Online Experience, Mark Matlock shared research behind his book, Faith for Exiles, and shares a path forward...
Jim Wideman is a pioneer in children’s ministry who has been faithfully serving for decades. He and Ross Cochran discuss the current state of...
Jeff Gilpin is an Awana Missionary serving in the Nevada area alongside his wife Judy. When the Coronavirus first began to change our lives,...
Melanie Hester and Brian Rhodes return to the podcast with a conversation all about resilient child discipleship! These two individuals have seen the fruits...
Dr. Josh Mulvihill from Renewanation and Ross Cochran discuss how a church revival can start in the children’s ministry and how KidMin leaders and...
Mark Matlock and Matt Markins connected with Ross Cochran to preview the upcoming event, Make Resilient Disciples Online Experience. Check out this conversation to...
Shawn Thornton, Senior Pastor at Calvary Community Church, joins Valerie Bell and Ross Cochran to discuss how he measures the pulse of his church...
Melanie Hester and Ross Cochran have a practical conversation on how children’s ministry leaders can raise resilient disciples instead of creating “fans” of entertaining...
Teasa Northern, Outreach Coordinator and Minister to Women at Grace Covenant Church in Virginia joined Valerie Bell to share how her ministry has adapted...
Well, I think I’ll just come out and say it. Easter was a little more than what we have usually made it through the...
Recently my sister-in-law, Kim, was called to the front lines. I still remember the first time I met Kim. She was my older brother’s...
Sam Luce, a children’s pastor and children’s ministry thought leader from New York, joined Matt Markins for an honest conversation on the current state...
Catherine McNeil and Ross Cochran discuss an unprecedented Holy Week, parenting during the Coronavirus, and Catherine’s latest blog for Awana, “Five Ways to Easter...
Valerie Bell, Matt Markins, and Mike Handler all connected with Ross Cochran to discuss how, even during a pandemic, we can be raising the...
Michael Handler, Chief Communications Officer at Awana, joined Host Ross Cochran to reflect on how he and his family are dealing with the Coronavirus....
Not too long ago, we had our plans in place. Spring breaks. Work goals. Ministry objectives. And then came COVID-19.
Ed Gossien, Vice President of US Field Operations at Awana, joined host Ross Cochran via Zoom to discuss his beliefs on what God is...
So you’ve watched the 20-minute trailer for Resilient: Reaching the Least and the Lost, our in-progress documentary exploring what it means to make resilient disciples with a faith that lasts. But now what? What should you do?
Dr. Sean McDowell joined Matt Markins, President and Chief Strategy Officer at Awana, for a wide ranging conversation with host Ross Cochran. Dr. Sean...
Some of my earliest memories are of my mother and I riding in her itty-bitty Plymouth Horizon. Do you remember this car? Who knew...
Need direction for in-home discipleship? Click for free discipleship resources for churches and families.
Valerie Bell, Chris Marchand, and Kristin Thompson joined Ross Cochran for a conversation on how to help our children during this uncertain time. We...
Walking through the streets of Chicago, one could be swept away by the sights, the smell of the famous Chicago style pizza and keeping...
Awana CEO Valerie Bell joined Host Ross Cochran via phone to discuss her perspective on how to help our children during this uncertain time....
What does it mean to reach kids with Gospel in a way that leads them to love Jesus for the entirety of their lives? Resilient is a full-feature documentary, releasing in 2021 that will explore what it means to make resilient disciples with a faith that lasts.
This is a statement from Awana CEO Valerie Bell, Awana Chief Communications Officer Mike Handler, and Awana Vice President of Partner Solutions at Awana...
Hey Children’s ministry leader: You love what you do, and you need tools to help maximize the time that kids spend in church. Research...
As part of our brite* kids curriculum development process, we knew that it was imperative to conduct a field test with churches throughout the...
Experienced KidMin leaders Kristin Thompson, Melanie Hester, Kellie Bartley, and Kirsten Hitchcock all share their expert insight on how local practitioners can finish their...
Wess Stafford, President Emeritus of Compassion International, joined Valerie Bell, CEO of Awana, for the latest episode of the Resilient Disciples Podcast! Along with...
Dr. John and Kim Walton discuss how to apply their book, The Bible Story Handbook, to kids within early childhood. If you desire to...
Dr John H Walton Ph.D. and Kim E Walton join the Resilient Disciples podcast to discuss The Bible Story Handbook: A Resource for Teaching...
Resilient: Child Discipleship and the Fearless Future of the Church is now available! Valerie Bell, Matt Markins, Chris Marchand, and Mike Handler all joined Host Ross...
Resilient: Child Discipleship and the Fearless Future of the Church is now available! Valerie Bell, Matt Markins, Chris Marchand, and Mike Handler all joined...
Chris Marchand returns to the podcast to begin to dive into the “3B” philosophy of Belong, Believe, and Become. Today’s conversation is all about...
Matt Markins, President and Chief Strategy Officer at Awana, returns to the podcast to discuss the "why" behind resilient child discipleship.
Episode Six of the Resilient Disciples Podcast with Kristin Thompson, Kirsten Hitchcock, and Samuel Porcha
In Cormac McCarthy’s novel, No Country for Old Men, Sheriff Bell remembers that his father would carry the embers from the campfire in one camp to the next in an animal horn. It was a tradition passed to the cowboys from the Native Americans.
Kristin Thompson, Samuel Porcha, and Kirsten Hitchcock on the Resilient Disciples Podcast discussing what comes next after the Children's Pastors Conference.
Michael Handler joins the Resilient Disciples Podcast for a conversation about the future of the church.
Episode Three of the Resilient Disciples Podcast: Chris Marchand, Vice President of Partner Solutions at Awana
Episode Two of the Resilient Disciples Podcast: Awana's President and Chief Strategy Officer Matt Markins
Episode One of the Resilient Disciples Podcast featuring Valerie Bell
Think of the kids in your church. These children we love will be the church of the year 2050.
As we prepare today’s kids to lead the church of 2050, what if we designed a new system that put each child on his or her own unique discipleship pathway?
One loving, caring adult engaged in the life of a child can dramatically increase a child’s long-term probability for success.
Are we talking about the systems of the past? Systems of the present? Or the systems we need to build the disciples who will lead the church of 2050?
Are we programming for the immediate, or prioritizing for the future?
As child disciple-makers, we need to step back and ask ourselves, “Is our current strategy and philosophy going to nurture and influence resilient disciples who will lead the church in the year 2050?”
As child disciple-makers, we need to step back and ask ourselves, “Is our current strategy and philosophy going to nurture and influence resilient disciples who will lead the church in the year 2050?”
This is why, though parents are important, even primary, in the spiritual direction and discipleship of their children, they are not “only” or even enough. Children may grow in the soil of their parents’ faith, but they need light and air and more.
Why is it that some kids experience adverse conditions, yet they get back up?
You are more important than you know. These children are growing up and soon will forget your name. But when they think of God’s love . . . to them it looks a lot like you.
Today’s church kids are growing up in both a secular and church culture which is unlike the cultures in which most adults grew up. More importantly, the culture kids are experiencing is unlike the ones that are to come.
The question, “Did you have fun?” is not a terrible question. It’s just not the most important or the final question.
The #1 outcome in predicting whether a child is going to do well is not education, it’s not money, and it’s not home. It’s whether or not they have an adult to put their arm around their shoulders and say, “I’ll walk this walk with you.”
Dear child, You are little for such a short time. But, when you grow up and think back on your childhood, we hope some of your earliest memories are about us, the church.
You and I have a vision for what we want the church to be, but is it possible to predict the kind of leadership...
Leaders are everywhere. But what makes some leaders remarkable? 1. Anticipating Remarkable leaders can sense your needs before you even have to say anything. Anticipation is...
Jeremy Pettitt is a communications professor at Moody Bible Institute and has a Masters in Communication and Culture. He and Ross Cochran discuss what...
A Journey Through Holy Week is a special edition of the Resilient Disciples Podcast. SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never...
A Journey Through Holy Week is a special edition of the Resilient Disciples Podcast. SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never...
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