Article
Journey Through Holy Week
We invite you to listen to a special edition of the Resilient Disciples Podcast each day of this week. You can listen below, or...
It's time for a new conversation.
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.
Resources to equip you.
PodcastChild Discipleship is Changing the Culture of Central Europe
Andi Dina is serving in Central Europe with Awana and he joined Ross Cochran to share how child discipleship is changing the countries he...
- Podcast
Africa Amid the Pandemic: Families Are On Fire for God
Stephen Maphosah, Global Vice President of Awana serving in Africa, shares how child discipleship has been impacted by the coronavirus and how all leaders...
- Podcast
Participate in Child Discipleship All Around the World
Child discipleship has been impacted by the coronavirus all over the world. On this episode, Gajendra Tamang and Steve Cohoon share perspective from around...
- Podcast
Reinvest in Your Reach: Discipling Generation Z Before They Walk Away
Mark Matlock, coauthor of Faith for Exiles, and Ross Cochran discuss the latest research regarding youth discipleship and how the church can best serve...
- Podcast
Mind the Gap: Partner with Families for the Sake of Discipleship
Dr. Denise Muir Kjesbo shares practical wisdom on how churches and families can work together to disciple the children in their communities. We also...
- Podcast
Discipleship and Kids with Disabilities
Shawn Thornton, Senior Pastor at Calvary Community Church, shares his passion for caring for people with disabilities. Shawn and Ross Cochran discuss there that...
- Podcast
Re-engaging Child Discipleship in 2021
Matt Markins, President and Chief Strategy Officer at Awana, shares his thoughts on the current state of child discipleship at the start a new...
- Podcast
The Wonder of Advent: Week Four
Has anything stopped you in your tracks recently? For every moment that catches our eye, there are hundreds of beautiful moments that go unnoticed...
- Podcast
Investing in the Future of the Faith
Charlie and his wife Nettie are remarkably generous and have been focused on child discipleship for their entire lives. They are part of the...
- Podcast
The Wonder of Advent: Week Three
Has anything stopped you in your tracks recently? For every moment that catches our eye, there are hundreds of beautiful moments that go unnoticed...
- Podcast
Child Discipleship: MOPS Starts with Moms
MOPS International (Mothers of Preschoolers) exists to help support and connect moms. Sherri Crandall, MOPS Vice President of Global Ministry and Leadership Experience, and...
- Podcast
The Wonder of Advent: Week Two
Has anything stopped you in your tracks recently? For every moment that catches our eye, there are hundreds of beautiful moments that go unnoticed...
- Podcast
Combating the Darkness: How to Help Prevent Child Abuse
Theresa Sidebotham ESQ, founding attorney at Telios Law PLLC, works closely with the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention. This group of outside experts help...
- Podcast
The Wonder of Advent: Week One
Has anything stopped you in your tracks recently? For every moment that catches our eye, there are hundreds of beautiful moments that go unnoticed...
- Article
Because of the Gospel
During 2020, have you found yourself feeling discouraged or distracted? No wonder! What were normal events just last year have become almost impossible due...
- Podcast
Discipleship in the Foster Care Community
Arthur C Woods joins Ross Cochran to discuss the Biblical mandate to care for the most vulnerable in our society, and how that relates...
- Podcast
Help Your Kids After You Help Yourself
How do I, as a parent, get past my own anger, disappointment, or frustration in order to get to the point that I can...
- Podcast
BONUS: Our “First Citizenship” is in Heaven
Veterans Day is a time for us to pay our respects to those who have served. For one day, we stand united in respect...
- Podcast
Christ Before Culture
Samuel Porcha, Director of Child Discipleship for the Southside of Chicago at Awana, shares how important it is for the church to be unified...
- Podcast
Managing Volunteers: How to Lead Leaders
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...
- Podcast
“It’s not about the program, it’s about the relationship!”
Terri Youngblood and Catherine Tucker lead Awana at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship and they joined Ross Cochran and Melanie Hester for a conversation about...
- Podcast
Care for Those who Care for Kids
Awana US Latino Director Abel Lopez discusses the future of child discipleship, why caring for pastors is so important during this pandemic, and the...
- Article
Now More Than Ever, We Need the Church
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,...
- Article
5 Ways to Form Community in a Pandemic
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...
- Podcast
The “Now Generation” of Disciples
Tom Chilton, Awana Area Director of Europe and North Asia, and Ross Cochran discuss the state of Christianity in Europe and the flawed thinking...
- Podcast
What About The Kids?
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...
- Podcast
BONUS: Josiah Williams
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...
- Article
A Year Off Discipleship
Around the country, church leaders have been wrestling for months – what do we do about ministry programming this fall?! With constantly-shifting tides related...
- Article
Leading Kids In the Midst of Change
When I was a kid, I hated change. I loved being able to know what to expect, I loved routine, and when that was...
- Podcast
Introducing brite* (Part Two)
We are so excited to introduce brite*, a new digital weekend curriculum from Awana. On this episode we dive into the specifics of brite*...
- Podcast
BONUS: Amelia’s Story of Resilient Child Discipleship
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...
- Podcast
Introducing brite* (Part One)
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...
- Podcast
How to Be a Fire Carrier
As part of a larger conversation from 2017, Valerie Bell shared the vision and mission for all of us to be “fire carriers” for...
- Podcast
BONUS: Joanna’s Story of Resilient Child Discipleship During the Coronavirus
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...
- Podcast
Leading Your Team Through Coronavirus
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...
- Podcast
Introducing Awana Clubs in the New Normal
Matt Markins and Melanie Hester join Ross Cochran to preview the upcoming event, Awana Clubs in the New Normal. Join us live at 1...
- Podcast
BONUS: The Power of Prayer During a Pandemic
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...
- Podcast
The Power of Loving Caring Adults
Melanie Hester and Brian Rhodes return to the podcast to share their own experience and insight into the power of surrounding children with a...
- Podcast
A Story of Resilient Child Discipleship During The Pandemic
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...
- Article
Simple Tips for Sharing the Gospel with Kids
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....
- Article
Shifting from Volunteers to Leaders
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...
- Podcast
Sharing Perspective on Racial Injustice (Part 2)
Samuel Porcha and Matt Markins continue their conversation on how parents and church leaders can guide the children in their life through talking about...
- Podcast
Sharing Perspective on Racial Injustice (Part 1)
Samuel Porcha and Matt Markins open a conversation on how parents and church leaders can guide the children in their life through talking about...
- Podcast
Protecting Our Kids: The Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention
Jeff Dalrymple, Executive Director of The Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention, joined Ross Cochran and Kevin White, the Chief Operating Officer at Awana for...
- Podcast
How to Prioritize Resilient Discipleship
Taylor and Leah Baugh join Ross Cochran and Awana Missionary Brian Lunger. Taylor and Leah are part of a military family, and have lived...
- Podcast
A Love Letter to the Greatest Generation of Disciples
In this two part episode, Valerie Bell shares a vision of the “greatest generation of disciples ever” that was originally heard during the Make...
- Podcast
Resilient Discipleship Through a Screen
Chris Marchand returns to the podcast to discuss what discipleship looks like in an era of social distancing and in an increasingly screen dependent...
- Podcast
Resilient Discipleship in Digital Babylon
As part of the Make Resilient Disciples Online Experience, Mark Matlock shared research behind his book, Faith for Exiles, and shares a path forward...
- Podcast
How to Start Family Ministry at Home
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...
- Podcast
Postponed Gatherings Don’t Change Our Mission
Jeff Gilpin is an Awana Missionary serving in the Nevada area alongside his wife Judy. When the Coronavirus first began to change our lives,...
- Podcast
A Legacy of Resilient Discipleship
Melanie Hester and Brian Rhodes return to the podcast with a conversation all about resilient child discipleship! These two individuals have seen the fruits...
- Podcast
Practitioners & Parents Working Together to Make Resilient Disciples
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...
- Podcast
Introducing the Make Resilient Disciples Online Experience
Mark Matlock and Matt Markins connected with Ross Cochran to preview the upcoming event, Make Resilient Disciples Online Experience. Check out this conversation to...
- Podcast
How the Whole Church Can Embrace Resilient Child Discipleship
Shawn Thornton, Senior Pastor at Calvary Community Church, joins Valerie Bell and Ross Cochran to discuss how he measures the pulse of his church...
- Podcast
Fans vs Followers: How to Pass on a Legacy of Faith
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...
- Podcast
Leadership During a Pandemic
Teasa Northern, Outreach Coordinator and Minister to Women at Grace Covenant Church in Virginia joined Valerie Bell to share how her ministry has adapted...
- Article
Hope in the Time of COVID-19
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...
- Article
A Love Story of a Different Kind
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...
- Podcast
Resilient Child Discipleship: A New Way to Measure Success
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...
- Podcast
Easter in Place
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...
- Podcast
Raising the Greatest Generation of Disciples
Valerie Bell, Matt Markins, and Mike Handler all connected with Ross Cochran to discuss how, even during a pandemic, we can be raising the...
- Podcast
Moving Ministry From the Trained Professional to the Average Parent
Michael Handler, Chief Communications Officer at Awana, joined Host Ross Cochran to reflect on how he and his family are dealing with the Coronavirus....
- Article
Then Came COVID-19 … And Then Came the Greatest Generation of Disciples
Not too long ago, we had our plans in place. Spring breaks. Work goals. Ministry objectives. And then came COVID-19.
- Podcast
Resilient Disciple Makers: The Greatest Gift We Can Give This Generation
Ed Gossien, Vice President of US Field Operations at Awana, joined host Ross Cochran via Zoom to discuss his beliefs on what God is...
- Article
What to Do After You Watch Resilient: Reaching the Least and the Lost
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?
- Podcast
How to Show the World the Hope of Jesus Amid a Pandemic
Dr. Sean McDowell joined Matt Markins, President and Chief Strategy Officer at Awana, for a wide ranging conversation with host Ross Cochran. Dr. Sean...
- Article
Music Gives: Gifting Songs to Our Children
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...
- Article
Resilient Families Discipleship Resources
Need direction for in-home discipleship? Click for free discipleship resources for churches and families.
- Podcast
Resilient Discipleship During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Valerie Bell, Chris Marchand, and Kristin Thompson joined Ross Cochran for a conversation on how to help our children during this uncertain time. We...
- Article
Super Human in the Midst of a Pandemic
What if super human wasn’t about being more than, but just more?
- Article
How to Move Away From Useless Faith
Walking through the streets of Chicago, one could be swept away by the sights, the smell of the famous Chicago style pizza and keeping...
- Podcast
How to Help Our Kids Deal with Fears Surrounding COVID-19
Awana CEO Valerie Bell joined Host Ross Cochran via phone to discuss her perspective on how to help our children during this uncertain time....
VideoResilient: Reaching the Least and the Lost
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.
- Video
There Was A Church: Mike Handler
Mike Handler shares his story about a church that made all the difference to him when he was young.
- Video
How to Parent Resilient Disciples
Matt Markins, Valerie Bell, Chris Marchand, and Mike Handler recently sat down to talk about the new book from Awana, Resilient Disciples.
- Video
What is Become? (The 3B Philosophy)
The 3B Philosophy: Belong, Believe, Become, is the cornerstone of the Resilient Disciples conversation. So why is becoming so important?
- Video
What is Believe? (The 3B Philosophy)
The 3B Philosophy: Belong, Believe, Become, is the cornerstone of the Resilient Disciples conversation. So what is it about believe that makes it so important?
- Video
What is Belong? (The 3B Philosophy)
The 3B Philosophy: Belong, Believe, Become, is the cornerstone of the Resilient Disciples conversation. So what makes belong so important?
- Podcast
Coronavirus Response: Questions, Encouragement, and Faith over Fear!
This is a statement from Awana CEO Valerie Bell, Awana Chief Communications Officer Mike Handler, and Awana Vice President of Partner Solutions at Awana...
- Article
We Believe the Future of Faith is brite*
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...
- Article
A brite* Field Test: How Our Weekend Curriculum Was Developed
As part of our brite* kids curriculum development process, we knew that it was imperative to conduct a field test with churches throughout the...
- Podcast
Make an Eternal Impact: How to Finish Your Ministry Year Well
Experienced KidMin leaders Kristin Thompson, Melanie Hester, Kellie Bartley, and Kirsten Hitchcock all share their expert insight on how local practitioners can finish their...
- Podcast
Wess Stafford and Valerie Bell: Child Advocates, The “Dream of 2050,” and “Loving People to Jesus”
Wess Stafford, President Emeritus of Compassion International, joined Valerie Bell, CEO of Awana, for the latest episode of the Resilient Disciples Podcast! Along with...
- Podcast
Early Childhood: Ministering to Preschool and Younger
Dr. John and Kim Walton discuss how to apply their book, The Bible Story Handbook, to kids within early childhood. If you desire to...
- Podcast
Resilient Disciples Podcast: The Bible Story Handbook
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...
- Article
What the Bible Says About Becoming
Paul expresses the idea of becoming to the believers in Corinth. In 2 Corinthians 3:18, Paul says, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
- Podcast
Resilient Disciples Podcast: You Earn the Right to Help a Child Become
Chris Marchand returns to the Resilient Disciples Podcast to continue the conversation around the “3B Philosophy,” this time focused on Becoming. In part two...
- Podcast
Resilient Disciples Podcast: Believe
On today’s episode of the Resilient Disciples Podcast we continue the conversation about the “3B” philosophy of Belong, Believe, and Become. Chris Marchand returns...
- Article
What the Bible Says About Believing
In John's Gospel, he says, “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:30-31) For every man, woman, and child, the primary role of the Gospels is to present the person of Christ with the most considerable amount of evidence possible.
- Podcast
Resilient Disciples Podcast: Resilient Child Discipleship Roundtable (Part Two)
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...
- Podcast
Resilient Disciples Podcast: Resilient Child Discipleship Roundtable (Part One)
Resilient: Child Discipleship and the Fearless Future of the Church is now available! Valerie Bell, Matt Markins, Chris Marchand, and Mike Handler all joined...
- Podcast
Resilient Disciples Podcast: Belong
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...
- Article
What the Bible Says About Belonging
In Romans 1:6, Paul greets the church in Rome by saying, "including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ." The entirety of the Scriptures shouts to the world that we belong to God.
- Podcast
Resilient Disciples Podcast: Belong, Believe, Become
Matt Markins, President and Chief Strategy Officer at Awana, returns to the podcast to discuss the "why" behind resilient child discipleship.
- Podcast
Resilient Disciples Podcast: What Gives You Hope?
Episode Six of the Resilient Disciples Podcast with Kristin Thompson, Kirsten Hitchcock, and Samuel Porcha
- Article
You Are a Fire Carrier
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.
- Podcast
Resilient Disciples Podcast: Children’s Pastors Conference Recap
Kristin Thompson, Samuel Porcha, and Kirsten Hitchcock on the Resilient Disciples Podcast discussing what comes next after the Children's Pastors Conference.
- Podcast
Resilient Disciples Podcast: Michael Handler
Michael Handler joins the Resilient Disciples Podcast for a conversation about the future of the church.
- Podcast
Resilient Disciples Podcast: Chris Marchand
Episode Three of the Resilient Disciples Podcast: Chris Marchand, Vice President of Partner Solutions at Awana
- Podcast
Resilient Disciples Podcast Episode Two: Matt Markins
Episode Two of the Resilient Disciples Podcast: Awana's President and Chief Strategy Officer Matt Markins
- Podcast
Resilient Disciples Podcast Episode One: Valerie Bell
Episode One of the Resilient Disciples Podcast featuring Valerie Bell
- Article
Kids Need Spine and Heart: The Outlook for Kids from Resilient Child Discipleship
Think of the kids in your church. These children we love will be the church of the year 2050.
- Article
How to Ensure Every Child’s Unique Discipleship Pathway
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?
- Article
How To Inspire Fully Engaged Child Disciple Makers
One loving, caring adult engaged in the life of a child can dramatically increase a child’s long-term probability for success.
- Article
How to Match Your System to Your Philosophy
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?
- Article
How to Develop a “Kid-Focused” Philosophy
Are we programming for the immediate, or prioritizing for the future?
- Article
Noteworthy Research Behind Belong, Believe, Become
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?”
- Article
The Biblical Basis for Belong, Believe, Become
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?”
- Article
Why Children Need the Church
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.
- Article
The Science of Resilience: Why Kids Get Back Up
Why is it that some kids experience adverse conditions, yet they get back up?
- Article
Dear Disciple Maker
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.
- Article
A Shifting Landscape: The Challenges That Lead to the Need for a New Approach to Child Discipleship
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.
- Article
Why do we have a children’s ministry?
The question, “Did you have fun?” is not a terrible question. It’s just not the most important or the final question.
- Article
Could You Be the Most Important Factor in the Life of the Kids You Know?
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.”
- Article
A Letter to Today’s Child
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.
- Article
5 Goals for Resilient Child Discipleship in Your Church and Mine
You and I have a vision for what we want the church to be, but is it possible to predict the kind of leadership...
- Article
Make Resilient Disciples Tour
Our new book, Resilient, is just the start of an important conversation around resilient child and youth discipleship. But what good is a conversation if one party does all of the talking?
- Article
When a Child Trusts Christ
The priority of children’s ministry is to reach kids with the gospel and to develop lifelong disciples. Building the kind of relationships that allow...
ArticleAwana is Releasing a Digital Sunday Curriculum
Over the past 70 years, through partnership with local churches, Awana has reached tens of millions of children all over the globe through its...
- Article
Discipleship Stories
Can child discipleship truly change a life? Watch the stories of three lives forever impacted by the Gospel and the power of discipleship. From...
- Article
6 Traits of Remarkable Leaders
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...
- Article
Helping Kids in an Upside-down World
One of the aspects of planning for a ministry year is to be prepared to know what to say in case of a traumatic event. Because we live in an upside-down, messed-up world.
- Podcast
Resilient Disciples Podcast
A new conversation about resilient child discipleship.
Featured Podcasts
- Podcast
Resilient Disciples Podcast
A new conversation about resilient child discipleship.
- Podcast
Resilient Disciples Podcast Episode One: Valerie Bell
Episode One of the Resilient Disciples Podcast featuring Valerie Bell
- Podcast
Resilient Disciples Podcast Episode Two: Matt Markins
Episode Two of the Resilient Disciples Podcast: Awana's President and Chief Strategy Officer Matt Markins
Stay in the loop and keep connected.