CTS Receives $900,000 Grant for Child-Centered Bible Storytelling Initiative
Christian Theological Seminary is thrilled to announce the planned establishment of the Growing in God’s Word: A Child-Centered Bible Storytelling Initiative, following a generous grant of $909,871 from Lilly Endowment Inc. This innovative program aims to nurture and form both lay and professional ministry leaders, equipping them to create engaging, theologically sound, and meaningful Bible storytelling experiences for children.
The initiative aligns with Lilly Endowment’s Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative, a national effort dedicated to fostering deeper engagement between children and their faith communities. Recognizing the essential role that intergenerational worship plays in spiritual development, CTS seeks to put children at the center of Christian ministry and worship practices.
Rev. Amy Lindeman Allen, PhD, who played a pivotal role in developing the initiative, expressed her enthusiasm: “This program offers an exciting opportunity to utilize our resources as a seminary in a new way to support excellent ministry occurring in churches for and with children. There is profound joy in witnessing a child encounter the Gospel for the first time, and this initiative will help faith communities nurture such experiences.”
The initiative reflects a paradigm shift towards prioritizing children’s needs and experiences in ministry. As noted in the program description, while great care is often taken in the theological education of older youth and adults, children’s Bible stories have historically been chosen for their sensory appeal rather than their substantive spiritual development. The Child-Centered Biblical Storytelling program aims to change that narrative.
Through cohort-based learning strategies, the program will enhance the confidence and competence of faith leaders in selecting and presenting Bible stories that are both engaging and spiritually enriching. Participants will have access to ministry mentors who will guide them in implementing child-centered storytelling practices within their congregations.
By integrating children more fully into the worship life of their faith communities, this initiative seeks to foster multigenerational faith relationships that contribute to spiritual growth for all ages.
The grant is part of Lilly Endowment’s commitment to support congregational worship and prayer, which are vital for the spiritual growth of children. Christopher L. Coble, the Endowment’s vice president for religion, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “Congregational worship and prayer play a critical role in the spiritual growth of children and offer settings for them to learn their faith traditions and experience the love of God as part of a supportive community.”
Christian Theological Seminary is among 91 organizations receiving funding through this initiative, which serves a diverse range of Christian traditions, including Catholic, mainline Protestant, evangelical, Orthodox, Anabaptist, and Pentecostal faith communities. This broad spectrum of recipients highlights the widespread recognition of the need for innovative approaches to children’s ministry.
CTS’s School of Theology and Counseling is uniquely positioned to participate in this initiative. The seminary’s commitment to training leaders who attend to the holistic needs of individuals—physical, developmental, emotional, and spiritual—ensures that the program will effectively nurture the faith of children while also equipping adults to support this mission.
The program is designed not only to improve the theological training of leaders but also to emphasize the relational aspects of storytelling. By fostering meaningful connections between ministry leaders and the children they serve, the initiative aims to create environments where children feel seen, heard, and valued within their faith communities.
As CTS embarks on this exciting journey, the seminary looks forward to the positive impact this initiative will have on congregations and their youngest members. The Growing in God’s Word initiative represents a commitment to reinvigorating multigenerational faith practices, ensuring that the stories of the Bible are accessible and engaging for all ages.
