Reading List

The lists is by topic and thin alphabetical.

General:
unChristian by David Kinnaman and Gave Lyons
You Lost Me by David Kinnaman
Staples on any postmodern Christian reading list; a review of major flaws with the American church and the causes of the major efflux of youth from the church.

Children's Ministry:
Birthing Your Burden in Children's Ministry by Vickie Oliver
This is a memoir of her experience in Children’s evangelism.  Tones of experience contained within a short, motivating book emphasizing the spiritual aspects of Children's ministry and highlighting its critical nature.

Group's Emergency Response handbook for Children's Ministry
This is handbook for ministering to children experiencing major to extreme life events.

Redefining Children's Ministry by Becky Fisher
This is call to push the limits of what we think of as children's ministry and advice on getting there.  I don't agree with all of her theology but that does not detract from her excellent and changing points.

Word of Flame Publications
This is a branch of the United Pentecostals Churches International (UPCI) that produces curriculum.  The theology is good and so is the quality of the products for the most part.  I have used and I like the kids Power hour curriculum for the most part; however, new ones don't come out all that often, there is a lot of variation in quality between books with the new ones usually being much better and sensitive topics are usually avoded.  Word of Flame also offers downloadable teacher training resources that are worth reading.

Object Lessons:
Beakers, Bubbles & the Bible by Tina Houser
This is a good collection of science based object lessons with well developed guides.

Bible Story Coloring Pages by Gospel Light
It is always good to have some story coloring pages in stock for when needed.  I like Bible Story Coloring Pages for a few reasons, the illustrations are good, each one is accompanied on the revers by the Bible story and the originating scripture(s) to which the pages are indexed by, there is a good spread so I usually find one for what we are covering and permission to photocopy is granted.  I have removed the pages from my book, three hole punched them and keep them in a binder for use as originals.