While I have been in youth ministry for more than a decade the number of children’s ministry books always seem to outnumber my books on children’s ministry, even when I was not a minister to children. Yet even though there have been a plethora of books on the subject of children’s ministry, Relational Children’s Ministry is one of the best I have read in years. Relational Children’s Ministry is written by Dan Lovaglia and published by Zondervan Publishing and is worthy of a spot on your shelf even if you shelving is as small as mine.

Lovaglia beings his argument for the need of relational children’s ministry by giving a short survey of the current ministry to children landscape. He states that currently children’s ministry status quo is not very engaging, seeing it as being more about programs than people. He concludes his survey by stating some harsh realities which help all children’s ministers, in large and small churches relate as equals, showing that children’s ministry everywhere is lukewarm and needs rejuvenation.

Lovaglia then goes on to suggest five different yet acceptable innovations to introduce into a children’s ministry to revitalize it. Many books like this give suggestions on what to change but never offer practical suggestions on how to introduce what can be radical changes. Relational Children’s Ministry shatters this stereotype, and commits a fourth of the book to this task. Lovaglia’s main message is as the subtitle states “Turning Kid Influencers into Diciplemakers”. If you are involved in leading or serving in any capacity of ministry to children I highly recommend this book. It challenged my preconceptions about children’s ministry as it hope it does yours.

This book was provided to me free of charge from Zondervan Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

This is the most important ministry in your church. Loved this book!