So many youth and family ministry leaders aren’t full-time professionals—we’re volunteers juggling this work alongside everything else, and we’re just doing our best! It’s easy to get overwhelmed, or to find yourself going through the motions without much thoughtful grounding in the theology and purpose of it all. So what is most important as we engage in the vital work of our young people’s faith formation? Where do we begin? What faithful, informed choices can we make to best guide the young disciples around us?

This course is designed to introduce you to the foundational mindsets, essential knowledge, and core skills you need for ministry with young people. We’ll explore practical strategies and theological grounding to help you guide young people with care, confidence, and creativity.

This training can be invaluable for new ministry leaders, group orientations, or anyone who just needs a refresher. If your church has an established program, engage in this learning to enrich the work you are already doing! And if you don’t already have a huge, structured program in place? If only a few children show up on Sunday mornings, and only some of the time? This course will be especially helpful for thoughtfully meeting the needs of the young disciples you do serve, while also laying a foundation and paving the way for something more organized down the road.

Whatever your context, this training helps your ministry teams get on the same page and move forward with clarity and shared purpose in shaping meaningful experiences that nurture faith. Join us as we step back, reflect, and develop a sustainable, theologically grounded approach to faith formation.

What You’ll Learn

• The theological principles central to ministry with children and youth
• How to connect theology and practice in faith formation
• Ways to authentically integrate children and youth into worship
• How to design small experiments that deepen young people’s faith experiences
• Best practices for ensuring safety and healthy boundaries in ministry
• The developmental stages of children and youth and how they shape faith formation
• The importance of multiple caring adults in young people’s faith development
• How to assess and adapt activities for relational and age-appropriate ministry
• Strategies for supporting faith formation in the home and working with parents
• How to cultivate intergenerational connections and activities
• Methods for identifying and guiding volunteers effectively

About this Course

• Modules 9
• Learning Elements 77
• Videos 15
• Practices & Activities 14
• Time 7 hours 30 minutes
• Price $27.50

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Here’s What’s Inside…

• Where Do Kids Fit in Church?
• The Gift of Youth
• Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
• Considering Development
• It Takes a Village
• Families in Faith

You’ll Learn How to Cultivate Community

Our young ones are the hearts of our congregations! Let’s come alongside them with open ears, forming life-giving relationships as we raise these youngest disciples in hope and faith.

What to Expect

• Lifetime access to the course materials, including a comprehensive course handbook.
• A FREE account inside the Faith+Lead Learning Lab, a private online learning community where you can connect with other learners and leaders walking through this course.
• If you’re already a Faith+Lead member, click here to access this course—it’s included in your membership at no additional cost: https://lab.faithlead.org/courses/leading-faith-formation-in-children-youth/ 

Ready to Enroll?

Enroll in this one on-demand course today or unlock free access to this and all on-demand courses plus more with Faith+Lead Membership →

Need a scholarship? Apply here.

Looking for just in-time training resources?

Use this on-demand course as a complementary ready-made resource for small groups, Bible studies, discipleship growth, and equipping lay leaders in your specific ministry setting.

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Meet Your Instructor

• 
• Stephanie Luedtke
• Associate Pastor, St. Barnabas Lutheran Church, Plymouth, Minnesota
• Stephanie Luedtke is a minister, educator, and artist. She often combines the three, weaving education and arts through her ministry or ministry into arts education. Stephanie is a rostered Pastor in the ELCA with 25 years of experience in ministry of various sorts, and holds a Master’s Degree in Worship Arts. She enjoys helping people of all ages find meaningful ways to worship, learn, and to be in faithful community together. Through her work in schools, private settings, churches, and at the judicatory level, and independent work as a consultant, coach, and curriculum writer, Stephanie has always tried to follow her passions and assist others in doing the same.