FIRE is Family Centered Intergenerational Religious Education. As an alternative model of religious education, the program covers, in a four year cycle, the main truths of the faith enumerated in the National Catechetical Directory. Various options make it possible to repeat the program for a second four year cycle.

Holly Allen and Christine Lawton offer a complete framework for intentional intergenerational Christian formation in the church. Providing theoretical foundations and case studies of intergenerational congregations, this book offers hope that worship, learning, community, and service can all be achieved intergenerationally.

Here the authors convincingly show that intergenerational faith formation, when done well, can be powerful, dramatic, even magical. Not only is there a place for intergenerational learning in parish faith formation, the authors believe there is a necessity for it. They show that intergenerational faith formation can help children, adolescents, and adults effectively identify with and integrate into the faith community because their learning and formation takes place in the context of communityall ages learning together. People will be looking for this one.

'In this time of spiritual emergency, we need all the food that we can get. Laurie Bowen has created a resource that is excellent in every way: practical, intelligent, while also inspiring and 'kitchen tested' in real families. This is the authentic lay spirituality that our people need.' --Fr. Richard Rohr, O.F.M., Center for Action and Contemplation

This interdisciplinary study tackles the controversy of translating nephesh ( נפֶֶשׁ ) by using an intergenerational translation team to deepen our understanding of this term and providing a more valuable translation in Chinese, especially for use in specialist Children’s Bibles. Traditionally nephesh is often translated in the Bible as ‘soul’, but despite the limitations of this popular rendering, it has led Christians in Chinese contexts to falsely understand views regarding the nature of human beings as a trichotomy. Dr Hui Er Yu’s study offers different options for translating nephesh using the context of where the word appears in Scripture as well as in reference to linguistic and cultural meanings in Chinese contexts. The findings in this book will help to remove anthropological misunderstandings among many Chinese Christians related to nephesh as a result of historic translation decisions. Dr Yu takes a unique approach to translation by using an intergenerational Bible translation team, ranging from seven to fifty-one years of age, which not only demonstrates the importance of intergenerational ministry but also presents a way to fulfill the growing need for well-translated Children’s Bibles in China for thousands of young believers. This book provides important lessons for the many translation projects working towards Children’s Bibles but also for how translation of biblical terms can be better reached through this intergenerational process.

From the Introduction This book is about passing on the faith from generation to generation, throughout the milestones of a person's life. Faith is created and nurtured by the Holy Spirit through the Gospels. The vision underlying the RADICAL model was developed in light of the theological principle that faith is formed by the Holy Spirit through personal, trusted relationships, often, but not always, in our own homes. A youth and family ministry for the 21st century connects all the generations in the total ministry of the congregation and, through the cross of Christ, recognizes the work of the Holy Spirit shaping faith in all the circles of relationships. This revised edition expands on the authors' original model in an all-new chapter on the circle of creation. This edition has also been updated throughout in light of new ideas and research that have emerged during the past decade.

Through the fascinating stories of pioneering ministers, this book reveals a unique picture of progressive changes occurring in the Christian tradition. Meeting challenges and overcoming obstacles, these twelve diverse ministers are changing the church as they take prophetic stands on gender, race, interfaith cooperation, ecology, sexual orientation, economic opportunity, and other social justice issues. Believing in the power of sacred symbolism to shape social reality and toÊprovide a foundation for justice and freedom for all people, these ministers lead worship with inclusive language and imagery for humanity and divinity. They include multicultural female and male images of the Divine. Their stories affirm the connection between this expansive theology and an ethic of justice and equality in human relationships. In working from within to change the church, these ministers have risked censure by denominational authorities, loss of opportunities for promotion to larger congregations or to prestigious denominational positions, and even loss of their jobs. They have found creative ways to balance advocating for change and working to support the church, using their positions as ordained clergy to bring liberating change to the church and the wider culture.

The key in the Generations approach to faith formation is that it builds on the strengths of a parish's current catechetical program, while creating a lifelong faith formation plan and intergenerational learning programs that gather all the generations to learn together and nurture faith at home throughout the life cycle. The CD-ROM includes PowerPoint presentations for each chapter, along with articles by religious education theorists who have been instrumental in developing a new paradigm of lifelong faith formation. The book is ideal for parish pastoral and catechetical leaders, as well as university courses in religious education and pastoral ministry.

Six Unification families share their experiences and strategies raising second generation children who have ultimately made their family's faith their own as young adults. Their testimonies about what did not work, as well as what worked, are fascinating, funny, heartbreaking and very enlightening. Of course, the best part is that they adjusted what they did to something that can be called a "Best Practice." Through their words this book covers what not to do as well as what to do in faith parenting your kids.