Provides a comprehensive introduction to all aspects of religious education and pastoral ministry and gives an in-depth inquiry into the philosophical, educational and theological theories for sharing faith.

This book is for anyone who faces the task of preparing a children's sermon...It is designed to provide practical information and suggestions for making this part of the worship service a meaningful experience for children and a joy for sermon-givers.

Effectively encourage your insecure junior high students to know who they are and where they fit—to grow from bashful to bold! Sharing Your Faith and Serving Others Uncommon Junior High Group Study has everything leaders need to inspire reluctant younger teens and give them the tools they need to feel armed, dangerous and overflowing with love for God and neighbor! Students will learn about the Great Commission, the Great Commandment, about missions at home, world missions and their place in God’s work of redemption and reconciliation. Through 12 flexible sessions of Bible study, adaptable for groups of any size, junior-highers will discover that sharing Jesus and serving others are two sides of the same coin. And the hands-on, kid-friendly activities and service projects will help youth leaders create unforgettable group experiences that shape hearts and minds!

For most Catholics, the idea of becoming an evangelist is intimidating. “How could I ever bring anyone back to God or to the church?” we may wonder. “I’m not an expert or an evangelist, and I don’t want to knock on doors!” In this book, John and Therese Boucher encourage Catholics to share their faith in four simple and practical ways: praying for those we know who far from God, showing them Christ-like care and compassion, initiating faith-sharing conversations, and inviting them to join us at Mass and parish events. Each chapter includes two “spiritual workouts” designed to deepen our own experience of the Lord, grow in zeal for sharing our faith, and learn the skills to become part of the New Evangelization. A separate chapter has ideas for fostering a missionary, evangelizing parish.

Ministry Resources for Evangelization offers faith communities tools and resources to evangelize youth. It offers practical strategies and ideas for outreach to young people and contains twelve gathered sessions to share the Good News.The manual also contains a retreat to engage young people in becoming or continuing as disciples of Jesus. Each manual in the Total Youth Ministry series includes a CD containing its electronic version, customizable handouts, and theme-related links. CD System Requirements Intel(R) Pentium II(R) processor Microsoft(R) Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows NT(R) 4.0 with Service Pack 6, Windows 2000 with Service Pack 2, Windows XP Professional or Home Edition, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 64MB of RAM (128 MB recommended) 800 x 600 or higher screen resolution Adobe Reader 6.0 60MB of available hard-disk space (for installation of Adobe Reader 6.0) Multi-read CD-ROM drive Internet Explorer 5.01or 5.5 or Explorer 6.0 or 6.1

"Faith's Journey: Embracing the Christian Path" is a compelling exploration of the profound and transformative nature of the Christian faith. Through poignant personal stories, insightful reflections, and practical guidance, this book offers a profound exploration of what it means to walk the Christian path. Readers will be inspired to deepen their spiritual connection, find purpose, and embrace the journey of faith with courage and conviction. Whether you are seeking spiritual guidance, personal growth, or a deeper understanding of Christian living, "Faith's Journey" is a beacon of hope and wisdom on the path of faith.

Taking an intricate look at vitality and health in congregations based on information gathered from the 2001 U.S. Congregational Life Survey, the authors conclude that congregations have ten strengths, and that by building upon these strengths, congregations can transform their futures.

For many congregations, change creates discomfort. Pastoral leaders are often expected to be experts who manage and control realities beyond their expertise, experience, and ability. That expectation, a product of modern approaches to leadership, views the pastor as responsible for maintaining the status quo. Transforming Pastoral Leadership responds to this context by challenging readers to rediscover key biblical themes around the shepherding metaphor as well as key theological themes steeped in our historical faith narratives. Readers are challenged to consider the origins of our dominant leadership practices and to reconsider how Christ's preeminence as the leader of his church requires us to reconstruct leadership practices that are faithful to his preeminence. To assist congregations, Transforming Pastoral Leadership suggests two processes that might help congregations discern God's missional promptings as they move forward into God's future and experience conflict as opportunities for transformation.

GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BIBLE? Find your answers in the NIV Quest Study Bible for Teens eBook. This unique Bible is just for you—a teen looking for advice about friends, family, school and God. The NIV Quest Study Bible for Teens addresses the common, the uncommon and the perplexing questions teens like you ask about the Bible and life. It deals with your issues, your life, your world. Reading plans and study helps provide an easy way to dive into God’s Word. Over 7,000 notes clarify familiar and unfamiliar passage in the Bible, and over 360 articles explore 20 Big Ideas. Profiles highlight teens from the Bible, and Top Five lists provide information and fun facts. Book introductions identify themes, characters and events in each Bible book, and cool charts and maps bring the Bible to life. This eBook has been optimized for reading on color screens, but will still function effectively on other devices. NIV ©2011 The New International Version (NIV) translation of the Bible is the world’s most popular modern English Bible—easy to understand, yet rich with the detail found in the original languages. 9-point type size

Seasons of Hope is a unique grief support program for Catholics that focuses on the spiritual side of grieving the death of a loved one. It invites those who mourn to accompany one another and to meet Christ through scripture, prayer, reflection, and simple activities that offer comfort and help to foster healing and spiritual growth. The updated Seasons of Hope Leader’s Guide and four journals can be used by a parish grief ministry. Individuals are also able to use the journals for personal reflection and prayer. You can start with any of the four journals, each of which covers a standalone “season” of six sessions that each have their own theme rooted in a passage from scripture. The Seasons of Hope program was created by author M. Donna MacLeod following the death of her daughter and has been used in thousands of parishes by tens of thousands of people since its original release in 2007. Updates to the new edition of the Leader’s Guide include: a new introduction; a new chapter about offering group sessions online; revised content and activities that meet the challenges and needs of the contemporary Church and culture; an updated resource list; access to online facilitator training materials; and information about caring for those living grief from losses such as suicide, overdose, miscarriage and other child loss, natural disasters, or homicide. The Leader’s Guide continues to include FAQs about creating and sustaining successful grief ministries in your parish. It also provides outlines and scripts for the six group sessions of each season. Those sessions include scripture, prayer, reflection, activities, and faith sharing. The Seasons of Hope Journals, which are perfect for individual and group use, have been revised with a new introduction and updated resource listings. The journals also include Bible references, reflections, prayers, and space for writing.