My first (and last) impression is that at least one person in every church should read this book. It is a new publication written by the Archbishop’s Officer for Evangelism among Children and looks beyond the children we see on a Sunday morning to the children we already see at all other times, such as church toddler groups, children who come at Christmas, church school assemblies, school visits to the church building. This book recognizes the positives of where we are, before venturing to where we perhaps should be. This quote sums up the book well. ‘We need to recover the Church as an all-age community where everyone is ‘us’ and nobody is ‘them’.

Under four main headings; Children Everywhere; Practicalities of Evangelism; Worship: Making God Real and Opportunities and Activities, the author looks at the history of Sunday school, the reality of today’s world for children and how we should decide what would benefit our local children the most. She encourages us to work with, and not against our community. She includes very practical and complete checklists for running two of the most popular forms of outreach, toddler groups and pram services and, speaking as someone who is involved with a pram service, her advise is sound. She also includes a lot of information about running lots of other forms of outreach.

What did you like about it?

This book had a positive message, that children involved in some way with church are almost always more in number than just the Sunday morning regulars. It is immensely practical and had so much information for someone who is thinking of starting something for children in their community and much encouragement and further ideas for people who are already involved. I loved the case studies that showed real life examples of children’s work in action. The book made the work seem so important and yet retained a sense that it was a manageable thing for most, if not all, churches. The practical suggestions for worship times with children were all great. I especially loved how Margaret Withers had linked each chapter with a story of Jesus in the Bible, showing the way we should be with the children we know because of seeing how Jesus was with those around him.

What didn't you like?

I would be hard pushed to think of anything I didn’t like.

What will you still remember a year from now?

I will remember how important children’s work really is and how it shouldn’t be sidelined. How you are planting seeds of faith that may grow later. I will also remember how important it is to provide opportunities for children to worship. This is definitely a resource to return to.

Who would you recommend this book to?

I would urgently recommend this book to Church ministers of every denomination, youth workers, Sunday school helpers. Parents involved in kids work, church mission co-ordinators, church councils and children’s workers. The book places value and urgency on children and their care – it is vital that churches do the same.

Can you give us a couple of good quotes from the book?

Then Jesus made a child stand near him. He put his arm around the child and said, ‘When you welcome even a child because of me, you welcome me. And when you welcome me, you welcome the one who sent me.’ Children are too easily exploited and overlooked by adult society, and this includes the church. But for Jesus, the child was a sign of the kingdom of God. Anyone who wants to share the values taught by Jesus must welcome and respect the smallest as much as, or even more than, the great and the strong. Behind the small and vulnerable child is Jesus, and behind him is ‘the one who sent me’

Before presenting any ideas to a church council or starting initial planning, you need to decide what sort of activities are needed and what facilities you will need to provide for its successful operation. If it is an entirely new venture, start with a single event like a fun morning or a toddler’s tea party, even if your sights are set on a regular club. Only consider a long-term project when you have organized several short events and know that you have experienced helpers who are used to working together.’

review by Hilary