Children and Family Ministry (BA)
This program exists because every child in every community all around the world should have someone who can help them know, love and obey God for a lifetime.
• There are approximately 2.2 billion children under the age of 15 in our world today. The church needs globally effective leaders who share God’s heart for children and have the ability to both think and act well.
• A high proportion of the world’s children are considered to be ‘in crisis.’ Effective children’s ministers must be equipped not only to meet spiritual needs, but to approach children and their families holistically.
• The context of the North American church is changing and effective children’s ministry can no longer focus exclusively on discipling the children of church members. Children’s ministers must also be equipped to engage non-Christian children in the context of their families and local communities.
This major prepares students to design, develop and lead relevant ministries with children and families in the church, the community and around the world. By combining strong biblical foundations, practical equipping, contextual awareness and significant field experience, students will develop the skills needed for effective ministry with children and families anywhere.
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Majors: Biblical Studies, Children & Family Ministry, also available as a minor
Major Mission: The Children and Family Ministry major will equip students to lead Biblically-based, holistic disciplining ministries with children and their families anywhere.
Program Purpose:
The Children and Family Ministry Program reflects the following values:
Reflective Ministry
We recognize that doing flows from being. The children’s minister will be mindful of the work that God is doing in them as He works through them and will consistently apply biblical understanding to issues of practical ministry with children and families.
Holistic Ministry
We recognize that children are not only spiritual beings but also physical, social, emotional and intellectual. The children’s minister will seek to address the needs of the whole child in the context of the family, the church and the community.
Discipleship-Based Ministry
We recognize the Father’s heart is for children to know and follow Jesus for a lifetime. The children’s minister will walk with children and their families, building opportunities to encounter God and respond to Him in faith, worship, obedience, and service.
Family-Oriented Ministry
We recognize that God places children in immediate and extended families. A family-oriented ministry will never exclude a child’s family but seek to equip them as the primary influencers of their children. At the same time, the children’s minister will challenge the local church to be a spiritual family for all children.
Contextualized Ministry
We recognize that the needs of the children, families and communities differ over time, place and culture. The children’s minister will seek to listen and understand real needs in order to build ministries that allow the church to respond in relevant ways.
Program Director:
Esther L. Zimmerman, PhD
Esther is Scottish though she now makes Pennsylvania her home. She attended Cairn University (B.S., Bible and B.S., Secondary Education), Pennsylvania State University (M.Ed., Training Design and Development) and earned a Ph.D. from Lancaster Bible College | Capital Bible Seminary & Graduate School.
She has been teaching full-time at Lancaster Bible College | Capital Bible Seminary & Graduate School since January 2016. Prior to that, she served for 12 years as International Children’s Ministry Director for a global mission organization while also supporting her husband in local church ministry.
Esther has been blessed with a global ministry perspective as she led a training project that extended to 60 countries. Her passion is multiplication of discipleship ministry to children in their families and communities and she continues to serve as an active member of the Global Children’s Forum.
She and her husband, David, have three children: Rebekah, Daniel, and Abigail.
Faculty List:
Esther L. Zimmerman, PhD
Mark Cote, DMin
Megan Leff, MAM
Major Outcomes - Students will:
1. Demonstrate integrity as a Christ-follower and leader.
2. Articulate a biblical and personal philosophy of ministry.
3. Evaluate and respond appropriately to the contextual needs of children and families.
4. Acquire skills for holistic discipleship ministry with children and families.
5. Cultivate skills to build and lead volunteer ministry teams.
Children and Family Ministry Major Curriculum
Freshman Year
Fall Semester
| LBC 100 | Foundations Seminar | 1 |
| BIB 106 | Interpreting the Bible | 3 |
| THE 105 | Prelude to Biblical & Theological Studies | 3 |
| LAN 101 | College Composition and Research | 3 |
| SOC 101 | General Psychology | 3 |
| CFM 105 | Introduction to Children and Family Ministry | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Spring Semester
| BIB 103 | Creation & Covenants: OT I | 3 |
| THE 223 | Christian Narrative I: Creation & Fall | 3 |
| LAN 104 | Public Speaking | 3 |
LIT ____
| LIT Core (100/200 Level) | 3 |
| CML 102 | Foundations of Ministry | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester
| CSV 201 | Christian Service I | 0 |
| BIB 104 | Israel's Life & Literature: OT II | 3 |
| BIB 203 | Life of Christ: NT I | 3 |
MAT ____
| MAT Core | 3 |
| CFM 323 | Pastoral Care of Children and Families | 3 |
| CML 210 | Fundamentals of Leadership | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring Semester
| CSV 202 | Christian Service II | 0 |
| BIB 204 | Early Church: NT II | 3 |
| THE 224 | Christian Narrative II: Redemption | 3 |
HIS ____
| HIS Core (100/200 Level) | 3 |
SCI ____
| SCI____ Science with Lab 4 credits | 4 |
| CFM 201 | Teaching Skills for Children | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Junior Year
Fall Semester
BNT ____
| Bible New Testament Exegetical Elective | 3 |
| THE 303 | Theology of Children, Youth and Family | 3 |
____ ____
| Arts & Sciences Elective | 3 |
| CML 324 | Spiritual Formation of Ministry Leaders | 3 |
| CFM 350 | CFM Internship | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring Semester
BOT ____
| Bible Old Testament Exegetical Elective | 3 |
| THE 320 | Christianity and Culture | 3 |
| SOC 326 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| CFM 310 | Family Ministry | 3 |
| CFM 334 | Discipleship of Children | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Senior Year
Fall Semester
THE ____
| Theology Elective | 3 |
____ ____
| Arts & Sciences Elective (400 Level) | 3 |
____ ____
| Major Elective | 3 |
| CFM 421 | Children and Family Ministry in the Community | 3 |
| CFM 450 | CFM Practicum | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring Semester
THE ____
| Theology Elective | 3 |
HIS ____
| 301 Israel / 302 Turkey Greece | 3 |
____ ____
| Major Elective | 3 |
| CFM 433 | Leadership of Children and Family Ministry | 3 |
| CML 399 | TraveLearn Seminar | 0 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Summer Semester