The Micah Paradigm: Building a Culture of Justice and Mercy in Your Church’s Children and Youth Programs
Ebook
Do you believe in a child's ability to make a difference in their community? Do you see youth as agents of change in the world? We do, too. Micah 6:8 urges us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. Guided by this mandate and three child development models (cognitive, social, and spiritual), we have created a practical guide for church leaders to develop a culture of mercy and justice in their church. No matter the size of your congregation, this model will help the Christian educator, youth minister, or pastor who wants to empower their community's children and youth. Starting in preschool, our Helpers learn the concept of mercy as helping others. By the time they become Co-Creators in high school, they are engaging in justice work that takes on the powers of the world and walking humbly, in solidarity, with the poor and marginalized of the world.
“Our children are growing up in a world where humility and mercy often give way to unbridled ambition. The Micah Paradigm offers a practical and spiritual framework, founded in Scripture, for injecting your parish youth and education programs with a call to kindness, mercy, justice, and humility. Whether you’re reinventing a youth program or looking for new ideas, this is an incredible resource!”
—Brian R. Seage, bishop, The Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi
“The church is called to look like love in action, and that starts with forming young disciples who will show us the way. I have rarely seen an approach to this core work with as much intention, depth, and clarity as the one the authors outline in this book. Born from the wisdom of deep experience, easily adapted for a variety of ministry contexts, it is a rich gift for the church.”
—Craig Loya, bishop, The Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota
“This work ties into some of the most important deep truths and core values of the Invite Welcome Connect ministry, and it is filled with creative wonderings and ideas galore—no wonder it kept my attention to the very end. It speaks to the need for children to learn the importance of understanding how God created each one of them with distinct gifts and talents, to be used in service to God and the world beyond themselves.”
—Mary Foster Parmer, founder, Invite-Welcome-Connect
“Refreshingly practical, comprehensive, and brief, The Micah Paradigm integrates the best of what we know about social, emotional, and spiritual development with the heart of what Jesus dreams for us—coming together as an ever-expanding community of mercy and justice. It’s not a program to be implemented but a transformative lens for entire faith communities.”
—Mike Kinman, rector, All Saints Episcopal Church
- Title: The Micah Paradigm: Building a Culture of Justice and Mercy in Your Church’s Children and Youth Programs
- Authors: Kelly Demo, Barbara McCall
- Publisher: Resource Publications
- Print Publication Date: 2022
- Logos Release Date: 2023
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781666797121, 9781666737554, 1666737550, 9781666797114, 1666797111, 166679712X
- Resource ID: LLS:9781666797121
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-06-20T23:01:55Z
Kelly Demo is the associate rector at St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church in Overland Park, Kansas. In over twenty-five years of ministry, she has served as a diocesan missioner for youth in Kansas and Arkansas, led several parish youth groups, and worked for ten years with international aid organizations. Demo holds a bachelor of general science in theater from the University of Kansas and an MDiv from the Seminary of the Southwest.
Barbara McCall is the director of children and family ministries at St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church in Overland Park, Kansas, having served in that role since 2014. Prior to her work in ministry, she taught primary grade students in suburban Kansas City for fifteen years. McCall holds a bachelor of science in elementary education from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln and a master of arts in education from Baker University.