Introduction
Canadian scholar Joyce Bellous identified four pathways of spiritual expression in her books Educating Faith and Conversations that Change Us. David Csinos, a former student of Bellous, used these styles as a framework in his research into the spiritual lives of children.
In a first tailormade series for UK congregations, David Csinos wrote six articles (published during 2013) to help users of both ROOTS magazines think about the ways in which they draw upon four sections of the ROOTS weekly resources – Gather, Open the Word, Prayers and Respond to the Word/Explore & respond. In amongst these six articles you will discover practical ways to help people of each style feel nurtured in their dominant style and challenged to explore other styles.
2014 continued the series with articles designed to help you plan and prepare for different types of worship service and children's and youth groups.
At the end of 2014, we started a new series, considering our journey through the church year and how we can offer diverse provision within the flavour and feeling of each season.
Follow the links at the foot of the page to read the articles.
Watch David Csinos introducing the series on YouTube.
About the author
David M. Csinos is a Canadian practitioner who has studied some of the most insightful research on spiritual development published in recent years and used this as the foundation of his own research into different spiritual styles found in children.
His book Children’s Ministry that Fits, published by Wipf and Stock in 2011, is very readable, delightfully practical and extremely well referenced, providing an overview of a great deal of recent thinking about religious development. The book goes on to show how this understanding can be employed in developing genuinely supportive teaching programmes and meaningful worship in varied congregations.
David is currently Assistant Professor of Practical Theology at Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He also serves as founder and president of Faith Forward, an ecumenical organization for innovation in ministry with children and youth.
Dave writes widely about faith formation, children’s ministry, youth ministry, and culture. As well as Children’s Ministry that Fits, his books include:
- Children’s Ministry in the Way of Jesus (with Ivy Beckwith)
- Faith Forward (with Melvin Bray)
- Faith Forward, Volume 2 (with Melvin Bray)
- Faith Forward, Volume 3.
Dave holds a PhD in practical theology from University of St. Michael’s College in Toronto as well as degrees from Wilfrid Laurier University, McMaster University, and Union Presbyterian Seminary.