The Child Discipleship Podcast

Awana CEO Valerie Bell joined Host Ross Cochran via phone to discuss her perspective on how to help our children during this uncertain time. Especially during this unpredictable season, know that we are continuing to pray for you and your children! Read the full article, How to Help Our Kids Deal with Fears Surrounding COVID-19 , by Valerie Bell. SUBSCRIBE  wherever you get your podcasts today so...

This is a statement from Awana CEO Valerie Bell, Awana Chief Communications Officer Mike Handler, and Awana Vice President of Partner Solutions at Awana regarding our ministry’s response to the coronavirus. This originally appeared as a video here . We hear you. This last week you’ve been asking questions, seeking prayer, and wondering what tomorrow looks like for your community. We&#8...

Experienced KidMin leaders Kristin Thompson, Melanie Hester, Kellie Bartley, and Kirsten Hitchcock all share their expert insight on how local practitioners can finish their year well, or “get out of the rut” that comes during certain seasons of ministry. Every Thursday we will be bringing you practical conversations focused on what you can immediately apply to your local context, so ...

Wess Stafford, President Emeritus of Compassion International, joined Valerie Bell, CEO of Awana, for the latest episode of the Resilient Disciples Podcast! Along with Host Ross Cochran, Wess and Valerie discuss the importance in investing in children’s ministry. In this wide ranging conversation, they cover what being a “loving caring adult” looks like, the “better world c...

Dr. John and Kim Walton discuss how to apply their book, The Bible Story Handbook , to kids within early childhood. If you desire to lead this age group of children to Jesus, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss! John and Kim Walton have created this handbook for 175 Bible stories to assist teachers and parents in knowing what each story teaches and how to present it in a God-center...

Dr John H Walton Ph. D. and Kim E Walton join the Resilient Disciples podcast to discuss The Bible Story Handbook: A Resource for Teaching 175 Stories from the Bible. They are the authors behind this beneficial resource to any ministry looking to better communicate Biblical narratives, which should be all ministries! Kristin Thompson and Kirsten Hitchcock joined the conversation to provide insight...

Chris Marchand returns to the Resilient Disciples Podcast to continue the conversation around the “3B Philosophy,” this time focused on Becoming. In part two of the podcast, Brian Rhodes and Melanie Hester join the conversation to share their experience on what Becoming looks like in children’s ministry. Check out Grace Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel which was mentioned by Chr...

On today’s episode of the Resilient Disciples Podcast we continue the conversation about the “3B” philosophy of Belong , Believe , and Become . Chris Marchand returns to the show to set up why it’s so important for today’s children to become believers in today’s world. Later, Ross Cochran is joined by Bob and Tim Bennett who discuss what it looks like for a chil...

Resilient: Child Discipleship and the Fearless Future of the Church  is  now available! Valerie Bell, Matt Markins, Chris Marchand, and Mike Handler all joined Host Ross Cochran for a candid conversation on what they readers get from this book. If you are a parent or a children’s ministry leader this is the conversation for you! This is part two of a two part conversation. SUBSCRIBE  whereve...

Resilient: Child Discipleship and the Fearless Future of the Church is now available! Valerie Bell, Matt Markins, Chris Marchand, and Mike Handler all joined Host Ross Cochran today for a discussion on how the church has arrived at this moment we are in and how an investment in the children in our church can change the world. This is part one of a two part conversation. SUBSCRIBE  wherever you get...

Chris Marchand returns to the podcast to begin to dive into the “3B” philosophy of Belong , Believe , and Become . Today’s conversation is all about “belong,” which we believe is the most important factor in resilient child discipleship. In part two of this episode, Josh Mulvihill and Mike Handler continue the conversation around belonging. Renewanation: Josh Mulvihil...

Matt Markins returns to the podcast to breakdown the “3Bs” discussed in Resilient: Child Discipleship and the Fearless Future of the Church. We desire to create spaces for children to belong through highly relational ministry led by a loving and caring adult. Through a deeply Scriptural ministry rooted in the truth of God’s Word and the power of the Gospel, we see children being...

In this episode of the Resilient Disciples podcast, we go further with the conversation started in episode five and the Children’s Pastors Conference. Children’s ministry experts Kristin Thompson, Kirsten Hitchcock, and Samuel Porcha discuss what gives them hope about the future of the church. Below are links to resources discussed in the podcast. SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcas...

In episode five of The Resilient Disciples Podcast, Host Ross Cochran is joined by Kristin Thompson, Samuel Porcha, and Kirsten Hitchcock. The Children’s Pastors Conference is an annual gathering of the “tribe” of children’s ministry leaders. Today, we recap what we took away from the conference experience, and provide you with practical options you can apply to your contex...

In episode four of the Resilient Disciples Podcast, Host Ross Cochran and Awana’s Chief Communications Officer Michael Handler discuss the future of the church and “what happens if we get this right.” Below is a clip from the conversation, but you can SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never miss an episode. You can also Email the show at podcasts@awana.org and...

In episode three of the Resilient Disciples Podcast, Host Ross Cochran is joined by the Vice President of Partner Solutions at Awana, Chris Marchand. Chris is able to lead a highly practical conversation around the philosophy of Resilient: Child Discipleship and the Fearless Future of the Church as well as the new weekend curriculum, brite*. Below is a clip from the conversation, but you can SUBSC...

In Episode Two of The Resilient Disciples Podcast, Host Ross Cochran is joined by Awana president and chief strategy officer Matt Markins. Matt is an expert in what it takes to effectively equip children’s ministry leaders to help make resilient disciples. This conversation dives deep into the philosophy and the “why” behind Resilient: Child Discipleship and the Fearless Future o...

Welcome to the Resilient Disciples Podcast! This podcast is coming alongside the latest book from Awana, Resilient: Child Discipleship and the Fearless Future of the Church . Each week, Host Ross Cochran is joined by ministry leaders and child experts from inside and outside the church. In Episode One, Ross sits down with Awana CEO Valerie Bell to discuss why this book was written, what it means t...