Everyone who has the privilege to nurture and reach out to children - whether as a parent, teacher, church leader or children's worker - has the privilege to touch the future. For it is their generation who will take God's church forward. Touching the future brings with it the responsibility to value our theological roots; to understand how children grow; to be aware of the relationship between children and the worshipping community and to know how to put theory into practice. This is a training handbook aimed at all levels. The foundational material was originally devised and field-tested by the author at London Bible College as part of the Bachelor in Theology course. Now designed for individual use and to complement training courses, it addresses the vital task of raising the profile of children's ministry to ensure a generation that will in turn touch the future. The book contains four sections: 1. Knowing our theological roots: a theology of childhood and the biblical basis for working with children in the church today. 2. How children grow: theories and aspects of child development and how to make critical use of the material. 3. Children and the worshipping community: how children develop in worship, including the place for all-age worship, spiritual gifts and sacraments. 4. How it works: practical skills for working with children in the local church.

Gill Dallow began her career as an RE teacher before becoming a Schools Worker with Scripture Union then serving as RE Advisor for Schools and Parishes in the diocese of Bath and Wells. She joined London Bible College in 1991 as Director of Training, where she devised and ran the Children's Ministry Course as part of the Bachelor of Theology Degree. Gill currently works in Leicester Diocese as Priest in Charge of St Giles, Barlestone, and Diocesan Children's Officer.