Join Philip Dearborn, President of ABHE, for a special summer series created to encourage and support leaders in Christian higher education. Every other week, we’ll revisit some of the most popular conversations from past seasons, with practical insights and meaningful reminders about the importance of Christ-centered education.

This episode originally aired September 2025

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Title: Why Children’s Ministry Matters More Than Ever
How can the church and higher education take children seriously in discipleship? Esther Zimmerman, Program Chair of Undergraduate Ministry Studies at Lancaster Bible College and global advocate for children, joins us to share her journey in children’s ministry and her conviction that investing in kids is one of the most strategic ways to advance the kingdom of God. 

We explore why children are often overlooked, how broken systems leave them vulnerable, and what faithful discipleship looks like for the next generation. From sobering global statistics to hopeful grassroots stories, this episode calls the church to put children at the center of ministry, not the margins.

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🎧 Tune In to Discover
▫️ Why children’s ministry is the most strategic investment for the future of the church
▫️ How cultural perceptions have reduced ministry to babysitting rather than discipleship
▫️ What global realities reveal about children’s vulnerability and the church’s response
▫️ How higher education can shape leaders to take children seriously in theology and practice

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Inside the Episode
02:18 Esther’s journey into children’s ministry and why she stayed
05:34 Misconceptions of children’s ministry in the West vs. globally
09:15 Why broken systems place the heaviest weight on children
12:01 Troubling trends and hopeful signs in global children’s ministry
18:37 Three practical ways to disciple and advocate for children
24:10 How seminaries and Bible colleges can integrate children into their curriculum
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