"I didn't just miss the boat," says researcher George Barna, referring to his long-held views of ministry to children. "I missed the ocean!"

In his new book, Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions (Regal Books, 2003), Barna admits, "The wisdom and necessity of seeing children as the primary focus of ministry never occurred to me." Wishing to earn God's approval for his ministry, Barna, like so many other pastors, focused his ministry almost entirely "upon the moral development and spiritual transformation of adults." Children were just along for the ride.

And why would a pastor doubt for a moment the wisdom of this focus? After all, adults call the shots in the world. Don't adults lead the family? It's the adults who understand and grasp theology and doctrine, isn't it? And didn't God gift adults to advance the kingdom? "No, no, no, and no!" Barna exclaims in answer.

Over the past two years, George Barna has re-examined his assumptions—rethinking "the foundations of church-based activity and how to revolutionize faith in America." And out of much prayer and research he has "redrawn ministry priorities and perceptions." Ministry will continue a difficult journey, he believes, but "putting children in a more appropriate place in the landscape makes the journey more comprehensible and hopeful."

Barna's hope for the future is that church leadership will recognize that, in order to have the greatest possible impact in ministry, churches' resources must be redirected into ministry to "young people." The book focuses on "understanding and affecting the lives of children in the heart of the youth cohort"—children ages 5–12—because during these formative years, individuals solidify their lifestyle habits, values, beliefs, and attitudes.

In his review of Spiritual Champions, Bill Hybels says, "With surgical precision, George Barna has cut through the veil of denial that most church leaders have lived in for far too long—the belief that we are doing enough in our churches to transform the average kid in our congregations into a spiritual champion. Painfully few churches have paid the price to break out of decades of status-quo ministry to children. Those that do break out soon discover a kind of anointing from God that suggests He might just favor churches that focus on and build up little ones."

Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions has the potential to change the life of your church. Order an extra copy for your pastor. Call AdventSource (800) 328-0525 and ask for catalog #10450.

Noelene Johnsson is the North American Division (NAD) children's ministries director. Reprinted with permission from the Children's Leader.