Thanks to a faithful partner in this work, our fundraiser is being matched 3 to 1.

Every dollar raised, up to $7,000, will be tripled. Thank you for joining us in this ministry!

Spiritual conversations help deepen kids’ natural ability to be curious and explore, which the world often conspires to stunt or even snuff out altogether. While they wonder and grieve and celebrate and imagine and discover on their own without prompting, they can reflect upon and deepen those experiences when they explore them with a trustworthy other. This is life-giving for children and the adults who listen with them.

Spiritual Conversations with Children is a 12-week practicum course that has been hosted by the Companioning Center since 2018. Drawing from Lacy Finn Borgo’s Spiritual Conversations with Children (IVP, 2020) and a host of other resources, we help adults learn to host children with chances to cultivate trust that God is already relating with the child they are sitting with. They grow their understanding of each little one as an imago Dei, lovingly created by the Trinity. Kids are hungry for safe spaces to tell their stories and ask questions without being given pat answers. Like us, they are living with love, grief, and wonder.

As young people are living through the same complicated moments in history that we are as adults, this kind of listening presence is all the more vital. With every group that completes this program, more kids have the chance to discover more fully the extent to which they are seen, known, and loved by God. We carry on in this work so more children will be empowered to find antidotes to isolation, discord, and pain as they learn to listen and respond to themselves and the Holy.

It is not uncommon for international students to require a full or partial scholarship to participate. Since ministry with children is often underfunded, others frequently need assistance as well.

We welcome students from many walks of life, including pastors, parents, grandparents, therapists, a school nurse, group home workers, and teachers in public and private school settings. These are people who interact with children every day in a variety of settings.

As we prepare the space to walk alongside those who are accompanying children in these various roles, it takes a large team of instructors and mentors. We desire to keep our course fees as low as possible so more can engage in these important and essential conversations with the kids around them. We would appreciate your partnership in supporting the necessary scholarships, essential staff, technological and administrative support, and guest stipends to create the safety necessary for this vulnerable population.

Thank you for considering partnering with us in this way.

With gratitude,

Terra McDaniel (lead instructor)
Ellie Beatty
Julia Barger
Kaisa Stenberg-Lee
Barbara Lyon
Catherine Gladwell
Jessica Lee

Spiritual Conversations with Children Fund