One Generation from Extinction

Revd Dr Mark Griffiths is a Practical Theologian. He is tutor in Missional Research and Practical Theology and also oversees Children, Young People and Family Ministry at St Padarn's Institute, the training arm of the Church in Wales. He has led and been involved in leading several growing churches, holding positions from Children's Pastor and Associate Minister, to Senior Leader and was New Wine's Head of Children and Family Ministry for 13 years. He has written 9 books primarily on family ministry and its links to church growth.

• ContentsAcknowledgments 11Issues of Ethics 13Foreword 15Introduction 17Part 1The History and Prac tice of Children’s Outreach1 Robert Raikes and the Sunday School Movement 23Robert RaikesRobert Raikes’ EnglandRaikes’ model of child evangelism (1780–1800)2 Child Evangelism at the End of the Twentieth Century 57‘Fifties Freefall’?All-age worshipBill Wilson and the Metro Sunday SchoolMidweek attendance3 Child Evangelism in the Twenty-first Century 67The questionnaireAnalysisConclusion4 Four Key Projects 80IntroductionThe Fraserburgh projectThe Leeds projectThe Hastings projectThe Liverpool project5 The Slough and Windsor Project 109IntroductionThe Saturday clubHome visitsSchool visitsSmall groupsPart 2Connecting with the Unchurched Child6 Theology 145The spiritual state of the pre-evangelized childChild evangelism as Christian educationChild evangelism as encounterConclusion7 Sociology 206Social environment and influences on the childThe state of the church8 Practice 228Professional teachersHymn-singing and prayerRewards, prizes and incentivesConnection between Children’s Outreach Project and parentsMeeting a clear social need and empowermentCommunicationConnection between Children’s Outreach Project and churchConnection between Children’s Outreach Project and localschools9 Conclusions and Recommendations 2851 Methodology and Literature Review 3012 The Self-completion Questionnaire 3113 Survey and Quantitative Research (Phase 2): 314New Zealand and AustraliaBibliography 321