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Product Description Anyone who has tried it, even for a day, knows that children’s ministry is challenging. Pastors Deepak Reju and Marty Machowski have been in your shoes and they want to help. Drawing on decades of family ministry experience, they have a passion to help children’s ministry directors, pastors, and volunteers remember the “why” of children’s ministry and gain a fresh vision for the “how” of effective discipleship and proactive nurturing of the next generation. As you recruit volunteers, organize materials, set up safety policies, and manage the many needs that come your way, you may feel overwhelmed, discouraged, and wonder if your ministry is even effective. Reju and Machowski have a passion to help those involved in children’s ministry remember that it more than just providing safe childcare so that parents can attend worship services; it’s about raising up faithful believers who love the Lord, stand firm in the gospel, treasure Scripture, and have a heart for others. These goals can only be met if the whole church is committed to prioritizing time and energy into disciple-making and sets proactive policies for children’s safety. Readers will learn about highlighting Bible-based content, recruiting church members, planning for emergencies, and partnering with parents. Build On Jesus equips ministry leaders with the right priorities, people, and practicalities needed for fruitful nurturing and care of the youngest disciples in the church. Review “As individuals and as the church, we must invest our energy into raising, shaping, and preparing our children for a life of service to God and humanity. Whether you’re a children’s ministry veteran or a newbie, a senior pastor or a concerned parent, this book is filled with practical insights for improving the way we shepherd the next generation.” Jim Daly, President, Focus on the Family “Build on Jesus is simply superb. It needs to be read by every church leader who shepherds the people of God. In this book, Pastors Reju and Machowski properly position the vital importance of children’s ministry in the local church. It is not to be viewed as something secondary and nonessential—it is to be at the very heart of the Bible teaching and discipleship ministries of the church. I wish a book like this have been written decades ago. Thankfully, it has arrived!” Daniel L. Akin, President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary “The title and subtitle this book say it all and say it well. I’ve never seen a more thorough, helpful, insightful, practical, and Christ-centered book on children’s ministry. Whether you are just beginning a children’s ministry or looking to improve an existing one, whether your church is large or small, whether you are a pastor or a layperson, whether you have a paid staff member overseeing the children’s ministry or staff it with volunteers only, whether you have many people in your church ministering to children or only a few—this book is for you. I cannot imagine any church or any children’s worker who wouldn’t find this book immensely useful.” Donald S. Whitney, Professor of Biblical Spirituality and Associate Dean, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY; author of Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Praying the Bible,and Family Worship “Every church wants an effective children’s ministry, but implementing one is easier said than done. It’s certainly not for the faint of heart. In Build on Jesus, Deepak Reju and Marty Machowski distill decades of experience into a practical guide for building a culture marked by excellence and molded by gospel grace. As a new pastor, I am immensely grateful for this resource and will be handing it to every children’s ministry leader at our church.” Matt Smethurst, Managing Editor, The Gospel Coalition; planting pastor, River City Baptist Church, Richmond, VA; author of Deacons and Before You Open Your Bible “In a post-Christian environment, we must not be casual about eva