Lucy Kajidori, leader of the International Council of Evangelical Theological Education’s (ICETE) Impact Team on Children and Families, advocates for a systemic change in theological education. In an interview with Christian Daily International, she emphasized the urgent need to minister to children a core element of theological training. She argues that churches and theological institutions must recognize children as central to ministry, not peripheral.
Recognizing the Gap in Ministerial Training
Kajidori identified a major gap: most seminaries neglect child and youth ministry in their curricula. Institutions often treat ministry to children as a specialized field, irrelevant to general pastoral training. This, she argues, undermines the reality that every pastor inevitably interacts with children and families. ICETE’s initiative aims to integrate child-focused ministry into mainstream theological education, shifting it from the margins to the center.
The Importance of the 4–14 Window
The initiative is informed by the “4–14 Window” concept, which shows that most people come to faith between the ages of four and fourteen. Kajidori believes this developmental window is critical for evangelism and discipleship. Therefore, theological training must prepare leaders to engage with young people effectively, directly or by equipping those who will.
Key Challenges: Silos, Resources, and Cultural Mindsets
The ICETE team identified three major challenges: lack of collaboration, inadequate resources, and deep-rooted cultural attitudes. Ministries, families, and seminaries often operate in isolation. Locally developed theological resources for child ministry are scarce. Moreover, many theological institutions continue to prioritize adult ministry, marginalizing children. Kajidori hopes that consistent, long-term advocacy will help shift these paradigms.
A Vision for the Future and Gender Inclusivity
Kajidori envisions a future where every student in ICETE-affiliated institutions completes a core course in ministry to children. She also raised concerns about gender imbalance, noting that children’s ministry is often left to women. She calls for more male involvement in child advocacy within theological education.
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Most people come to faith between ages 4 and 14, but ‘theological education hasn’t done enough to focus on next gen’
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