ECPA 2025 Christian Book Award Winner (Ministry Resources Category)

Resiliently rooted in Christ—living into this formational moment.

What would it look like to form kids with lasting faith in Jesus, no matter the culture or context? Does this seem possible? It’s getting harder to imagine in our highly secularized culture. Current approaches to faith formation aren’t working. Matt Markins, Sam Luce, and Mike Handler combine leadership experience from Awana—global pioneer in children’s discipleship—with pastoral wisdom, to provide a much needed, timely resource for the church and home.

Forming Faith helps us understand what isn’t working, why it doesn’t work, and what we can do to build the church. Markins, Luce, and Handler—fathers and leaders—look at the blueprint often employed in children’s ministries that seems innovative but is greatly misguided. Forming Faith brings not only analysis; it provides biblically based, backed-by-research solutions to form lasting faith in our children.

We have real concerns and fears for the kids we love. More than anything we want to see younger generations follow Jesus with conviction and compassion. What must we be doing at church and at home to strengthen our influence? This resource provides the focus, resiliency, and hope we all need!