Christian Education Capstone

Sarah Kate DeWyngaert

Supporting the Invisible Child Through Nurturing Pastoral Care: Helping young disciples on their spiritual journeys and in times of crisis

children have a learning,

emotional, or behavioral problem due to the family system changing.

-- National Center for Health Statistics

1 out of 5

Statistic based on Rainbows for All Children, International grief support organization for children. http://www.rainbows.org/statistics.html

children face risk factors that may

hinder their ability to become healthy

and productive adults.

-- 1999 Kids Count Survey - Annie E. Casey Foundation

9 million

Statistic based on Rainbows for All Children, International grief support organization for children. http://www.rainbows.org/statistics.html

Over 50%

Statistic based on Rainbows for All Children, International grief support organization for children. http://www.rainbows.org/statistics.html

of all youths incarcerated for

criminal acts lived in one-parent

families when they were children

-- Children's Defense Fund

WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATE OF PASTORAL

CARE WITHIN THE

CHURCH?

The problem of the invisible child.

1997 National Council of Churches Study on Pastoral Care

Day of Baptism The first day of school The first day of

communion or confirmation

Leaving for college or the military

Wedding Death of a parent or

grandparent

Best friend moves away Getting held back in

school Parents divorce Death of a pet A child you know dies Death of a parent or

grandparent

Pastors Children

Pastors and educatorslack the proper

training in dealing with

children.

Parents feel the need to

keep family affairs

private.

WHAT IS THE IDEAL STATE

OF PASTORAL

CARE WITHIN THE

CHURCH?

Remembering our commission from Christ.

Trusting and loving relationships.

Giving care and attention to every

child.

How does a child’s faith

develop psychologically and how is it

nurtured?

James Fowler – 6 Stages of Faith Development

1. Pre-Stage/ Undifferentiated Faith (infants-toddlers) - basic attitudes of trust, courage, hope, and love, are formed in young children by their relationships with significant adults.

2. Intuituitive-Projective Faith (3-6yrs) - Recite what they have learned but not a full understanding of the religious meaning and beliefs. They have a generally positive attitude toward God, but sometimes confuse God and Jesus.

3. Mythic-Literal Faith (7-11yrs) - Thinking is concrete and literal, but not yet ready to think abstractly like adults. Starting to take the religious concepts they learn at church and at home and develop them into their own ideas and perspectives.

John Westerhoff – ‘Rings of a Tree’ Theory

1. Experience Faith (preschool-early childhood) – faith is experienced inactively, taking on the beliefs and values of parents. It is more about the experiences that are connected with the words, than the words or experiences alone.

2. Affiliative Faith (middle childhood-adolescence) – the need of this stage is to feel part of a community they are able to contribute to. It is central to feel a sense of want, need, acceptance, and importance within that community and to have opportunities to behave as a member of the community.

Craig Dykstra

Nurturing Faith At Church

When and how do you help a child in crisis and on their

faith journey?

Dealing with divorce and single

parenthood.

Experiencing the death of a pet or

loved one.

Perfectly portrays a child’s inability to understand death, and that a person no longer needs things like glasses.

Thomas J's FuneralMy Girl, 1991

Age-Related Developmental Levels Regarding Death

2-3 years old - may not understand what death really means, but they will sense and copy adults emotions and behavior. 

4-6 years old - usually have some understanding of death but may not comprehend the permanence of it. They may even think the pet is asleep or continuing to eat, breathe and play. They may also feel that past anger towards their pet, or some perceived bad behavior was responsible for its death.

7-9 years old - know that death is irreversible. They are very curious and may ask questions that appear morbid. These questions are natural and are best answered frankly and honestly. 

10-11 years old - usually able to understand that death is natural, inevitable and happens to all living things. They often react to death in a manner very similar to adults, using their parent’s attitude as their model.

http://aplb.org/services/children.html#1

 “Avoid saying things like God took this

dear one. That can convey to a child that God is mean. Instead, explain that this

life is God’s gift to us to help us get ready for heaven. There is a right time

for each one to die, and God knows that time. Assure the child that God cares about [their] sadness and will comfort

[them].”

- Grace Ketterman, The Hurt They Feel

Diagnosis of disease or serious

illness.

Dealing with

behavioral issues.

Faith developme

nt in ordinary times.

...is intentionally supporting young members of the church

family during times of crisis and in ordinary times so that they

can effectively deal with tragedy and develop their spiritual lives.

PASTORAL CARE OF CHILDREN