Our Spring ’26 newsletter features articles on building a biblical foundation—for the home (Jaclyn Czymbor), and for a church library (Pastor Erin Tormanen). What questions should we ask and what practices should we develop to lay this foundation?
A Biblical Foundation for the Home
“Tell me a story from when you were a little girl?” I knew the question was coming, as it did every night when I tucked my son into bed. I was running out of stories, but he didn’t care if he’d heard the same one before. He loved hearing about how I grew up, and he never grew tired or bored with hearing the same stories. He desired to know me more deeply.
Prayer Partners in Christian Education
When we plan and prepare for Sunday School—be it for adults, high school youth, or children—we know the first step is prayer. It is foundational for all curriculum choices, programs, and activities.
Our small church, situated under the towering James River dam,
Presents with Presence
“My favorite part of the Christmas program is afterwards, when we get to open gifts!” Her eyes danced with anticipation, though our program was still weeks away. At first, I was a little disappointed. Why wasn’t the child more excited about the songs and the message of Jesus in the program we had been practicing week after week? And
The Barber Who Wanted to Pray
“The family that prays together stays together.” “Prayer changes things.” These are prayer truths we decorate our homes with, prayer truths we occasionally quote for Christian encouragement.
The Barber Who Wanted To Pray, a children’s book, begins mysteriously as the local barber anxiously watches a wanted criminal come into his shop
When Lightning Struck! The Story of Martin Luther
If you’re looking for a book that shares the story of Martin Luther’s life and conversion in a way that makes it exciting for teens and younger readers, you’ll love When Lightning Struck! The Story of Martin Luther by Danika Cooley.
Mr. Pipes and Psalms and Hymns of the Reformation
Mr. Pipes and Psalms and Hymns of the Reformation is the second book in a three-part series by Douglas Bond, the first book being Mr. Pipes and the British Hymn Makers, and the third, Mr. Pipes Comes to America. If you have a passion for sacred music and its history,
Lutheranism 101: For Kids
Lutheranism 101: For Kids by Julie and Scott Stiegemeyer is a short book designed to teach kids about Jesus. The book does this by highlighting important literature in the Lutheran church and showing us how it points to Jesus. It is simple to understand and is great for parents to use to teach their kids.
The Martin Luther Story
The Martin Luther Story is the fifteenth episode in The Torchlighters series produced by the Christian History Institute and The Voice of the Martyrs. This animated film spends nearly forty minutes portraying the life of Luther. This is a quick overview of Luther’s life from when he became a monk until his time in the Wartburg Castle translating the Bible into German.
An Interview with Diane Brubakken
Diane Brubakken, who has served as AFLC Parish Education’s administrative assistant for 14 years, has accepted a new position with AFLC Home Missions. We are deeply grateful for all Diane’s work to support Parish Ed in making trustworthy, biblical materials accessible to our congregations and for her helpful service to our customers. To honor her contributions to this ministry, we asked her some questions about her time with Parish Ed.
Opening Chapel Time
Jane Quanbeck and Marian Christopherson, Sunday school teachers at New Luther Valley Lutheran Church, McVille, ND, share how “opening chapel time” has shaped their students and helped them engage more deeply with Scripture, missions, and prayer. Read their responses in our interview below.
Cradle Roll Ministry: What’s It All About?
♫Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so!♫ Do you remember the first time you heard that song? It may have been in cradle roll. If you grew up in a Christian family or going to church, God may have been writing this biblical truth on your mind and heart since infancy. Children are never too young to hear the beautiful truths of Scripture spoken, sung, and prayed.