When Relationships Matter: Make Your Church a Place Where Kids and Teenagers Belong

Every kid needs to be known by someone and to belong somewhere.

Think of it this way: connecting kids to a consistent leader who believes in God and believes in them is something the church can do that nothing else in culture does.

In When Relationships Matter, Reggie Joiner, Kristen Ivy, and Tom Shefchunas explain a shift that has been happening in the discipleship strategy of effective churches over the past decade. The three values and nine practices in When Relationships Matter will help you rethink and improve your small group strategy, including…

How to improve your small group structure

How to empower your small group leaders

How to create engaging experiences for kids and teenagers

With best practices, training tips, and real-life stories from ministry leaders across the country, this book has what you need to create and improve an effective small group culture in your church.

REGGIE JOINER

Reggie Joiner is the founder and CEO of Orange, a non-profit organization whose purpose is to influence those who influence the next generation. Orange provides resources and training for churches and organizations that create environments for parents, kids, and teenagers. Prior to his work with Orange, Reggie co-founded North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia, with Andy Stanley. During his 11 years as the executive director of family ministry at North Point, he developed a new concept for relevant ministry for children, teenagers, and married adults. Reggie and his wife, Debbie, live near Atlanta. They have four adult children.

KRISTEN IVY

Kristen Ivy is the executive director of messaging at Orange. A former high school teacher, she received her master of divinity in 2009 and has played an integral role in the evolution of Orange's preschool, middle school, and high school curriculum. Kristen lives near Atlanta with her husband, Matt, and their three young children.

TOM SCHEFCHUNAS

Tom Shefchunas, or Shef as most people call him, has worked with students for over 20 years. He has been a teacher, a coach, a high school principal, and, until recently, the multi-campus director of middle school for North Point Ministries. Shef now directs middle and high school strategy at Orange. Shef and his wife, Julie, live near Atlanta with their three kids.