Summer Series 2026 - Esther Zimmerman

Join Philip Dearborn, President of ABHE, for a special summer series created to encourage and support leaders in Christian higher education. Every other week, we’ll revisit some of the most popular conversations from past seasons, with practical insights and meaningful reminders about the importance of Christ-centered education.This episode originally aired September 2025___Title: Why Children’s Ministry Matters More Than EverHow can the church and higher education take children seriously in discipleship? Esther Zimmerman, Program Chair of Undergraduate Ministry Studies at Lancaster Bible College and global advocate for children, joins us to share her journey in children’s ministry and her conviction that investing in kids is one of the most strategic ways to advance the kingdom of God. We explore why children are often overlooked, how broken systems leave them vulnerable, and what faithful discipleship looks like for the next generation. From sobering global statistics to hopeful grassroots stories, this episode calls the church to put children at the center of ministry, not the margins.___🎧 Tune In to Discover▫️ Why children’s ministry is the most strategic investment for the future of the church▫️ How cultural perceptions have reduced ministry to babysitting rather than discipleship ▫️ What global realities reveal about children’s vulnerability and the church’s response ▫️ How higher education can shape leaders to take children seriously in theology and practice___Inside the Episode 02:18 Esther’s journey into children’s ministry and why she stayed 05:34 Misconceptions of children’s ministry in the West vs. globally 09:15 Why broken systems place the heaviest weight on children 12:01 Troubling trends and hopeful signs in global children’s ministry 18:37 Three practical ways to disciple and advocate for children 24:10 How seminaries and Bible colleges can integrate children into their curriculum___To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for Biblical Higher Ed Talk in your favorite podcast player.The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is brought to you by The Association of Biblical Higher Ed and is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.