Little Faith Gathering to explore welcoming children in shared worship and prayer
VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 02/12/2025)—American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) will host the Little Faith Gathering, convening delegations from American Baptist churches across the United States and Puerto Rico for an in-person meeting of Best Practice Congregations, the initial cohort of the organization’s Nurturing Children Initiative (NCI). The event will take place February 13–15, 2026, at ABHMS’ Leadership and Mission Building in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.
Funded by a five-year, $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., the NCI encourages American Baptist congregations to reimagine how children from birth through age 12 participate in worship, prayer, and congregational life.
Rev. Daryn Stylianopoulos, NCI program director, explained that ABHMS is “inviting churches to create spaces for children in the context of worship and prayer,” recognizing that “they have gifts and wisdom to offer, and that we have a lot to learn from them.” She described the Little Faith Gathering as a pivotal moment in that effort, bringing together the NCI’s first cohort for shared learning, worship, and reflection in an intergenerational learning space.
The participating congregations are represented by three-member teams, most of which include a child delegate. Throughout the weekend, the teams will engage in worship, guided conversations, and hands-on exploration of practices that affirm children as full participants in the shared life of faith. The teams will also meet their coaches for the first time. These seven faith leaders will provide contextualized support as the congregations they will be assisting reflect on their ministries with and for children and discern next steps.
Distinctive elements of the Little Faith Gathering highlight core NCI commitments. Participants will experience a Prayground that provides multiple pathways into prayer through movement, art, and tactile engagement. Worship will feature paperless singing led by Music That Makes Community, emphasizing embodied participation and shared leadership. Intergenerational services will be designed with children rather than simply adapted for them, modeling approaches that congregations can explore in their own worship and prayer practices.
The participating congregations reflect geographic, cultural, and theological diversity. They include:
- Bethany Baptist Church in Clarkdale, Arizona
- College Park Baptist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina
- Falam Baptist Church of Indiana in Indianapolis, Indiana
- First Baptist Church of Lawrence in Lawrence, Kansas
- First Baptist Church in McMinnville, Oregon
- Iglesia Bautista de Las Cruces in Caguas, Puerto Rico
- Lee Road Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio
- Mount Zion Baptist Church in Madison, Wisconsin
- Mount Zion Baptist Church in Springfield, Massachusetts
- New Life Christian Fellowship/Northeast India Church in Castro Valley, California
- Spanish American Baptist Church in Union City, New Jersey
- Luke Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina
“Our hope is that this diversity will enrich the learning community and equip ABHMS to highlight best practices in intergenerational worship and prayer that are relevant in a variety of ministry contexts across the denomination,” Stylianopoulos said.
Over the next year, the churches will participate in facilitated learning sessions, receive personalized coaching, and engage in peer exchanges as they explore worship, prayer, belonging, and accessibility. They will also be able to apply for grants that support the long-term sustainability of the intergenerational programs they create and integrate into congregational life.
Looking ahead, Stylianopoulos expressed particular anticipation for the children’s presence in the work itself. “I am especially excited to learn alongside the children, imagining with them, hearing from them about their faith, and honoring the beauty of their belonging in the body of Christ,” she said.
The Little Faith Gathering represents an early but significant step in the life of the Nurturing Children Initiative, signaling ABHMS’ ongoing commitment to cultivating worship communities where children are welcomed, heard, and valued as vital members of the people of God.
In addition to Stylianopoulos, ABHMS’ core NCI team includes Program Coordinator Autumn Blalock, Child Development Consultant Rev. Dr. Denise Janssen, and Program Evaluator Dr. Lance Laird. Together they bring pastoral, developmental, and evaluative expertise to the initiative, ensuring that programming is grounded, thoughtful, and responsive to congregational realities.
For more information about the NCI, visit its website.
American Baptist Home Mission Societies partners with American Baptists to promote Christian faith, cultivate Christ-centered leaders and disciples, and bring healing and transformation to communities across the United States and Puerto Rico.
American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.
