Will They Follow?: A Leader's Guide to Reaching Today's Children

Will They Follow? is an extensive and comprehensive book that describes how to create a program that children love to attend. Through an impactful and exciting ministry, you can fulfill Christ's final command to make disciples. Will They Follow? explains how to make the narratives of the Bible come alive. Included are teaching Bible verses for life, leading a child to Christ, playing games and activities to reinforce the Bible lesson, recruiting and energizing volunteers, partnering with parents, dealing with behavioral issues, and attracting children from unchurched homes. The anecdotal stories help the message come alive. Dr. Syme also offers a unique and strategic plan for working in small groups to discuss the real-life application of the Bible lesson. A plan for small group discussions for many Bible lessons is included along with several puppet skits which will help facilitate those discussions. Donna Syme graduated from the University of Delaware with a B.A. in elementary and special education. She later earned a master's degree in education from Widener University and a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Christian Education from Newburgh Seminary. Her teaching career spans over four decades and includes teaching elementary and special education both in public and Christian schools. She has led intervention teams, mentored new teachers, and supervised student teachers. Her ministry at church has involved teaching elementary students, directing children and teen choirs, playing the piano and organ, serving as a small group leader for teens and adults, leading teaching seminars, and serving as Coordinator of Children's Ministries. Donna is married to Robert Syme and they have two adult children, Steve and Kristen. Steve teaches English as a Second Language in Taiwan, and Kristen has a Ph.D. in anthropology and teaches at Leiden University. She lives in The Netherlands with her husband, Samy, and their daughter, Yasmeen.