Frogs Without Legs Can't Hear :: Book Review

I remember the first time I heard of this book.  It was my third year, junior, in college at Trinity Lutheran College in Issaquah, WA.  We had to purchase the book for a family ministry course.  A couple friends and I were like, "Is this a joke...really this sounds like a kid's book."  Well, we went through the course, Debbie Boyce can even attest to this, making fun of the book non-stop.  One friend even drew a target on the cover, as a way to kill the frog.

Sometimes it is funny how things we say come back to haunt us.  A couple months ago it was recommend that I reread the book (confession, I didn't really read the whole thing in school...).   So I began to reread the book; gaining much more out of it than I did during my college (skimming) reading.

Authors David Anderson and Paul Hill provide information, practical implications, and stories to help us understand cross-generational family faith formation ministry.  The book provides opportunities for adults, even those without children at home, to learn how to be a witness for Jesus Christ to children and youth.  It is all about living it everyday and being a living witness.  It isn't about the couple hours spent at church on Sunday morning; rather a lifestyle point to Jesus.

We learn four keys:

1. Caring Conversation

2. Devotions

3. Service

4. Rituals and Traditions

These keys allow adults to take their faith and pass it on to the younger generation.

One way this is achieved is through conversations that are meaningful; not the lame, "Hey!  How are you?"  Where you really don't care what their answer is.  But, conversations that encourage deep connection and intimacy.  God gave us two ears and one mouth.  Maybe we need to listen more often.

I highly recommend reading and studying this resources.  Much of the architectural framework of this new faith formation ministry model here at Zion comes from this content of this book.

The book is rather an easy read.

Please comment below and let us know what you think!

Click here for the Amazon.com link to the book.

Enjoy,

Ryan Ingersoll

CYFM Coordinator :: High School - Adult