John Calvin has called the church “a sanctuary of childhood”. In this proposal, I argue that a sanctuary is desperately needed for today’s children, and can be created by paying careful attention to all aspects of the environments that we create for children (including physical, temporal, emotional, relational and spiritual). An example of how this kind of sanctuary has been created in the modern world is found not in the church, but in children’s museums, which offer an example of a haven for child discovery in an adult-oriented world. The church can learn from this and other wisdom in order to more intentionally foster conditions under which children can naturally thrive, not as mini-adults, but as themselves.

In this project, I propose consultations with a number of key leaders who have given careful thought to creating positive environments for children, including with those who have written on the important concept of “hospitable space”. Further, I propose observations both of well-established children’s museums and intentionally thought out places of worship with the hopes of identifying elements of these environments that are life-giving to children. My hope is that from this endeavor I can identify principles that can be transferred to church contexts in order to help our churches – and children’s ministry programs – become environments in which our children can flourish. This research could help the church to become a sanctuary of childhood: the kind of environment that nurtures, protects and celebrates childhood in ways that are rarely happening at present. As a consequence, children will have new opportunities to experience environments that provide them with shelter from many stresses of modern life, and that gently draw them into the fullness of life in God.