Testimonials

As children and youth workers, we've all encountered those resources that try really hard to be cool and end up being faux cool.   Holy Moly, Connect and re:form  aren’t faux cool, but way cool.  It’s fantastic to offer kids curriculum that engages their whole selves genuinely.

- Leighann Prothro, Director of Children and Youth, Asbury United Methodist Church, Prairie Village, KS

sparkhouse has this incredible ability to bring together some totally random people from across the country, slap them together in a room, and get us to come up with the most creative stuff out there.

- Rev. Mike Baughman, Custer Road United Methodist Church, Plano, Texas

I think you have nailed the way that kids think: get them asking questions, then explore with their hands.

- Pastor Bob Bekkerus, United Lutheran Church, Langdon, ND

Thank you for daring to be different and getting it right for young people.

- Michelle, Rawlinson Road Baptist Church, Rock Hill, SC

We've finished the Christmas DVDs with the children  ... They have LOVED it. In fact, I heard a child call out this week 'When are we watching Holy Moly?'! I've loved hearing them laugh along enjoying the Christmas Story ... A complete success.

- Julia Evetts, Kings Church Eastbourne, East Sussex, England

...There is no doubt in my mind that the team behind this curriculum deserves a huge award for completely rethinking children’s Christian formation in the mainline churches for the 21st century ... After fifteen years of looking at different curricula, this is the first time I have looked at one and said, 'I love it!' (Read more)

- Rev. Nurya Love Parish, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Grand Rapids, MI

If my church used Holy Moly for Sunday school... I would be really excited!

- Grace, age 7, Field Test Participant

It was so hilarious!

- Paavo, age 8, Field Test Participant

I liked the character David the best because... He was kind and nice. He wasn't a bully!

- Isy, age 9, Field Test Participant

David just needed God with him!

- Chiddi, age 10, Field Test Participant

I just had a chance to read through the Leader Guide to Connect's "Unit 1: Beginnings."  I really like the Leader Guide!  I like how it’s laid out, the background material, the teacher tips and info about preteens. I also really, really like the scripture that is used in each lesson and how it's the focus of each lesson.

- Irene Flynn, Specialist in Resources, Florida-Bahamas Synod, ELCA

Connect integrates the successful ideas I've found over the past half-a-decade and integrates some new ideas as well. My only question is, where was this product six years ago?!

- Jim Kast-Keat, Middle School Pastor/Director, Grand Rapids, MI

One of our interns for our 10-week summer sports camp said this about the new kids Spark Bible – “It is out of this universe the best Bible for kids!”  The Spark Bible communicates well. It’s a catch to look at and has a fun approach, yet tells the story clearly

- Pastor Brent | Grace Lutheran Church | Loves Park, IL

The kids love the Spark Bibles, and they just love that little worm! The stories keep kids’ attention spans in mind and everyone can sit through them.  The language is great and the kids can see themselves in the stories. They’ve been able to connect the parts.  Spark has equipped families for reading the Bible together.  It’s fun to watch the kids truly get it.

- Danielle | Christ the King Lutheran Church | Cary, NC

We spent almost two years searching for a Sunday school curriculum that met the needs of our congregation, kids, and teachers.  When the new Spark curriculum showed up and it placed the Bible at the center of the lesson plan, made preparing lessons easy for our teachers, and offered great theology--we jumped on board.

- Kristin | Word of Peace Lutheran Church | Rogers, MN

We love the Spark Bibles and curriculum! Thank you for making a curriculum that is teacher friendly, fun, gets kids digging into the Bible and seeing the connection to their life, and gets the family involved to keep the lesson going through the week.

- Sandy | Bethany United Methodist Church | Ellicott City, MD

This year, we used the re:form curriculum.  It was a  huge success! The kids loved it. Perhaps the best evidence for its popularity with the kids was comments like, "Are you sure we have to be done for the summer? Can't we keep going?" and "If we need to be done for the summer, can we start earlier in the year next year?" I found it to be very easy to prepare and because the kids were excited about the material, I never felt like I needed to try and "sell" it to them. The activities are very creative and the kids loved them.

- Pastor Trichelle Kirchenwitz, Trinity Lutheran Church, Forman, ND

re:form Ancestors offers great content and provocative questions for students to explore.

- Jon Wasson, Middle School Director, Highland Park Presbyterian Church, Dallas, TX

Once again, re:form has developed a fun, creative, and interactive lesson that works well for students of all ages ... Students will have fun, gain new insights, and leave the experience challenged to think in socially responsible ways as they make decisions and interact with others.

- Dan Haugh, Pastor of Youth and Young Adults, American Church in Paris

We speak of Pontius Pilate in the creed every Sunday, but many of us can’t say much about him. This session [in re:form Ancestors] affords youth (and others) a wonderful opportunity to consider the meaning of Pilate’s actions while reflecting on our own experiences of leadership, social standing, and pain.

- Adam Copeland, Mission Developer for The Project F-M

re:form Ancestors helps us see just how human our, er, faith ancestors really were. And that helps teach us how to be better humans today. It’s sneaky good like that.

- Dave Buerstetta, Woodridge United Methodist Church, Woodridge, IL

re:form Ancestors helps us to tell the story of our faith with humor and honesty, helping us to honor both the intelligence of our youth and the ancestors of our faith.

- Jeni Grangaard, Glyndon Lutheran Church, Glyndon, MN

The humor in the videos disarms even middle school-caliber cynicism.

- Dr. Allen Hilton, Wayzata Community Church, Wayzata, MN

Getting into the re:form Ancestors characters' real personalities and their struggles is huge because it doesn't put the Bible on a pedestal…Allowing kids in high school to be able to wrestle with the Bible and for that to be OK is going to help their spiritual development. In the end, they're going to come out owning their faith.

- Rev. Melissa Cooper, Don Lee Center/Camp Don Lee, Arapahoe, NC

I love that Traditions is accessible. It aims at helping youth to understand their faith and helps to give them enough knowledge to be able to keep learning throughout their life.

- Rebekah Wedge Thornhill, Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Jamaica, New York

The re:form Traditions material is a great way to introduce our people to the wonderful history and practices that contribute so much to their church's life and to help them form consequential faith that will endure.

- Andrea Hall, Spring Hill Presbyterian Church, Mobile, Alabama

re:form Traditions takes into account the ability of youth to think deeply about their faith and to have fun with their faith simultaneously. My hope is that it will ignite youth to be more enthusiastic about their tradition as well as knowing something about what that means not only for them, but for their place in the world.

- Holly Inglis, Wellshire Presbyterian Church, Denver, Colorado

I was really excited when I heard about the Traditions component. Now we’ll be able to go right from the foundational elements of “What is Christianity?” that’s addressed in the re:form confirmation curriculum right into re:form Traditions and allow that information to take root. It’ll give kids a better grounding of where we are today.

- Rev. Todd Query, Williamsburg United Methodist Church, Williamsburg, Virginia

I love that Traditions is out of the box thinking and learning. It's a new way in which our youth can learn about our faith tradition.

- Raul Garcia, Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Maple Grove, Minnesota

I love that re:form Traditions is a fun and very youth friendly way of bringing the Bible to life. It offers them a taste of the depth that the Bible and each tradition has to offer. I think the element that sets Traditions apart is that it isn't afraid to embrace the diversity of the many Christian traditions.

- Rev. Amy Valdez Barker, Athens First United Methodist Church, Athens, Georgia

The re:form Traditions curriculum embodies what the term "tradition" means in the fullest sense of that term . . . It creatively and imaginatively takes Christian theology and puts it in user-friendly, humorous content that engages the heart and mind of today's youth.

- Rev. Neal Presa, Middlesex Presbyterian Church, Middlesex, New Jersey

I think you have nailed the way that kids think:  Get them asking questions, then explore with their hands.  My students reflect much better now that they are asked to do it while doing something else, rather than the sit and deliver mode. It's wonderful.

- Pastor Bob Bekkerus, United Lutheran Church, Langdon, ND

I recently purchased the re:form curriculum, and have found it to be part of the missing link in youth curriculum. re:form addresses what’s been missing in two ways – good theology mixed with good fun.

- Rev. Joe Behen, Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kansas City, MO

I think this curriculum will really help ‘reform’ our paradigms not only of the Bible and Christianity, but of life. I wish every youth and actually a lot of adults I know could go through re:form.

- Seth Schroerlucke, First United Methodist Church, Madison, WI

As a seasoned youth and children’s ministry professional, who is forever searching for a curriculum that provides one-stop shopping, the whole-shebang, no need to adapt, edit, or improve for my purposes…I must admit that re:form is good, really good.

- Nicole VanderMeulen, Ministry-to-Children.com

This curriculum is everything I was looking for. I have searched long and hard for something that is fun and engaging, but most important meaty with biblical truths. It answers questions our youth are confronted with. Now they will have the knowledge to give the answer that THEY KNOW, not the one their parents or others have taught them to say.

- Michelle, Rawlinson Road Baptist Church, Rock Hill, SC

For someone who has used one curriculum for so long, re:form is really refreshing, innovative, and FUN! The fact that the students create a book that's intentionally not pristine is really enticing. It's great for different learning styles as well as collective learning. For leaders, it doesn't feel like work anymore!

- Annemarie C., Holy Trinity, Maple Shade, NJ

My friend told me this is the best youth resource they've ever used and I would be stupid if I don't use it, too.

- Sue M., Prince of Peace, Largo, FL

I was a charged a few months ago to lead 5th & 6th graders, which I promptly dubbed "Luther League". I am using the re:form DVDs with great success ...I really think you guys have hit a home run with this one, thanks for making my job easier!

- Tyler Møe-Slepika, Roseville Lutheran Church, Roseville, MN

The kids who got to see some of the previews asked if they could take confirmation again so they could experience it. I think that says it all.

- Allison, Plymouth Presbyterian Church, Plymouth, MN

You hit one out of the park with this curriculum! The Anti-Workbooks are amazing. My youth LOVED confirmation class last year and are still coming to church largely because of the videos that presented faith questions in thoughtful, fun, and creative ways. They really captured their attention and asked them to act on what they were learning.

- Rev. Wanda Schwandt, Zion’s Red Church, Orwigsburg, PA

You guys totally get youth. Thanks for making such a great curriculum that is both on their level and challenging. It's rowdy, and messy, and loud, and they are totally into it.

- Sarah C., St. Mark United Methodist Church, Atlanta, GA

Every congregation needs to have at least one copy of the new re:form DVD, leader guide and Anti-Workbook! This wildly creative, joyful without being silly, humorous without being disrespectful, right-on theological, DVD answers questions that I had in junior high and could never find a definitive answer to for years! I wish I had had this!

- Irene Flynn, Specialist in Resources at Florida-Bahamas Synod, ELCA

The stories make you really think. Forget what you think you know. Listen like you haven’t heard it before. You will see things you have never seen before!

- Bryan, Student

I can now place myself as part of God’s big story. I now have the knowledge of how to be more like Jesus because I saw more of what he was like.

- Ali, Student

The stories challenged me to look beneath the surface and search for more about God’s character. I learned something new from every single story.

- Jessica, Student

I find myself telling these stories to some of my friends at school… some of them don’t know God at all. It is also inspiring me to write songs about God.

- Andrew, Student

My son has been learning about the Bible at home and school his entire life. He has learned more from these stories about God than from anywhere else.

- Abby, Parent

I loved how the stories and questions made the students think beyond just the stories they have known since childhood… Almost every time we met, the discussion would lead to some really deep thoughts and questions. The challenge was great.

- Sharry, Group Leader

My students were immersed in the Scriptures in a way they have never been before. They have a greater understanding of the Story of Stories. They became a part of the Story! This was an opportunity for us to engage in a life-changing experience.

- David, Leader

This helped our students to dig deeper into Godʼs story and apply it to their own lives – it helped them to go so much deeper and was more thought-provoking than lecture material. I prayed that our kids would be changed ... and that prayer was answered. Awesome.

- Angie, Volunteer

Many of our students now see themselves in Godʼs story rather than just focusing on their own story.

- Josh, Group Leader

My students connected with the stories by leaps and bounds! The questions they have been asking have been so powerful. What an awesome way to teach teens the greatest stories on earth! Thank you!

- Lisa, Volunteer

The stories and discussion really challenged the way I viewed the Bible and the perspective I’ve had about Christianity…it really helped me dig deep and actually understand the story… I am now challenged to live open to whatever Jesus calls– live to just be able to pack up and leave whenever Jesus wants me to!

- Todd, Student

Merge made me want to live for God, to drop everything and run with his story.

- Jessica, Student

My students connected with the stories by leaps and bounds! The questions they have been asking have been so powerful. What an awesome way to teach teens the greatest stories on earth! Thank you!

- Lisa, volunteer

Thank you for providing the most intentional God exploring youth conference I have ever attended or participated in.

- Grant, Group Leader

My students were immersed in the scriptures in a way they have never been before. They have a greater understanding of the story of stories. They became implicated in the story! Merge was an opportunity for us to engage in a life changing experience.”

- David, Group Leader

Yesterday I received the Animate curriculum.  It's beautiful!  Simple.  Feels good.  Draws me toward its pages.  Then gives me good stuff when I get there.  Such a gift to churches and people who want to follow Jesus!  GREAT work!

- Rev. Dr. Allen R. Hilton, Minister of Faith and Learning, Wayzata Community Church, Wayzata, MN

The Animate journals are breathtaking.

- Rev. Chad Herring, Southminster Presbyterian, Prairie Village, KS

For months we've been searching for a resource to use in our faith formation work with College students. We had hoped to find something that was theologically rich, ecumenically appropriate, and engaging for young adults. Animate exceeded our expectations in every respect. It is so rare to find a resource that doesn't require theological tweaking or translation for this often neglected age group. sparkhouse hit a home run with the Animate series, and we highly recommend it to anyone who accompanies young adults on their faith journeys!

- Pastors Ramona Bouzard and Brian Beckstrom from Wartburg College

I think people will use [the Animate]  journal and take notes, doodle, draw, jot things down and actually find that instead of just having an adult ed experience, they’re encountering God in a new way.

- Lauren Winner, Priest Associate, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Durham, NC

...with Animate, it really draws people into the conversation rather than saying here’s what you’re supposed to think...

- Bruce Reyes-Chow, pastor, church planter, speaker

[Animate] will suck people out of any kind of boredom, bring them to the edge of their seats, and get them ready for discussion.

- - Brian McLaren, speaker, pastor, author

I’m amazed by the ways that the graphics take words and make them visual and create special connection for visual things and give them space to think deeply.

- - Brian McLaren, speaker, pastor, author

I think when people use Animate, they’ll say, "I’ve had those same questions.

- Bruce Reyes-Chow, pastor, church planter, speaker, and writer

In my church, the Episcopal church, we often ask the pulpit and the sermon to do too much, to bear too much of the load of adult formation and I think we are searching for ways to reinvigorate adult forums, to create other conversational learning spaces that are not just the pulpit.

- Lauren Winner, Priest Associate, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Durham, NC

A good friend of mine says “Why are we forced to choose between intelligence on ice and ignorance on fire.”  What we’re aiming for with Animate is intelligence on fire. Passion, energy, enthusiasm, interest, and no holds barred on being able to ask questions and think deeply about theological concepts.

- Brian McLaren, pastor, speaker, author

In some ways, we [the contributors] were a model for what we hope happens in a great Animate conversation - you walk in one way and leave changed because of the conversations you’ve had with the people in the room.

- Lillian Daniel, Senior Minister at First Congregational Church, Glen Ellyn, IL

It was absolutely genius that sparkhouse decided to get all of the writers around a table together. We packed a lot of fun and creativity in one room to produce Animate so that it would be the best it could be.

- Nadia Bolz-Weber, Pastor at House for All Sinners and Saints, Denver, CO