Reach Hurting Kids Institute is grounded in over a decade of scientific research, with a focus on the church as a context for child development. Our work explores how churches can build resilience and support children’s spiritual, emotional, and social growth.
Our research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and cited in dissertations, textbooks, and other research in the field of psychology of religion. The publications below may interest scholars exploring the scientific study of children’s ministry:
Crosby, R. G., & Smith, E. I. (in press). Promoting resiliency through children’s ministry: Evaluating the small group development module of the Reach Hurting Kids Workshop. Journal of Psychology and Christianity.
Crosby, R. G., Smith, E. I., & Davis, T. (2023, July 10-14). Developing trauma-informed competency among religious educators: An evaluation of the Reach Hurting Kids Workshop [Poster Presentation.] Religious Education Association 2023 Annual Meeting, Virtual Conference. https://religiouseducation.net/rea2023
Crosby, R. G., Smith, E. I., Gage, J. & Blanchette, L. (2021). Trauma-informed children’s ministry: A qualitative descriptive study. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma, 14, 493-505. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-020-00334-w
Crosby, R. G., Smith, E. I., LaChausse, R. G., Blanchette, L., & Palardy, G. J. (2021). Practices of supportive church children’s ministries: An exploratory multilevel investigation of Church of the Nazarene congregations in the United States. Review of Religious Research, 63, 381-409. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13644-021-00446-1
Smith, E. I. & Crosby, R. G. (2021). The effect of socially supportive church ministry on children’s prosocial behaviour: An experimental study of Latin American Protestant Congregations[Special issue]. Journal for Prevention and Intervention in the Community. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10852352.2021.1924591
Crosby, R. G., & Smith, E. I. (2018). Creating a new survey for a specific population: The Kids’ Church Survey. SAGE Research Methods Cases. doi:10.4135/9781526447333
Our studies didn’t stay on the page—they formed the foundation of what we call the Reach Hurting Kids Workshop. This research-based training program is empowering churches around the world to reach the hurting kids in their congregations and communities!
Our studies didn’t stay on the page—they formed the foundation of what we call the Reach Hurting Kids Workshop. This research-based training program is empowering churches around the world to reach the hurting kids in their congregations and communities!
Crosby, R. G., Ritt, B., & Slunaker, J. (2018). Motivation for religious sacrifice: Classification, measurement, and longitudinal association with psycho-spiritual well-being. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/rel0000162
Crosby, R. G., & Smith, E. I. (2017). Measuring children’s church-based social support: Development and initial validation of the Kids’ Church Survey. Social Development. Social Development, 2, 423-442. doi:10.1111/sode.12198
Smith, E. I., & Crosby, R. G. (2016). Unpacking religious affiliation: Exploring associations between Christian children’s religious cultural context, God image, and self-esteem across development. British Journal of Developmental Psychology. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 35, 76-90. doi:10.1111/bjdp.12156
Blanchette, L., & Crosby, R. G. (2016). The measurement and evaluation of children’s ministry praxis. Christian Education Journal, 13, 247-265. https://doi.org/10.1177/073989131601300202
Crosby, R. G. (2015). Examining the formal education of children’s ministers in the United States: Suggestions for professional development, Christian education, and emerging research. Christian Education Journal, 12, 26-44. https://doi.org/10.1177/073989131501200103
Crosby, R. G., & Smith, E. I. (2015). Church support as a predictor of children’s spirituality and prosocial behavior. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 43, 243-254. https://doi.org/10.1177/009164711504300402
Crosby, R. G., Smith, E. I., & Frederick, T. (2015). The kid-friendly church: What makes children feel loved, valued, and part of a supportive community? Journal of Family and Community Ministries, 28, 87-109.
Much of our research would not have been possible without support from the Center for the Study of Human Behavior (CSHB) at California Baptist University (Riverside, CA).
Reach Hurting Kids Institute is a proud partner of California Baptist University’s Center for the Study of Human Behavior, without which much of our research would not have been possible.
Reach Hurting Kids Institute represents a collective effort by Christian researchers, pastors, mental health practitioners, professors, authors, conference speakers, professional networks, and parachurch organizations to reach the hurting kids in our congregations and communities.