Campbell University Divinity School is participating in the Christian Parenting and Caregiving Initiative through the Lilly Endowment. The purpose of Empowering Families for Spiritual Formation project is to partner with churches, ministers, and caregivers to develop strategies and resources to equip and encourage families to engage in regular, substantive, holistic, family-centered formation.
During the first two years of the grant, we partnered with 9 churches and over 40 families, participating in listening sessions, a Family Fun Day, and two-family retreats. Through these sessions and activities, we listened and observed families seeking to nurture their children in the Christian faith. The listening and observation allowed us to better understand the circumstances, challenges, and needs of families with children. Therefore, now we are focusing on creating events and resources for families and churches. See some of our events and resources below!
Events
Thriving Children: Neurodivergence and Our Churches
Campbell University Divinity School’s Empowering Families for Spiritual Formation, CBF’s Thriving Children Initiative, and the Baugh Center for Baptist Leadership are partnering to offer a two-day session on neurodiversity in children’s ministry. This is an opportunity for churches to gather for an intentional time to consider and learn about neurodivergence and give attention to the “how’s and why’s” of children’s ministry.
The event will beNovember 13-14, 2026 at Campbell University Divinity School in Taylor Hall Room 118. Friday will begin at 4pm and end at 8pm, dinner will be included. Saturday will begin at 8am and conclude around 12noon. Lunch will be included.
The cost is $25 per person with a maximum of $100 per church. There is limited funding available through CBF grant money to provide lodging for those who request it.
Empowering Families Children and Family Ministry Conference
Mark your calendar for the first Empowering Families Children and Family Ministry Conference on Saturday, February 27th. Meredith Miller, author of Woven, will be our guest speaker. The conference will feature a family and children ministry workshop with Meredith Miller, breakout sessions, and an introduction to Empowering Families resources. This conference is open to parents but tailored for ministry leaders and volunteers. There will be a minimal registration fee. More information is coming soon!
Reavis Lectures
The 2026 Reavis Lectures were hosted by the Empowering Families team, who shared research, learnings, and resources related to children and family ministry with the Campbell community and beyond. More than 100 people gathered with us to share food, faith, fellowship, and learning across generations and denominations.
The events began Monday evening with an interactive family-friendly evening including dinner, a worship service, and a worship-planning workshop. On Tuesday, the series continued with two lectures, with lunch and a Q&A session in between.
Spring Retreat: Growing Together
Thank you, Kayla Craig, for showing up for our families and preaching during our retreat weekend worship services. We enjoyed every minute with you and your family, and we are grateful for the impact you made on our students, staff, and families.
Resources
Campbell University Divinity School has announced the launch of the Empowering Families Podcast, a new tool designed to equip parents and caregivers with practical resources, biblical insight, and real-life support to help children grow in their faith. Read more here.
Episodes include:
- Reading and Interpreting Scripture Matters
- Play as Family Spiritual Formation
- Layers of Identity
- Mental Health for Black Children
- Impact of Family Systems
Watch, like, and subscribe to our podcast on our YouTube channel.
The Empowering Families manuscript is in the final editing phase for their first book, Embodied Liturgy: Spiritual Practices for All Ages. This book introduces spiritual practices that encourage individuals and communities to look, write, move, and create. The book will be available as early as November 2026.
Through Empowering Families for Spiritual Formation research and experience with churches and families, we have come to learn worship is an integral piece of engaging faithful families and encouraging spiritual formation. Read more.
Through our research and experience with churches and families, we have come to learn how busy families are. When families attend church, they make an intentional choice of how to spend their time together. Churches must keep this in mind as they prepare to engage and support families with children. Read more.
Through our research and experience with churches and families, we have come to learn families are exhausted and overscheduled. Church has become another obligation, even for the most faithful and devoted families. Read more. Read more.
Through our research and experience with churches and families, we have discovered faithful parents and caregivers want to engage children in the faith but often do not know how. Churches can help parents and caregivers by encouraging family spiritual practices and rhythms. Read more.
Program Staff
Dr. Sarah Boberg
Asst. Professor for Christian Education
Director of Empowering Families for Spiritual Formation
Rev. Dr. Sarah Boberg, Assistant Professor for Christian Education at the Divinity School, serves as the Director of Empowering Families for Spiritual Formation. Dr. Boberg is a two-time Campbell graduate; BA in Religion and Christian Ministries and Master of Divinity. She brings 20 years of children’s ministry experience and a passion for educating children and families. She lives in Fuquay Varina with her husband, Bradley, and her two daughters.
Ivy Breivogel
Administrative Assistant
Empowering Families for Spiritual Formation Initiative
Ivy is from Fuquay-Varina, but most recently lived in upstate New York, where she was the assistant director for the Office of Spirituality and Meaning-Making at Cornell University. She is also currently a Master of Divinity student at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. Her calling is toward spiritual formation for youth and young adults, as well as interfaith engagement and cross-difference dialogue. In what free time she has, Ivy loves to read, travel, and spend as much time as possible with animals of all kinds.
Adria Foreman
Graduate Assistant
Empowering Families for Spiritual Formation Initiative
Adria is a current Master of Divinity student in the Campbell Divinity School. She grew up in Charlotte and Raleigh before making her way to Buies Creek for her undergraduate degree. She has worked in a variety of ministry settings, working with children, youth and families. Adria has been involved with Empowering Families for a couple of years, so she is excited to officially be part of the Empowering Families team! Outside of school and work, Adria loves sports, being outside, and a good cup of coffee.