Dr. Mimi Larson
Adjunct Faculty
Dr. Mimi Larson is a scholar-practitioner who has a passion to teach, equip, and mobilize individuals in both ministry and vocational work. She has served for over twenty-five years in children & family ministries in a variety of church contexts.
- Ph.D in Early Childhood Education from Concordia University Chicago, River Forest IL
- M.A. in Theological Studies from Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis MO
- M.A. in Educational Ministries from Wheaton Graduate School, Wheaton IL
- B.A. in Psychology from Wheaton College, Wheaton IL
- Assistant Professor of Educational Ministries at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL
- Vital Worship Grant from Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (2022-2023): 聽Project Working Title:聽 Children and Sacred Play.
- Teacher-Scholar Grant from Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (2020-2021: Project Working Title: Children and Worship: A Look at Best Practices.
- Previously taught at Wheaton College, Concordia University 鈥� Chicago, and Covenant Theological Seminary
- Local church ministry including large and midsize congregations in the area of children and family ministries.
- Creative Team for Veggie Tales Vacation Bible School (Big Idea Productions, Lisle, IL)
- Advisory Board for the Masters of Arts in Educational Ministries Degree (Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis, MO)
- Conference and Workshop presenter
- Creative Team for Veggie Tales Vacation Bible School (Big Idea Productions, Lisle, IL)
- Advisory Board for the Masters of Arts in Educational Ministries Degree (Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis, MO)
Selected Publications include:
Books
Larson, Mimi L., and Robert J. Keeley. Bridging Theory and Practice in Children’s Spirituality: New Directions for Education, Ministry, and Discipleship. Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan, 2020.
Books (chapters contributed)
Larson, Mimi L. 鈥淒oes the Church Care if Children Think?鈥� Bridging Theory and Practice in Children’s Spirituality: New Directions for Education, Ministry, and Discipleship, 187-200. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2020.
Larson, Mimi L. & Shirley K. Morgenthaler. 鈥淭he Sacred Playground: Play and a Child鈥檚 Forming Faith.鈥� Bridging Theory and Practice in Children’s Spirituality: New Directions for Education, Ministry, and Discipleship, 227-240. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2020.
Larson, Mimi L. “Making Meaning of God: The Faith Experiences of Preschool Children.” In聽Story, Formation, and Culture: From Theory to Practice in Ministry with Children, 86-98. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2018.
Morgenthaler, Shirley, K., Jeffrey B. Keiser, and Mimi L. Larson. “Nurturing the Infant Soul: Spiritual Formation and Very Young Children.” In聽Story, Formation, and Culture: From Theory to Practice in Ministry with Children, 108-122. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2018.
Morgenthaler, Shirley .K., Jeffrey B. Keiser, & Mimi L. Larson. 鈥淓ngaging, Expressive and Experience-Based Prayer Models with Children.鈥� In Exploring and Engaging Spirituality for Today鈥檚 Children: A Holistic Approach, 3-13.聽 Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2014.
Journal Articles
Larson, Mimi L. 鈥淭he Child in Our Midst: The Shifting Trends in Ministry with Children and Families Over the Past Forty Years.鈥� Christian Education Journal, 17 (3) (December, 2020): 434-448.
McRay, Barrett W., Laura Barwegen, Daniel T. Haase, Muhia Karianjahi, Mimi L. Larson, Rob Ribbe, Tom Schwanda, David P. Setran, and James C. Wilhoit. “Spiritual Formation and Soul Care in the Department of Christian Formation and Ministry at Wheaton College.”聽Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care聽11, no. 2 (November 2018): 271-95.
Larson, Mimi L. 鈥淢aking Meaning of God.鈥� Lutheran Education Journal (Winter 2018): 37-49.
Morgenthaler, Shirley K., Jeffrey B. Keiser, &聽 Mimi L. Larson. 鈥淣urturing the Infant Soul: The Importance of Community and Memories in the Spiritual Formation of Young Children.鈥� Christian Education Journal, 11, no. 2 (2014): 244-258.
Reports
Holmes, Sarah, Lawson Murray, Sue Price, Mimi Larson, Valerie de Abreu, & Phil Whitehead. 鈥淒o We Need a New Plan For Children鈥檚 Ministry? A Report Based on Research in Brazil, Canada, UK, and US in later-pandemic stages.鈥� October, 2021. .
- Board of Directors, Society of Children鈥檚 Spirituality: Christian Perspectives
- Membership in Society of Professors of Christian Education
- Membership in Evangelical Theological Society
- Membership in Religious Education Association