Joanne's Blog

After more than 15 years serving in children's ministry, I've discovered that the most effective lessons are interactive, engaging, and memorable. That's exactly how the Faith Adventures with Ethan & Abby series was designed. Each story introduces a single biblical truth through two relatable best friends, giving children practical ways to understand God's promises, forgiveness, prayer, and ultimately, their identity in Christ.

One of my favourite ways to use the books is to bring the story off the page. Instead of simply reading the book, invite children to become part of the adventure. Let them pretend they are Ethan and Abby, acting out new situations that reinforce the day's Bible lesson. Ask questions like, "What would Ethan do?" or "How would Abby respond?" Children love stepping into the story and it helps biblical truths become personal and memorable.

The books also pair beautifully with object lessons, visual demonstrations, crafts, games and small-group discussions. A simple household object, a science demonstration or a role-playing activity can transform a lesson from something children hear into something they experience and remember!

You can also encourage families to continue the conversation at home by sending discussion questions, simple activities, or one practical faith challenge that reinforces the lesson throughout the week. When children hear the same biblical truth at church and at home, it becomes part of who they are. Whether you're teaching Sunday School, Children's Church, Vacation Bible School, Christian school or a midweek kids' program, my hope is that Ethan and Abby become more than storybook characters. I hope they become trusted friends who help children discover God's promises, grow in faith and confidently embrace their identity in Christ, one adventure at a time!

Sometimes, the hardest part isn't wanting to connect with our children—it's simply knowing where to begin. These books are more than bedtime stories. They're conversation starters that create intentional moments for families to slow down, connect and talk about the things that matter most. Whether it's before bed, after school, around the dinner table, or during a quiet weekend afternoon, Ethan and Abby provide a natural and comfortable way to begin conversations that might otherwise never happen.

As children follow Ethan and Abby's adventures, parents have the opportunity to ask simple questions like, "Has anything like this ever happened to you?" "What would you have done?" or "How do you think God wants us to handle situations like this?" Those conversations often open the door to what's really happening in a child's world; the friendships they're navigating; the worries they're carrying; the choices they're facing; and the questions they may not know how to ask.

In a world filled with constant distractions, these moments become a safe place for children to be heard and encouraged. When children discover God's promises, His power and His purpose for their lives from an early age, they begin building their confidence on a foundation that cannot be shaken. As parents, we have the privilege of helping lay that foundation—one story, one conversation, and one faith-filled moment at a time.

My prayer is that the Faith Adventures with Ethan & Abby series becomes more than a collection of books in your home. I hope it becomes a trusted bridge that brings families closer together, strengthens faith and creates meaningful conversations that leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.

When people meet Ethan and Abby, they see two best friends sharing fun adventures and discovering timeless biblical truths. What they don't see is the prayer, purpose and intentionality that shaped these characters long before the first book was published.

From the beginning, I felt God place on my heart a vision to create two characters who would be relatable to children from many different ethnicities. My hope was that every child could see a little of themselves, or perhaps a friend, in Ethan and Abby. It was always important to me that children felt seen, valued and accepted as they discovered God's love, His promises and His purpose for their lives.

The original character concepts began during a brief creative planning session with an independent designer. Those initial sketches became the foundation for the series and were shared with my first publisher, whose illustration team brought Ethan and Abby to life in Book 1, Have You Ever? As the series grew, I wanted the illustrations to reflect even greater warmth, expression and consistency. For Books 2 and 3, I partnered with the talented illustrator Yuffie Yuliana. Working together, we refined the characters until they fully reflected the vision God had placed on my heart while staying true to Ethan and Abby's personalities and purpose.

Above all, Ethan and Abby are more than storybook characters. Through their adventures, children discover God's promises, forgiveness, the power of prayer and their true identity in Christ. My prayer is that these stories help build a strong foundation of faith and the God-kind-of-confidence that comes from knowing who they are in Him. Confidence that lasts a life-time!

A few years back, even though I found myself facing a major trial in my life, God was ever-present and ever-forgiving and forever gracious. There were constant reminders of His goodness during this monumental change in my life. This involved my career and in reality, I knew it was something that I should have left a number of years before, but in my overly-analytical mind, how could I rationalize leaving a job that gave me a lot of stability financially speaking? A job that I had worked so hard to attain and maintain? Simply put, I just couldn't give-up and to be honest, I wasn't a quitter – even to a fault. And so, God knowing this, found a way to remove me from that position; a way that led to both the (immeasurable) peace-of-mind 'emotionally-speaking' as well as peace-of-mind 'financially speaking'. I spent the next number of years focused on pursuing God's purpose in my life and going through the growing pains and gains associated with something that involved significant change!

Transparency-time... Before I move on, let me be completely transparent. There were many emotions involved at the time. So many opportunities to allow this to define me; to derail me; and to stop me in my tracks. There were many opportunities to be offended, hurt and forever marked by this situation. Was it Pride? Partly, yes, likely. I knew I needed to make a mental-shift, a permanent decision and stick to it! No floundering in the 'what-ifs' or the 'only-ifs'. I needed to 'draw a line-in-the sand' and see this from God's perspective. God wasn't surprised that my main stumbling block was actually myself! Let's face it, in reality, we are our own biggest hurdle to maneuver around. Pushing-through personal limitations we've set for ourselves; moving past offences and emotions; well, that's the proverbial line in the sand. A line that we need to obliterate by 'stepping over it' and 'not' continuing to look in the rear-view mirror!

Make no mistake! Let me say it a different way… Satan absolutely knows our individual triggers and what wouldn't necessarily derail YOU, 'could' derail ME, and vice-versa. Let's just say that he is about as strategic as they come and knows how to custom-build an attack to stop us from pushing through to fulfill God's call on our lives; the plan which would ultimately glorify God! He'll use people, and this includes friends and family, to ensure you second-guess yourself, even though, just the day before, you were 100% confident of your next move/s!

Power of offence? Believe me, over the last few years I've had many opportunities to be offended, to quit due to disappointment in both myself and people who surrounded me. (Did I say 'many'? Oh yes, I did! LOL) It can be a very frustrating process at times, I will assure you of that, but I'm also here to encourage you to persevere because you can get to the other side and thereby work on what God wants you to be! Just keep seeking His voice and be ready to swallow your pride at times! So be encouraged, my friend, because now that you know what's likely lurking around the corner, as well as the associated challenges that will come your way, you won't be surprised by it! And when you know the opponent's strategic plan… i.e. his next 'move'... you can be ready to stand-guard against it!

Picture this! Here's a great visual that I heard years ago, in the mid 2000's from Creflo Dollar, about being easily offended. He said (paraphrasing): when we succumb to negative emotions and take offence to something or someone — it literally turns everything OFF that was working — and ENDS it! Wow! Get it?! "OFFENDED" = OFF and ENDED… soooo picturesque!

Arsenal? Your best Arsenal in your tool kit is the Word of God which needs to be spoken out-loud, by our own voices. Why? Because it needs to penetrate our soul, (our mind, will and emotions), then fall into our ears and ultimately move down-deep into our heart (our Spirit). How often? As many times a day as you need to in order to 'break-through' these challenges! It's not an easy process at times, believe me… so guard your heart… and keep pressing-through! It's truly worth the effort!

Is there a hash-tag for, "Oh, how I wish I was taught this as a child!"

The greatest gift we can give a child isn't success, achievement, or even happiness. It's helping them discover who they are in Christ and understand their God-given value. Over the years, I've watched countless adults, including myself, search for security within their careers, accomplishments, relationships, or the approval of others.

Yet lasting confidence isn't built on what we do or what others think of us—it's built on who God says we are. When children discover God's promises, His power, and His purpose for their lives from an early age, they begin building their confidence on a foundation that cannot be shaken. They learn that their identity isn't determined by their abilities, talents, achievements, failures, or the opinions of others. Instead, it is anchored in God's Word, His truth, and His unfailing love.

Just as importantly, they learn where to turn when life becomes difficult. They discover they can seek God's wisdom through prayer, trust His promises, and confidently follow His guidance, knowing He has a perfect plan for their lives. Those are life-changing habits that will serve them long after childhood.

That's the heartbeat behind the Faith Adventures with Ethan & Abby series. My prayer is that every story helps children build a strong foundation of faith, discover their true identity in Christ, and develop a God-kind-of-confidence that will guide them throughout their lives.

Easter is one of the most powerful opportunities we have as parents and educators to open a child's heart to the reality of God's love. The story of the cross, the resurrection, and the gift of the Holy Spirit is the foundation of everything we believe. But how do we make it real for a child? How do we help them picture something so profound?

I love asking children to imagine God as a loving Father who wanted so much to be close to us that He sent His Son — Jesus — to make a way. And then, so we would never be alone, He left us His Spirit as a constant companion and guide. Three persons, one God, all working together out of pure love for us.

This Easter, take a moment to sit with your child and ask them: "How do you picture God?" You might be surprised by the beauty and simplicity of their answer. Children have a remarkable capacity for faith — sometimes all they need is an invitation to explore it.

More details for us adults to wrap our minds around

In Christianity, we have a Trinity: Father (God), Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit. Jesus was born as a man and had all fleshly characteristics of a human, including mortality. He was prophesied in the Old Testament (OT) of the Bible, and ultimately, the one perfect FINAL sacrifice. You see, the OT was packed with people trying to seek God's forgiveness for the sins they had committed and this process is referred to as atonement. People would sacrifice their most prized livestock, i.e. their most perfect animals during these times of atonement, to ultimately show God how sorry they were and to seek His forgiveness through their 'sacrifice'. Of course, people continued to sin, so therefore, continued sacrifices were required under the OT Law. This was a never-ending circle, as you can well imagine. Ultimately the OT sacrifices were never enough because there actually were no perfect animal sacrifices, even though the people tried their best to offer that.

God's perfect plan was to send His Son (Jesus), who was a part of Himself, as the ultimate perfect sacrifice, once and for all! (i.e. For all time and available to all people.) He/Jesus had to die though, in order to become the ultimate and perfect sacrifice. So as a man, His blood was shed and He died on the cross. It was an excruciating death but, through the power of God, He was raised from the dead on the 3rd day! (This again, prophesied in the OT.)

When he ascended to Heaven, His promise was to send the Holy Spirit to the Earth for the benefit of those people who would call upon Him to be Lord of their lives. When people do this, the Holy Spirit comes and lives inside of their hearts and their life changes forever. It doesn't mean that life will always be easy but it does mean that you then have the power of God living inside of you and you will never be alone again, and, most importantly spending eternity in heaven with God when your time on earth has passed!

One last thing to perhaps mention is that the movie entitled, "The Passion of the Christ", which is a Mel Gibson production, is a wonderful representation of the absolute and pure sacrifice Jesus made for all of us. Yes, it's extremely difficult to watch, especially when He is scourged and hung on the Cross, but absolutely well-worth it so that we can truly comprehend the background and gut-wrenching lengths that God went to; to ultimately show the depths of His love for us, by providing for our eternal salvation through this one, monumental and final sacrifice...

One of the most powerful gifts we can give a child is the understanding that they are forgiven. Not just once, but always. No matter what they do, no matter how big the mistake — God's love and forgiveness are always available.

This is the heart behind Book 2 in the Faith Adventures with Ethan & Abby series. Ethan and Abby learn that no mistake is too big for God's grace. And when children truly understand that — when it moves from their head to their heart — something remarkable happens. They become free. Free to try, free to fail, free to get back up again.

As parents and educators, we have the privilege of modelling forgiveness in our own lives. When we say "I'm sorry" to our children, when we extend grace to others in front of them, we are teaching them one of the most important lessons of their lives. Forgiveness isn't weakness — it's one of the greatest expressions of strength and love.

We all face trials. Our children face them too — at school, in friendships, in moments of self-doubt and uncertainty. But what if we could help them see those trials differently? What if every challenge became an opportunity to discover just how strong they are — and how faithful God is?

I've seen it happen in my own life. The moments I thought would break me became the moments that built me. The trials that seemed impossible became the testimonies I now share with others. And I believe the same is true for our children.

When we teach children that trials are not the end of the story — that God is working even in the hard moments — we give them a perspective that will carry them through every season of life. They learn that they are not victims of their circumstances. They are overcomers. And that changes everything.

Fear is real. It shows up in the dark, in new situations, in moments of uncertainty. And for children, fear can be especially powerful — shaping the way they see themselves and the world around them.

But here's what I want every child to know: fear is not from God. God's Word tells us clearly that He has given us a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. That means when fear shows up, we have something greater to stand on.

As parents and educators, we can help children name their fears, bring them to God in prayer, and replace the lies fear tells with the truth of who they are in Christ. This is one of the reasons I wrote the Ethan & Abby series — to give children a language for faith, a way to talk about the things that scare them, and the confidence to know that God is always with them.

Words are powerful. They can build up or tear down, encourage or discourage, plant seeds of faith or seeds of doubt. And the words we speak over our children — and the words they speak over themselves — matter more than we often realize.

I've spent years thinking about the power of words. In the corporate world, I saw how the right words at the right moment could transform a team, a culture, a person's entire trajectory. And in children's ministry, I've seen how a simple word of encouragement spoken over a child can stay with them for a lifetime.

This Christmas season, I want to challenge you: be intentional about the words you speak over the children in your life. Tell them they are loved. Tell them they are capable. Tell them they are created with purpose. Those words are seeds — and you never know how far they will grow.

Gratitude is one of the most transformative practices we can cultivate in our children — and in ourselves. When we choose to give thanks, even in difficult circumstances, we shift our focus from what we lack to what we have. We move from scarcity to abundance, from fear to faith.

I love teaching children to keep a gratitude journal — a simple notebook where they write or draw three things they are thankful for each day. It doesn't have to be big. A warm meal, a good friend, a beautiful sunset. The practice of noticing the good trains the heart to look for it.

This Thanksgiving season, I encourage you to start a gratitude practice with the children in your life. Ask them at dinner: "What are you thankful for today?" You might be surprised by the depth and beauty of their answers — and by how much it changes the atmosphere in your home.

One of the most important questions a child will ever answer is: "Who am I?" And the answer they settle on will shape everything — their confidence, their choices, their relationships, their future.

The world will offer many answers to that question. You are what you achieve. You are what others think of you. You are your mistakes. But God's Word offers a different answer entirely: you are His handiwork. You are created with purpose. You are deeply loved and uniquely designed.

This is the foundation of everything I write. I want children to know — really know, in the deepest part of who they are — that they are created by God, for God, with a purpose that no one else can fulfill. When that truth takes root in a child's heart, it changes everything.

September is a season of new beginnings. New classrooms, new teachers, new friends, new challenges. And for many children — and their parents — it can also be a season of anxiety and uncertainty.

But here's what I love about this time of year: it's a perfect opportunity to teach children to trust God with the unknown. To pray before the first day of school. To ask God to guide their steps, give them courage, and help them be a light in their classroom.

As parents and educators, we can help children carry their faith into every area of their lives — including school. We can remind them that God goes with them into every classroom, every hallway, every difficult moment. They are never alone. And that truth is more than enough to face whatever the new school year brings.

Prayer is one of the most powerful tools we can give a child. And yet, for many children — and many adults — prayer can feel mysterious, complicated, or even intimidating. What do you say? How do you say it? Does God really hear?

This is the heart behind Book 3 in the Faith Adventures with Ethan & Abby series. Ethan and Abby discover that prayer isn't complicated — it's simply talking to God. Sharing your heart, your worries, your hopes, your gratitude. And then listening.

I love teaching children that prayer is a conversation, not a performance. God isn't looking for perfect words — He's looking for an open heart. When we help children develop a habit of prayer early in life, we give them a resource that will sustain them through every season. A direct line to the God who loves them unconditionally and is always listening.

Summer is a gift. Long days, unstructured time, the freedom to explore and play and simply be. And for families, it's also a wonderful opportunity to deepen faith in natural, everyday ways.

Some of my favourite faith-building moments happen outside of church — on a walk in the park, watching a sunset, planting a garden, reading together on a rainy afternoon. These are the moments when big questions arise naturally, when children are most open to wonder and curiosity.

This summer, I encourage you to be intentional about creating space for those conversations. Ask your children what they think about God. Read the Ethan & Abby books together and talk about the themes. Pray together before meals and at bedtime. These small, consistent practices are the seeds of a faith that will last a lifetime.

We live in an uncertain world. And raising confident, resilient children in the midst of that uncertainty is one of the greatest challenges — and privileges — of parenthood.

But here's what I've learned: confidence that is rooted in God is unshakeable. It doesn't depend on circumstances, achievements, or the opinions of others. It comes from knowing who you are in Christ — loved, valued, purposeful, and never alone.

This is the message at the heart of everything I write. I want children to grow up knowing that they can face anything — not because they are strong in themselves, but because God is strong in them. That kind of confidence doesn't just survive the storms of life. It thrives in them. And it's the greatest gift we can give the children we love.