Mimi Larson

Assistant Professor of Christian Ministries

I Serve in...

Biblical Studies, Christian Ministries, Intercultural Studies & Philosophy Department

Education

• PhD, Early Childhood Education, Concordia University-Chicago
• MA, Theological Studies, Covenant Theological Seminary
• MA, Educational Ministries, Wheaton Graduate School
• BA, Psychology, Wheaton College

Career Accomplishments

• Served over 25 years in local church and denominational ministries, focusing on children and family ministry
• Executive Director at the Center for Faith and Children
• Awarded multiple grants, researching children's faith formation, including the most recent Lilly Endowment Nurturing Children through Worship and Prayer initiative that helped found the Center for Faith and Children
• Delegate for the Fourth Lausanne Congress, Seoul, Korea

Featured Publications

Book

Larson, Mimi L., and Robert J. Keeley, eds. Bridging Theory and Practice in Children's Spirituality: New Directions for Education, Ministry, and Discipleship. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2020.

Book Chapters

Larson, Mimi L. "Engaging the Meaning Makers: Creating Churches Where Our Children's Faith Can Flourish." In Imagining the Generations, 197–206. Abilene, TX: Abilene Christian University Press, 2025.

Larson, Mimi L. "Does the Church Care if Children Think?" In 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., and Shirley K. Morgenthaler. "The Sacred Playground: Play and a Child's Forming Faith." In 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 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 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, and Mimi L. Larson. "Engaging, Expressive and Experience-Based Prayer Models with Children." In Exploring and Engaging Spirituality for Today's Children: A Holistic Approach, 3–13. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2014.

Journal Articles

Holmes, Sarah E., Mimi L. Larson, and Sue Price. "Will the Children Have Faith in the Post-Pandemic Era? Investigating Models of Children's Faith Formation in a World Changed by Pandemic Experiences." Journal of Beliefs and Values 46, no. 2 (2024): 406–422.

Yamashiro, Daniel K. M., Donald C. Guthrie, and Mimi L. Larson. "Vygotsky's Perezhivanie as a Theoretical Prism to Explore Childhood Trauma at the Intersection of Religious Education in Formation of American Presidents." SSRN, November 7, 2023. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4922012.

Larson, Mimi L. "The Child in Our Midst: The Shifting Trends in Ministry with Children and Families Over the Past Forty Years." Christian Education Journal 17, no. 3 (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." Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care 11, no. 2 (2018): 271–295.

Larson, Mimi L. "Making Meaning of God." Lutheran Education Journal (Winter 2018): 37–49.

Morgenthaler, Shirley K., Jeffrey B. Keiser, and Mimi L. Larson. "Nurturing the Infant Soul: The Importance of Community and Memories in the Spiritual Formation of Young Children." Christian Education Journal 11, no. 2 (2014): 244–258.

White Papers

Larson, Mimi. "Engaging Children in Worship: Perspectives for Churches to Consider." Thrive, Christian Reformed Church in North America, 2021.

Magazine Articles

Larson, Mimi L., Ahyuwani Akanet, and Lindsey Goetz. "To Disciple Kids Well, Help Their Parents." Christianity Today, January 28, 2025.

Larson, Mimi L. "How Children Make Meaning of God: Five Ways Children Learn, with Three Ideas for Worship." Reformed Worship, June 2022, 16–18. (Honorable Mention for Professional Resource, Associated Church Press Best of the Church Press Awards, 2022.)

Larson, Mimi L. "Fly the 'W' for Worship." The Banner, August 2, 2021.

Larson, Mimi L. "Raising the Bar for Ministry with Children: Why Your Children's Ministry Leader Needs More Education and Training." Christianity Today, April 10, 2021.

About

Dr. Mimi Larson is delighted to join Taylor University as Assistant Professor of Christian Ministries and Executive Director of the Center for Faith and Children. She has spent more than 35 years serving in ministry and higher education and is passionate about helping students and ministry leaders grow in their understanding of faith formation.

Before coming to Taylor, Dr. Larson served on the faculty at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and previously taught at Wheaton College. Her research and writing focuses on children's spirituality, early childhood faith formation, and helping ministry leaders reimagine church where a child’s faith flourishes. With her husband, Keith, Dr. Larson recently moved to Indiana and is enjoying discovering their new home and community.

Outside of work, she loves reading, quilting, knitting, spinning yarn, playing board games, and relaxing with a cup of tea. During the winter months, you might find her at the curling rink. She is an enthusiastic fan of the sport and occasionally enjoys competing herself.