"It needs to repeated over and over again: the most important religious influence on children is their parents and their family's faith practices! Parents, and churches, are looking for trusted ways to nurture the faith life of young children today. Now Marilyn Sharpe has written a hopeful, practical resource for parents to use in developing a vibrant faith in their children and the whole family. Marilyn's style shines through every page with illustrative stories, insightful wisdom, and practical ideas that parents can use immediately. If you want to learn how to develop a vibrant faith in young children, this is the book every parent, and church leader, should read."

John Roberto
President
LifelongFaith Associates

"Sharpe reflects her passion for the care and learning of children in this insightful and easily read book. Weaving scripture and story throughout the narrative, each chapter engages and challenges the reader to embrace each child as a gift and uniquely gifted by God, while providing a clear understanding and use of the "best practices" and processes through which children learn and are nurtured. This is quite a body of work!  It has caused me to reflect on a number of issues parents (and teachers) face in the day-to-day nurture of children.  I look forward to recommending, purchasing, and sharing copies of this book with parents, teachers, and early childhood educators."

Dr. Judith Christian
Director
Children's Ministry and Family Ministry, Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

"Marilyn Sharpe is truly one of God's faithful servants. She has taught, encouraged, accompanied, and supported parents at Mt. Olivet Church for more than 30 years.  For Heaven's Sake:  Parenting Preschoolers Faithfully captures her commitment to exceptional and faithful parenting, and now makes it available to all parents.   She has put into meaningful words many of the concepts that parents of young children want to understand.   With warm humor and gentle presence, she shares rich stories and practical ways that parents do this vitally important work of raising God's children in today's world.  My wife Nancy and I highly recommend this book to you!"

Rev. Dr. Paul M. Youngdahl
Senior Pastor
Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, MN

"Marilyn Sharpe is unique. Her effusive way of expressing herself flows like a warm balm over the listener's ears.  Her faith permeates all the way into her DNA and touches those around her.  Her love of children comes from years as a compassionate mom and grandma, whether in her own family, her congregation or community.  And her ability to equip parents gives confidence to insecure and worried mothers and fathers.

Marilyn brings all of this to her new book FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE! Parenting Preschoolers Faithfully.  She builds a case that preschoolers are spiritual beings seeking connectedness to others and exploring their world with awe and wonder.  Parents play a huge role in nurturing this spark of faith.  Grounded in the Vibrant Faith Ministries model of effective faith formation practices, Marilyn's book provides practical, field-tested methods for equipping parents to be godbearers for their children.  Parents who read this book will not only know why it's important to speak the language of faith to their children, but they'll know how to do it.

While her book equips parents and adults for faithful parenting, her methods help parents go deeper in their own faith journey. Based upon the premise that "faith is caught more than taught", the reader will discover they are entering into a deeper life of faith.  Lots of parenting books teach us how to raise children.  This one facilitates the work of the Spirit within the reader as well.  Be prepared to grow personally even as you watch your child develop.

For more than 25 years Marilyn has met with parents on a weekly basis listening to their concerns and traveling with them on the parenting journey.  I've interviewed some of these parents and they tell me they find spiritual comfort, energy, wisdom and guidance in their classes with Marilyn.  You'll want this experience!

Vibrant Faith Ministries proudly endorses For Heaven's Sake! and is delighted to offer it through our bookstore.    This book will help parents enrich their own faith and that of their children!"

Dr. Paul Hill
Executive Director
Vibrant Faith Ministries

"Are you the parent of a preschooler, wondering how to raise your child with an authentic Christian faith? Are you a Christian grandparent (or aunt, uncle, friend or neighbor), wondering how you can have a loving and powerful influence? Are you looking for the ideal gift for a family with young children? Look no further. Order this book now!

Within the framework of a vibrant Christian faith, Marilyn Sharpe has provided positive, practical advice for parents (and grandparents, or other significant adults) of preschool children. Her examples are realistic; her suggestions combine sound theology and sound psychology of child development. Discipline, eating, toilet-training, teaching values, communicating faith, it's all there: a parenting book with a huge difference. This book will touch your heart and give you confidence.

Be prepared to be blessed, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE."

Susan Weller
Social Worker, Parent and Grandparent