Auburn Theological Seminary

The Program will select, support, and nurture a new generation of leaders who center children in worship. This will occur through updating Dr. Walter Wink’s Transformative Bible Study method. ATS will advance its WINK program by training 40 Wink Fellows annually through in-person, multi-day intensives, equipping them to incorporate children-focused biblical storytelling into worship and congregational life. Beginning in 2026, ATS will host the annual Heal the World Summit, featuring workshops led by Fellows and designed as an intergenerational, family-friendly gathering. Additionally, ATS will provide ongoing support to Fellows through a virtual community network platform, bi-monthly resources, and outreach, fostering a generation of children who feel fully included in the family of faith. ATS hopes to train and equip 160 Christian pastoral leaders and provide training in the WINK methodology for 350 leaders of all ages.