About Ivy Beckwith

Ivy Beckwith Ivy grew up in southern Connecticut, living about 90 miles outside of New York City. She attended Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts receiving a B.A. in English. Her primary academic interests were in the novel, both the 19th century British and 20th century American novel. After graduation Ivy spent a year doing denominational lay ministry and then attended Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts where she received an Masters of Religious Education degree. Ivy later earned a Ph.D. in education from Trinity International University, where her dissertation explored the arena of experiential education and psycho-social growth.

During her years at Gordon-Conwell Ivy interned in educational ministries at historic Park Street Church in Boston, Massachusetts. After graduation she moved to Chicago, Illinois where she worked as the Director of Christian Education at Northwest Baptist Church. After six years in Chicago Ivy moved back to the Boston area where she became the Director of Children's Ministries at Grace Chapel in Lexington, Massachusetts. From Grace Chapel she moved to Eden Prairie, Minnesota to take a job as the Director of Children's Ministries at Wooddale Church. While at Wooddale, Ivy was adjunct faculty in Christian Education at both Crown College in Waconia, Minnesota and Bethel Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. When Ivy ended her tenure at Wooddale Church she worked as a Christian Education representative for Gospel Light Publications working with churches all over the Midwest consulting with them about their educational ministries. She moved from Gospel Light Publications to Group Publishing in Loveland, Colorado where she was the Senior Editor for Curriculum. She supervised the age level curriculum editors, worked on the development of Group's FaithWeaver curriculum and edited numerous church education resources. From Group Ivy returned to Gospel Light Publications where she worked in the corporate office in Ventura, California developing marketing workshops for Vacation Bible School curriculum and teaching training workshops. Ivy, then, moved by to the Midwest to become the Minister to Children and Families at Colonial Church, Edina, Minnesota where she served until the end of 2004.

Ivy has been a sought after speaker and trainer in the areas of Children's Ministry and church educational ministry. She has spoken at Christian Ministry conventions in Minnesota, Kansas, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Illinois, Nebraska, Alaska, Hawaii, and Wisconsin. And Ivy has been a workshop leader at Children's Pastors Conference sponsored by the International Network for Children's Ministry as well as the Emergent Convention sponsored by Youth Specialties. She has consulted on Children's Ministry with Emerging churches in Minnesota and California.

Ivy is a member of the Emergent Coordinating team and the Board of Directors of Mars Hill Graduate School in Bothell, Washington. She is the author of Quick Relief for Children's Ministry Leaders (Group) and Postmodern Children's Ministry (YS/Emergent).