From Children’s Ministry Leader to Children’s Book Author: Ashley Newton’s Journey to Inspiring Children’s Faith

Mrs. Ashley Newton, the First Lady of St. Stephen A.M.E. Zion Church in Asbury Park, NJ, has always been driven by a vision: to create a welcoming and transformative environment where children can learn about Christ, build lasting friendships, and grow in their faith. This mission has inspired her latest venture—a heartfelt children’s book titled Zeke's Journey to Children's Church. The story follows Zeke, a young boy whose initial apprehension about attending children’s church transforms into excitement and joy after experiencing the warmth, fellowship, and teachings within the faith-based community.

Lady Newton's journey to writing this book is deeply rooted in her own experiences leading children's ministry. Her leadership at both St. Stephen and Varick Memorial A.M.E.Z Church in New Haven, CT, has left a lasting impact. Under her guidance, children's ministries at both churches have grown exponentially, serving as a model for others. During the pandemic, she hosted virtual Children's Church after Rush Temple's Sunday service and had children as far away as Italy joining in. When asked what inspired her to write this book, she said, "As a mother of two children who love going to Children's Church every Sunday and have seen the transformative power of a thriving children's ministry, I wanted to share a story that captures the joy and feeling of belonging that we seek to create every week. " On a personal level, she added, "we sit at home and make up stories and silly songs as a family, so this came so naturally."  

Lady Newton draws on her background in educational leadership to design engaging curriculums, train volunteers, and create spaces where children not only learn about Christ but also develop a genuine love for attending church. Her work was incredibly influential at Varick Memorial, where her efforts transformed the children's ministry into one of the church's most vibrant programs. Rev. Eldren Morrison, the former pastor, reflected on her contributions, saying: “The children’s ministry at Varick Memorial exponentially grew under the guidance and direction of Sis. Ashley Newton. She was a capable and visionary leader. The children’s ministry initially accomplished two important things for the church. It ensured that we were developing the faith of our children. We wanted our kids to know Jesus, and they enjoyed learning so much that they started discipling other children, and the ministry grew.” He added “Sis. Newton challenged church leaders to think differently about children’s ministry. She led in investing resources into our most precious resources, and the ministry was one of the most active and sought-after. We thought that having the children in their own dedicated space would free up much-needed room in the sanctuary for the three worship services. However, the children outgrew their dedicated space, and we had seating challenges in the sanctuary and space challenges in the children’s church.” This recognition speaks to the remarkable results she continues to achieve. Her ability to inspire church leaders to think differently about children’s ministry and to invest in the spiritual development of their youngest members has been significant. It also speaks to the potential that churches have when pastoral leadership supports and encourages children’s ministries.

The pastor of St. Stephen, Rev. Quavon Newton, remarks on how Mrs. Newton's leadership philosophy is shaped by her understanding of the importance of educational frameworks and faith-based nurturing. He said, "I'm especially excited about this book because I have witnessed how hard she works to create structure, so children's ministry activities run smoothly. We have young children, and if we weren't the leaders here, in this church, this is still the type of experience we would want for our kids." Ashley has such a keen ability to motivate everyone around her. Rev. Newton adds, "one thing we have done at St. Stephen is to empower our members to become active in our various ministries, and Ashley has been very instrumental in encouraging people to push out of their comfort zones and participate in roles that they ordinarily wouldn't. It has been inspiring to see how many more people have become involved in all of the things we have been able to do in our church and this community." Concerning the Children's Ministry, she recognizes that volunteers may come from diverse professional backgrounds, but their shared love for children and God can be harnessed to create impactful programs. She invests time in training volunteers, many of whom have no formal background in education, to ensure they are equipped to foster a safe, welcoming environment for children.

Zeke's Journey to Children's Church was inspired by the many stories Lady Newton has witnessed throughout her career as an educator and ministry—stories of children overcoming, discovering a sense of belonging, and deepening their faith. This story reflects the journey that so many take for the first time, finding their sense of community within the larger church community. For Newton, Zeke's story mirrors the journey of her own children, who have grown up in a thriving faith community shaped by their parent's vision and dedication. Through this book, Newton's vision is twofold: she hopes to inspire churches to invest in their children's ministries, creating spaces where children can encounter Christ in meaningful ways, and she also hopes that this book will bring joy to the children who read it. When her 7-year-old daughter, Eden, read it for the first time, she remarked on how it captured how she feels about children's church: "I like Children's church just like Zeke in the book. It's fun, and we get to learn more about God with our friends."  Zeke’s Journey to Children’s Church is available for purchase online through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple iBooks.