Workshops

Session One - Friday, 8:30 pm

Carey Nieuwhof - Parenting Beyond Your Capacity
Want to help parents? In this session, Carey will outline key principles that can move church leaders and parents onto the same page. He will share current thinking on the parent side of the Orange strategy and how church leaders can come alongside parents to help them win at home.

Sheryl Grunwald - Igniting Kids Heart for the World
Kids today are eager to make a difference, and opportunities abound. Missions is not boring to kids because the world is a fascinating place. Come explore ideas and resources parents and teachers can use to open kids' eyes and hearts to God's movement globally and how they can be a part of it, right here at home.

Cynthia Phillips - Recruiting and Retaining Without Complaining
"Recruiting is my favorite part of ministry!" These are words rarely said by children's ministry leaders. In this workshop, come find fun ways to make it a true statement from your mouth! There are ways to have people WANT to serve in your area, and sadly, there are reasons they stay away. In this workshop discover specific game plans to help you have a winning season of ministry!

Cara Martens - Changing Times
Changing Times Ever wondered "Does what I do really matter?" Yes, what you do as a ministry staff member or volunteer has never mattered more! Let's look back to see how families, communities and churches have developed & changed through the ages. Think through some of the latest research on what makes people want to change. Then see how you can help create a culture that encourages people to stretch and grow in life-giving, story-telling, faith-filled communities.

Incredible Creatures - How Your Behavioural Style Impacts Your Ministry
Did you know that your unique behavioural style impacts your ministry? This fun workshop will help you identify your behavioral style and others'. You can then adjust your communication style accordingly. This knowledge will also help you to empower parents in their relationship with their children. Plus, learn how the resource Incredible Creatures can help your church's parents and children grow to be as God designed them to be.

Session Two - Saturday, 10:45 am

Reggie Joiner - Discovering Orange
This session will assist any church leader in learning the basic philosophy and reasoning behind Orange. You will learn the 5 Orange essentials and how they can be used to help your church succeed at combining the influences of church (yellow) and family (red) in order to reach the next generation.

David Friesen - Creating a Dynamic Ministry Environment
How does your ministry's physical space enhance the impact you have with the kids in your church? There are some simple and fun ways to make your environment work for you more effectively. This workshop will walk you through a creative design process and highlight some resources that won't use up all your yearly budget. Areas of discussion will include creating a theme, staging and lighting, interactive design ideas and more.

Cynthia Phillips - Cool Enough To Keep 'em Comin'!
Fifth & sixth graders... "Tweeners".... Not old enough for your youth group, but they think certain parts of children's ministry are "BORING!" In this workshop we'll find ways to get them excited about being the coolest members of your church. That's right, key people in the church that are taken seriously... and have a serious relationship with Christ! Let's create an environment that can be cool enough to 'keep 'em comin' to church now and for years to come!

Cara Martens - Child's Play: Helping Preschoolers Grow
Learn how to lead your class or small group of preschoolers with new confidence and great ideas you can use this Sunday. Come hear how to connect best with preschoolers and plan your time well, so they grow spiritually as they play, pray, and learn more about God's love. Discover the qualities of a great volunteer and why you play such a crucial role in your church and for parents.

Jeff Harmon - Storytelling with Pizzazz
Word pictures, interactive participation, even dousing kids with water will all help to capture a child's attention when telling a story! Learn new, dynamic, multi-sensory techniques to add new energy and life to your storytelling. Take what your curriculum gives you and make it better! Participants will also look at using different mediums to help reach a post-modern child. This session will focus on elementary aged students.

Session Three - Saturday, 1:00 pm

Carey Nieuwhof - Keeping Your Passion Alive in Ministry
It's one thing to do ministry...it's quite another to stay fresh for the long haul? Everyone starts passionate. How do you stay passionate? In this workshop, Carey will share insights and principles for keeping your passion alive in ministry, principles gleaned from personal experience with near-burnout, from scripture and from the best practices of other leaders.

Jeff Harmon - Creating an Image & Communicating Your Ministry
Having a great children's ministry is step one, but it must also come across as awesome to kids, parents, volunteers, and even the community! Learn how to create a very positive and exciting image while discovering methods of communicating this image to your stakeholders. Whether you're a new restaurant, a "hot" coffee shop or a "bubbling children's ministry" we could all use some strategic marketing plans and fresh communication ideas.

Cynthia Phillips - Making the Bible JUMP off the Page
Remember when we were little and we punched out the pictures of Moses and glued him on a paper? Times have changed! Moses is one of the most memorable people in God's word, but we need to introduce him as more than a paper man. Come find ways to tell Bible stories so that kids come to you five years later and say, "I still remember when...". Bringing the Bible to life for elementary aged kids is the coolest thing ever!

Cara Martens - Child's Play: Creating a Place for Preschoolers
Your church can have a dynamic ministry to preschoolers. Discover ways that churches of any size can develop a ministry that effectively reaches and teaches children from ages 2-5. Areas of focus include goal setting, child safety, creating a great volunteer team, communicating the vision, equipment and room needs, plus other best practices in programming and planning.

David Friesen - Lost Sheep and Other Misplaced Items
How much of your ministry planning is targeted at the community around you? Who can you partner with to increase your influence? What does a program look like that is not targeted to kids who grew up in church? This interactive dialogue will help you explore some of the options and assist you to be a more externally focused children's and family ministry.