Planning for a Children's Ministry Conference

How to Prepare for Workshops, Main Sessions, and More

Feb 5, 2009

A Children's Ministry conference has many purposes. It is a teaching tool, a great place to talk with dealers, and a way to keep you encouraged in your role as a leader.

The job of a Children's Ministry director is multifaceted. Not only is a director in charge of planning events and activities for the children of a church, she is also in constant communication with parents and church leaders. It is a very rewarding job that requires one to be on top of the game at all times. One of the best ways to avoid burnout, keep up-to-date, and be encouraged is to attend a Children's Ministry conference. Learn here how to get the most out of this event.

Choose the Right Fit

Check out the conference by visiting the website or looking through brochures. It is a good idea to be sure the conference entails a broad range of workshops, touching on many different aspects of Children's Ministry. Also get a look at the vendors who will be present, to assure that time is worth spent looking through the products and services that will be offered.

These are basic components of most conferences. They are put in place to cover as much ground as possible for the attendees.

Prepare for the Conference

Taking a few simple steps to prepare before leaving can mean the difference between simply attending a conference and coming away "fired up." Before attending, pray.

Head to the conference with specific questions and goals in mind. Make a checklist. Listen for specific answers or resources to help with unique problems or areas of interest.

Gear up for the Conference

Carry a backpack or briefcase with supplies to always have on hand. Take paper, pens, or even a laptop for taking notes. Keep distractions at bay by:

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. There could be large spaces between workshops. If allowed, carry a backpack that contains snacks and a water bottle to keep alert and hydrated.

Be Prepared to Work

Don’t go to a Children's Ministry conference simply expecting to be entertained. Be there to learn something and to come away more informed and excited about the ministry back home. Chances are, there will be forms of entertainment to help keep attendees relaxed and refreshed, but they are not the main focus of the conference.

It is the main sessions where a person can connect with others who want to learn powerful, creative ways to look at a Children's Ministry as a whole. Gain the most of these sessions by participating, if applicable. If a speaker needs a volunteer, go for it. If a poll of the audience is being taken, raise your hand.

Get Big Ideas in Small Workshops

Choose wisely from the variety of smaller workshops designed to get to the "nitty-gritty" of details in the ministry. The right workshop can take a person's skills and ideas to the next level. The workshops will probably cover anything from topics such as working cooperatively with other ministries, recruiting and managing volunteers, to ways on how to multiply a ministry, plus much more. This is why coming with goals is so important. These goals help a person make decisions about which workshops to attend.

Budget Money for Resources

Bring some money along to purchase resources available at the conference. There will be books by the speakers and other authors, CDs, videos, workbooks, music, and more. In fact, there may be items present that would otherwise be impossible to find back home.

Often conferences will put together various packs of materials designed to go together. This could save a person time and energy in finding and purchasing all of them separately.

Fellowship with Other Conference Attendees

Talk with others attending the conference. It gives great insight to what other churches are doing, and helps foster long distance friendships. Sharing ideas can really help bring a new perspective to an old way of doing things. Sometimes a new event or activity could spark growth in a Children's Ministry, and this can be learned at the conference just by chatting with fellow attendees.

Attending a Children's Ministry conference is exciting. There is so much to be gained as far as knowledge, personal growth towards God, and the opportunity to meet people from around the community or even the country. Make the most of the conference, and feel how enriched and renewed a Children's Ministry can be.

The copyright of the article Planning for a Children's Ministry Conference in Baptist Church is owned by Denise Oliveri. Permission to republish Planning for a Children's Ministry Conference in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.