GROW North Alabama
Valley Presbyterian Church
Madison, AL • January 28-29, 2022
GROW…so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:14-16)
Designed to equip church leadership, teachers, and parents in the task of leading our children to Christ.
Workshops providing a Biblical lens to look at:
• The Culture • The Church • The Children • The Call to Make Disciples
Pre-Conference Training and Individual Appointments on Friday Afternoon:
CM 101 Children’s Ministry Training – Friday 3-6 pm. – This 3-hour workshop is designed to review the entire CM101 resource book with an emphasis on how to start, develop and maintain a vibrant children’s ministry. Everything from parental support, recruiting and keeping volunteers to teacher training and community outreach will be included. There will be time to ask questions as you are directed to people and resources that will help strengthen your local church’s ministry to children.
You’ll also have an opportunity to check out the latest resources for parents and children!
Individual Appointments – You will have the opportunity to register for a one-hour appointment with one of the following team members. These will be on a first-registered basis and we will let you know the time of your appointment between 3-6 pm.
- Ashley Belknap, Engaging Disability With The Gospel
- Stephen Estock, CDM Coordinator
Conference Details
Registration:
- Early Registration (deadline is January 5, 2022): $150 $60 each (reduced by the generosity of donors) includes Friday dinner and Saturday lunch
- Registration (deadline is January 23, 2022): $150 $75 (reduced by the generosity of donors) includes Friday dinner and Saturday lunch
- Pre-Conference: $15/person
- If there are 5 or more attending from the same church, the 6th person is free. Please contact Kathy Wargo for a code to register the 6th person.
When registering, you will indicate:
- If you will be attending the Pre-Conference training on Friday afternoon, GROW, Children’s Ministry 101
- If you would like to schedule a 1-hour individual appointment with one of our team members. [Register early for one of these appointments to be held between 3-6 pm on Friday. We will let you know the time of your appointment.]
If you have registration questions, please contact Kathy at kwargo@pcanet.org or 678-825-1132.
Speakers:
Ashley Belknap serves as the Director of Engaging Disability (the Special Needs Ministry of the PCA). A gifted communicator with a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Reformed Theological Seminary, Ashley has the ability to tackle challenging issues with creative and practical ministry applications. She served for four years as Director of Women’s Ministries at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson MS, where she led a wide variety of ministry initiatives. As the mother of a son with autism, Ashley has a personal passion to see families touched by disability reached with the good news of the gospel. Ashley and her husband, John, have three children and reside in Brandon, MS.
Bethany Belue works for the PCA Committee on Discipleship Ministries as the Established and Certification Coordinator. Before coming to CDM, she worked in Children’s Ministry for 9 years at 2 large PCA churches as the Children’s Director, Redeemer Presbyterian in New York City and Oak Mountain Presbyterian in Birmingham. She currently lives in Mobile, AL with her husband Dustin.
Stephen Estock is Coordinator for the PCA Committee on Discipleship Ministries (CDM). A former USAF officer, he has been in pastoral ministry for 20 years, serving churches in Montgomery, AL and St. Louis, MO. Stephen has also been an adjunct professor at Birmingham Theological and Covenant Theological Seminaries. His Ph.D. is in education, with an emphasis on competency-based learning and leadership training. He and his wife, Susan, have three children and live in Atlanta, GA.
Tony Souder is the CEO of One Hundred Years, a family of ministries helping individuals, families and churches flourish in bringing the greatness of God to the next generation. In 2014 he founded the Pray for Me Campaign to help churches and ministries thrive in creating natural and effective intergenerational relationships beginning with prayer. He is author of the Pray for Me Prayer Guides, which have been translated into both Spanish and Chinese. Tony and his wife Rhonda have been married since 1985. They have twin adult daughters and live in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Workshop Session #1
Workshop Session #2
Workshop Session #3
Conference Schedule: Madison, AL
Friday, January 28, 2022
3:00-6:00 pm – GROW: Children’s Ministry 101
Spend the afternoon reviewing the new book by this title, unpacking all the basics of beginning, developing and sustaining ministry to children in your local congregation.
3:00-6:00 pm – Individual Appointments Register for a one-hour appointment with:
- Ashley Belknap – Engaging Disability with the Gospel
- Stephen Estock – CDM Coordinator
Browse Bookstore and Exhibits
6:30-8:30 pm – Dinner and Opening Session
8:30-9:30 pm – Dessert Social – Visit Exhibits and Bookstore
Saturday, January 29, 2021
8:00-8:30 am – Continental Breakfast
8:45-9:30 am – Opening Session – Dr. Stephen Estock, CDM’s Coordinator of Discipleship Ministries – Today’s Purpose: Being “equipped” to equip! – Ephesians 4
9:40-10:40 am – Workshop Session #1
10:40-11:00 am – Break
11:00-Noon – Workshop Session #2
Noon – Lunch and Panel Discussion
1:15-2:15 pm – Workshop Session #3
2:30-3:00 pm – Closing Session – Dr. Stephen Estock, CDM’s Coordinator of Discipleship Ministries – How do we know we are GROWing? Ephesians 4 & 5
Pre-Conference Optional Training and Appointment Opportunities:
Friday, January 28, 2022
CM 101 Children’s Ministry Training – Friday 3-6 pm. – Additional cost is $15/person
This 3-hour workshop is designed to review the entire CM101 resource book with an emphasis on how to start, develop and maintain a vibrant children’s ministry. Everything from parental support, recruiting and keeping volunteers to teacher training and community outreach will be included. There will be time to ask questions as you are directed to people and resources that will help strengthen your local church’s ministry to children.
Opportunity for individual meeting with one of our Team Members – Sign up for a 1 hour time slot to meet individually (or in a small group with others from your church) with one of these consultants on Friday afternoon. This time is an opportunity for you to ask questions, receive advice, brainstorm ideas, and consult with those who are experts in their field. They are here to help you with your ministry, your role, and your church. Once you sign up for an appointment you will receive an email from Bethany Belue 2 weeks in advance to confirm your specific time slot. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity at the Established Conference.
- Ashley Belknap, Engaging Disability With The Gospel
- Stephen Estock, CDM Coordinator