EST: Colorado Springs, CO – October 4-5, 2019
PCA Children’s Ministry Conferences
“He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God…” — Psalm 78:5-7
VILLAGE SEVEN PRESBYTERIAN • Colorado Springs, CO • October 4-5, 2019
Our covenant theology makes our approach to ministering to children unique. In the Bible, God promises to establish His people, and in response we are commanded to teach our children that our hope doesn’t lie in what we do or don’t do, our hope is in Jesus. As we seek to impart these truths to our children, it can be easy to forget how important our task is. In the grind of ministry, we can feel alone and forget how God is using our efforts.
We want to invite you to an Established Conference, to encourage and equip you to minister to the smallest in your congregation. Whether you are a volunteer, a staff person, or a parent, we want to remind you that God sees what you are doing, and you are not alone. God promises that He will continue the good work He has begun, and He has called CDM to partner with your church to make disciples of the next generation. Will you join us?
At this conference, you will have the opportunity to attend interactive workshops on:
- Recruiting, Training And Retaining Your Volunteers
- Raising Sexually Faithful Kids
- Child Safety Policy Development
- Special Needs Training To Fit Your Church’s Needs
- Classroom Management
- Reaching Out To Your Community’s Children
- Gospel-Centered Parenting
…and much more
Who should attend an ESTABLISHED conference?
- Children’s Bible Teachers, Sunday School Teachers, and Classroom helpers
- Children’s Ministry Directors and Staff
- Church Leadership
- Parents
- Youth Helpers
- Nursery Coordinators
- …and anyone willing to be more involved in “telling the next generation!”
Special Training from:
- Stephen Estock, CDM Coordinator
- Sue Jakes, CDM Children’s Ministry Coordinator
- Ashley Belknap, Engaging Disability with the Gospel
- B.A. Snider, Marketing Director/Great Commission Publications
- CDM’s Children’s Ministry Team
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.
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
- B.A. Snider, Great Commission Publications
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Each church represented will receive a free copy of Children’s Ministry 101, the newly published book giving a covenantal approach to next-generation ministry.
Each church represented will receive a free copy of Children’s Ministry 101, the newly published book giving a covenantal approach to next-generation ministry.Conference Details
Registration:
- Early Registration (deadline is September 9, 2019): $150 $60 each (reduced by the generosity of donors) includes Friday dinner and Saturday lunch
- Registration (deadline is September 23, 2019): $150 $75 (reduced by the generosity of donors) includes Friday dinner and Saturday lunch
- Pre-Conference: $10/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:
- Your 3 workshop choices to attend on Saturday
- If you will be attending the Pre-Conference training on Friday afternoon, ESTABLISHED, 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 Ministry as the Established and Certification Coordinator as well the Executive Assistant for the Coordinator. Before coming to CDM, she worked in Children’s Ministry for 9 yearsat 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 Atlanta, GA 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.
Sue Jakes is mother of four, grandmother of eight, and lives in Atlanta, GA where she serves as Children’s Ministry Coordinator for the Presbyterian Church in America’s Committee on Discipleship Ministries. She is also a teacher trainer and consultant for Great Commission Publications and the PCA’s Special Needs Ministry. She has served as director of children’s ministry at Covenant PCA in Fayetteville, GA and is now serving as children’s director at Westminster PCA in Atlanta. Sue received a Masters Degree in Education from West Georgia College, taught in the public schools for seven years and home-schooled for twenty-two years. She has been teaching children, youth, and women’s groups in the church for over thirty-five years. Sue is co‑author of “Heart of the Home”, a Bible Study ministry for moms and Teach Me To Worship, CDM’s children’s church online curriculum.
B.A. Snider has more than 20 years’ experience as a children’s director in PCA churches ranging in size from 200 to 4,000 but finds her passion is the same no matter how many children she’s serving. Show the children Jesus. B.A. began her formal ministry as a children’s director and consultant in 1993, but she has taught and led music for children since she was in junior high school. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Tennessee and taught college until the Lord called her to seminary and full-time ministry. She graduated with a master’s degree in Christian Education from Columbia International University. Speaking at conferences, consulting with leadership, and training teachers brought her to Great Commission Publications in 2014 as the Children’s Ministry Consultant and Marketing Director.
WORKSHOPS – SESSION #1
WORKSHOPS – SESSION #2
WORKSHOPS – SESSION #3
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Village Seven Presbyterian Church
4055 South Nonchalant Circle
Colorado Springs, CO 80917
719-574-6700
Conference Schedule: Colorado Springs, CO
Friday, October 4, 2019
3:00-6:00 pm – ESTABLISHED: Children’s Ministry 101 – Sue Jakes
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
- B.A. Snider – Great Commission Publications
Browse Bookstore and Exhibits
6:30-8:30 pm – Dinner and Opening Session
“Psalm 78 – The Great Value of Ministry to Children”
8:30-9:30 pm – Dessert Social – Visit Exhibits and Bookstore
Saturday, October 5, 2019
8:00-8:30 am – Continental Breakfast
8:45-9:30 am – Introductions, Instructions and A Charge for the Day
“Psalm 78: The Great Hope that is Ours” – Sue Jakes, CDM’s Children’s Ministry Coordinator
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
“Psalm 78: Established – THE Covenant Promise” – Dr. Stephen Estock, CDM’s Coordinator of Discipleship Ministries
Pre-Conference Optional Training and Appointment Opportunities:
Friday, October 4, 2019
CM 101 Children’s Ministry Training – Friday 3-6 pm. – Additional cost is $10/person – Sue Jakes
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
- B.A. Snider, Great Commission Publications
Hotels:
There are a number of hotel choices in the area.
We have a special rate with: