Do you ever need a moment to recharge your passion for ministry? There are these moments in ministry when we feel like we could use some inspiration and connection with people who really get us. You can talk with your lead pastor about some things, and you can talk with your team about others, but there’s something special about connecting with another children’s ministry leader who can say, “I know exactly what you mean.”
That’s the great thing about children’s ministry conferences. They get you into a room with people who have similar experiences, questions, and concerns. At a children’s ministry conference, you get a chance to:
- Share (and receive) knowledge.
- Discover new resources and strategies.
- Network with other ministry leaders.
- Grow closer to God!
Plus, you get to do all of that without worrying whether your classroom full of kids will decide to rebel and steal a whole box of goldfish crackers off the shelf. Children’s ministry conferences give you the space to focus on your growth as a leader, a pastor, and a follower of Jesus.
Plus, a conference is a great place for you to train as a team! Children’s ministry conferences are a great place to gather with key members of your volunteer team. When your team attends a children’s ministry conference, you can…
- Attend breakouts together.
- Refresh your vision and mission for your ministry.
- Discover and apply new strategies to reach kids and their families.
- Invest in your relationships and build your community.
It might sound like a dream, but it’s completely within your reach! And if you’re looking for new ideas for how to lead, train, and cultivate relationships with your volunteers, check out our volunteer strategy here. It’s yours to steal!
Finding the right conference for you and your team might feel like an overwhelming challenge, but we’re here to help! When you’re picking the right conference for you and your team, there are two really important things to consider …
- LOCATION: Is this conference in-person or online? In-person conferences have the benefit of helping you connect face-to-face with other ministry leaders. Online conferences are more accessible and allow you to gather your team together at a lower cost. Plus, you don’t need to worry about transportation or lodging.
- COST: Children’s ministry conferences can vary in cost, but that doesn’t make them any less valuable. Remember to think about your budget and any fundraising you may need to take on to help you and your team attend. If this is your first time attending a children’s ministry conference, then consider starting with something less expensive—or even free—to help your team (and senior leadership) discover the value of these types of church leader conferences.
To help you with your search for the perfect children’s ministry conference for you and your team, we’ve put together this list of five different children’s ministry conferences happening in 2024. We hope it helps you invest in yourself, your team, and your ministry in a new way!
THE KIDZMATTER CONFERENCE
The KidzMatter Conference is a three-day, in-person children’s ministry conference designed to help you grow as a ministry leader, discover new resources for your ministry, and help you connect and network with kids ministry leaders from around the US. Find out more about The KidzMatter Conference here.
CHILDREN’S PASTORS CONFERENCE
Hosted by the International Network of Children’s ministry, this three-day, in-person children’s ministry conference will help you discover new training and resources for ministry, help you cultivate new ministry partnerships, and send you off with practical tools to help you make a difference right now. Find out more about the Children’s Pastors Conference here.
SMALL CHURCH MINISTRY
Small Church Ministry offers free, quarterly, online conferences each year. These one-day conferences look to help smaller churches connect with ministry leaders and pastors of other small churches, hear from others who understand the value of small churches, and connect with small church leaders as they build relationships that move beyond the conference. Find out more about the Small Church Ministry conferences here.
WOMEN IN YOUTH MINISTRY
This three-day conference takes place in-person and online. Designed specifically for women serving kids, families, and teenagers, the Women in Youth Ministry conference provides leadership training and helpful resources for women leading the next generation through their unique experiences. Find out more about the Women in Youth Ministry Conference here.
GROWCON24
We have a conference of our own for you! GrowCon24 is a free, two-day conference hosted entirely online from January 18-19, 2024. Day one will focus on kids’ ministry, while day two will focus on youth ministry. Over the course of these two days, you’ll receive practical ministry training and hear helpful tips in these key areas of ministry…
- Discipleship
- Teaching
- Volunteers
- Families
- Environments
- Events
- Annual Planning
Plus, you’ll have a chance to win some great prizes and giveaways just for attending! For more information on how to register for GrowCon24, head here.
There you have it! Five different children’s ministry conferences you can attend in 2024. Whether you attend in-person or online, children’s ministry conferences can provide so many great tools and resources to help you continue to be an awesome children’s ministry leader.
In this post, here’s what we’ll cover: