
August 8-9, 2025
The content will be available until January 2026.

The next virtual conference will be live-streamed on August 8-9, 2025.
Also, There is still time to sign up for Grow Virtual 2025.
The content will be available until January 2026.
“ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom” you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” — 2 Timothy 3:14-15

You can participate live or at your own convenience by listening to the livestream, keynotes, and workshops.
Registration will open May 2025!
Click on the box below based on size of your group
Conference Schedule (Eastern Time)
Friday, August 8, 2025
7:00-7:15 pm – Introduction, Giveaways
7:15-7:45 pm – Session 1
7:45-8:15 pm – Questions & Answers, closing remarks, prayer
Saturday, August 9, 2025
10:00-10:15 am – Introduction, Giveaways
10:15-10:45 am – Session 2
10:45-11 am – Break, Giveaways
11-11:30 am – Session 3
Followed by closing remarks and prayer
Plenary Speakers:
Dr. Bryan Chapell
Currently serving as the Stated Clerk and leader of the Administrative Committee for the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), Dr. Chapell is a renowned preacher, teacher, and speaker who also serves on the faculties of numerous seminaries and Bible colleges in different parts of the world and conducts pastors’ conferences in several nations each year. He is the author of many books, including the award-winning Christ-Centered Preaching (now in its third edition) and the founder and host of Unlimited Grace, a daily half-hour Bible teaching program heard on radio stations and online in the US and around the world.
Raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. Chapell is a graduate of Covenant Seminary and was a pastor in southern Illinois for ten years before returning to join Covenant Theological Seminary’s faculty in 1985. In addition to teaching preaching courses, he served for six years as Vice President for Academics and Dean of Faculty. In 1994, he became the institution’s fourth President, serving until 2012, when he assumed the role of Chancellor and President Emeritus. In 2013 he took a call as Senior Pastor at Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Illinois (where he is now Pastor Emeritus) before being named Stated Clerk Pro Tempore for the PCA in 2020 and then elected to the office in 2021.
Dr. Chapell and his wife, Kathy, have four grown children—Jordan, Colin, Corinne, and Katy. His teaching resources are available at www.bryanchapell.com.
Dr. Stephen Estock is Coordinator for the PCA Committee on Discipleship Ministries (CDM). A former USAF officer, he has been in pastoral ministry for almost 30 years, serving churches in Montgomery, AL and St. Louis, MO. Stephen has also been an adjunct professor at several seminaries, including Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis and Reformed Theological Seminary in Atlanta. 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.
WORKSHOPS for 2025 (Coming soon)
Workshops from 2024:
Outreach Strategies & Ideas (Jeanette Simpson)
Are you looking for creative ideas and ways to invite people to your church and to hear the Gospel? We will discuss creative ideas, strategies, and tips for you to help equip your families to invite people to church as well as some practical ways to interact with your community.
Telling All of God’s Story (Laney Stayton and Katie Flores)
As we are sharing God’s story to children, we must keep them engaged while staying true to God’s Word…all while keeping the biblical narrative in mind. This workshop will help you grow in both areas of storytelling so you can be better equipped to share the mighty deeds of the Lord.
Taking Child Protection Off the Back-burner (Dana Russell and Saralyn Tyler)
Encouraging and promoting safety in ministry can sometimes take a backseat to other priorities, especially if we don’t know where to start. Join us as we delve into the details of establishing and sustaining safe practices at your church and how to overcome common misperceptions. We’ll also share ideas for using space creatively to foster a safe environment for children and adults.
Is Anybody Listening? Tips on Classroom Management (Lisa Updike)
You signed up to teach because you love God’s Word and you love children. But, oh, my! You may have forgotten that some children can be a little, shall we say, challenging? In this workshop we will explore what’s behind some of their inappropriate behavior and offer you a few tools of the trade for managing your classroom, making your room a place of joyful learning!
Engaging Preschool Hearts: A Firm Foundation (Katie Flores and Ellen Chandlee)
This workshop explores discipleship methods and processes designed to help young children thrive and learn within the church community and at home. Join us as we discuss engaging strategies that encourage fellowship with others and spiritual growth. We will think together about how to create an environment that starts children on a meaningful journey of discipleship from their preschool years and beyond.
Covenant Characteristics Through the Eyes of a Child (Sherry Kendrick)
Does it really matter whether a children’s ministry is based on a covenant model? Yes! Covenant children have a special place within the church. They are to be taught that they are members of God’s covenant family that they have responsibilities within that family and that the family of God has responsibilities concerning them. The covenant of grace is what we believe, so the nature of the covenant must determine what we do, why we do it, and how we do it. One way to think covenantally about children’s ministry is to consider some of the characteristics of the covenant. Covenantal ministry is an expression of Covenant Theology, so these characteristics should guide us as we live our lives and as we craft our ministries. Using a new training tool recently developed on this topic, we will learn about the characteristics of the Covenant and how they apply to our children’s ministries.
Teaching Our Children Catechism (B.A. Snider)
The foundation for our children’s theology is the Bible. First Catechism summarizes biblical truths in simple questions and answers and is based on Westminster Shorter Catechism. When we teach our children at an age when memorization is second nature, theology becomes the framework for all of their Bible stories to hang on. This breakout will discuss why we teach catechism as well as creative ideas for implementing a catechism program in your church.
SPEAKERS
Ways to Use Grow Virtual
- “What if I can’t participate live?” If you watch by September 15, you can email your answers to the questions asked to Kathy Wargo (kwargo@pcanet.org). All of the shared ideas will get gathered to be emailed to everyone who has signed up for Grow Virtual in late September. These ideas may just arrive right when you need them. Anyone who emails an idea will be entered in additional giveaways to be announced by email in mid-September.
- Invite teachers, parents, volunteers, and possible volunteers to a church-wide training weekend. Serve dinner, breakfast, and lunch (one or more), spend some time with your own church’s policies and procedures training, and then tune in to these three sessions for resources, encouragement, and how to’s for making disciples. Live MC’s will guide everyone through the main sessions and will include resource giveaways.
- Invite a smaller group into a home for a more intimate setting on Friday evening for dinner and join in the session together for training. Everyone can watch from home on Saturday morning, or you can gather at the church or in home again.
- Send the link to all church members, encourage Friday evening viewing, come together on Saturday morning to discuss at breakfast, and view the rest together.
- Schedule live training using these videos throughout the fall as a continuing education program for parents and volunteers.
- Send links for individuals to watch on their own and have breakfast, lunch or coffee to discuss the topic(s) that have been viewed.
- Post the links to these videos on the church website or in the bulletin as you train your entire congregation to consider and become involved in the direct discipleship of children.
Includes access to a portion of our library of workshops from previous Grow Conferences, including:
- How to Enfold Kids with Unique Needs into Worship – Ashley Belknap
- Helping Families Gain a Vision for Family Worship – Dustin and Bethany Belue
- Creating a Classroom Experience that Invites Children to Draw Near to Jesus – Laura Tucker and Kimper Thomas
- Using the Teach Me to Worship Curriculum: Worshipping the Shepherd (Laura Tucker and Laney Stayton)
- Preparing your Elementary Lesson: Pointing to the Best Shepherd (Sue Jakes)
- Classroom Management: Corralling the Sheep (Jimmy Brock)