August 20-21 – Three live-streamed Training Sessions followed by live Q&A

1. Invite teachers, parents, volunteers, and possible volunteers to a church wide training weekend. Serve dinner, breakfast, lunch (one or more), spend some time with your church protocol training and then tune in to these three sessions for resources, encouragement, and how to’s for making disciples.
2. 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.
3. Send link to all church members, encourage Friday evening viewing, come together on Saturday morning to discuss at breakfast and view the rest together.

• Friday Evening Session 1: Why You and Your Children Should be “IN” Church [Rev. Scott Barber]
• Saturday Morning Session 2: Teaching the Word to Children – YOU can do it! [Sue Jakes]
• Saturday Morning Session 3: Ministry Leadership – Turning the Hearts of Fathers to Children [Dr. Stephen Estock]

Access to Seven Breakout Training Videos to be viewed when and with whom you like:

See list below of video titles, descriptions and presenters

1. View one or more of your choice immediately after live sessions end to complete a full weekend training conference at your church. They can break out to view the training of their choice.
2. Schedule live training using these videos throughout the year as a continuing education program for parents and volunteers.
3. Schedule virtual group training to be followed by live zoom discussions throughout the year.
4. Send links for individuals to watch on their own and have breakfast, lunch or coffee to discuss the topic(s) that have been viewed.
5. Post the links to these videos on church website or in bulletin as you train your entire congregation to consider and become involved in direct discipleship of children.
6. Watch, take notes and hold a live training event where you communicate all that you have learned and want to pass on.

Invitation to 8 live training Webinars scheduled between August 26 to October 8

See list below of webinar titles, dates, times, descriptions, and presenters

1. Send schedule and links for some or all of these study webinars to individual teachers, parents, or volunteers so they can participate from home. Discuss together later over coffee or live zoom.
2. Gather small group at church or in a home to participate and ask questions together.
3. Watch, take notes and hold a live training event where you communicate all that you have learned and want to pass on in person.
4. Post times and links throughout the fall in your church bulletin/e-letters and website. Invite all your congregation to participate, especially in the webinars that may encourage them to become involved in children’s discipleship ministry. 

What should every Children’s Ministry Team include? Once you’ve built a sturdy leadership team, what are first steps to set in motion the engine that will keep all strategies running straight and strong in your church’s discipleship ministry to kids?

How can we teach the gospel redemptively at each stage of a child’s life? And what are engaging teaching strategies that will help teach a lesson with content and application? Let’s create discipleship times that help children learn and grow in their faith!

Sacraments are God’s gifts to His covenant people. They are physical pictures that serve as a promise and explanation of the benefits of the saving work of Christ to those who have faith in Him. Covenant baptism is the sacrament of initiation into God’s covenant community. Yet, many church leaders struggle with knowing who are the proper candidates for baptism. This seminar examines the scriptural and pastoral foundation for covenant baptism, including the baptism of infants who are brought to God by believing parents.

It can be tempting to underestimate the significance of our nursery and early childhood ministries. After all, they are so little! What will they really learn? It’s important to remember that Jesus himself said to those who questioned him, “…have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise?’” (Matthew 21:16). Samuel was about the age of our preschoolers when Hannah brought him to Eli, and of course, John was still in utero when he was filled with the Holy Spirit!

So, let’s follow suit and make the most of these early years in our nurseries and preschool classes!

This practical workshop will stir up your vision and give you tools that you can apply immediately with the little ones in your ministry.

This video is for those who struggle to get a handle on how to do family worship, for those who have tried but have been frustrated, for those who feel weak in this area. This is for dads who want to lead their families in worship, but don’t know how and haven’t had anyone show them how. This is for moms who are discouraged at how their family engages in worship together. In short, this is for most any family who seeks to worship together. This video is designed to give you some traction for family worship and some tools as to how to engage in family worship.

In the craziness of Sunday morning, it’s easy to view children in a goal-oriented way, forgetting that they are complex and emotional fellow image bearers. They don’t all fit into the box we make for them. Join us as we step away from our to-do lists and event planning to consider a holistic view of the child – the good, the bad, and the not so delightful.

Many parents know all too well the challenges of teaching the Bible at home to their children who have unique needs or disabilities. How do you adapt family devotions without making the content too basic for other siblings? How do you make hymns and Bible memory verses more accessible? How do you know if your child with unique needs has come to faith in Christ? This video will give parents a framework for adapting teaching content in ways that make learning easier for every child by breaking down concepts, not dumbing down the content. You will gain perspective and insights into how to lead your child with unique differences to Christ and for how to uniquely support a profession of faith.

Best plans and strategies for staying in charge of your classroom, teaching Bible lesson, and still having fun, even when the kids had donuts for breakfast.

When our covenant children are baptized, this vow is often directed to the congregation: “Do you as a congregation undertake the responsibility of assisting the parents in the nurture of this child?” If a congregation takes this vow, makes this promise, how will they be helped to intentionally keep it?  The church’s role in discipling children must be built on casting and implementing a vision for the entire congregation.  All parents need other covenant parents to come alongside them in this essential effort! This webinar will help you develop a Biblical congregational vision of child discipleship, as well as ideas for how to implement it effectively.

One of the Christian’s greatest privileges and calling is to gather with other believers on the Lord’s Day to worship the Lord. Because corporate worship can be challenging with young children, many have decided to remove the children from the adults and give them a substitute worship time. This webinar will discuss the biblical rationale of families participating in corporate worship together and tips on discipling children in worship.

Scripture and catechism memory, growing a servant’s heart, praying for others and more–how do parents and church covenant together to extend the discipleship of our children beyond a weekly Sunday School class.

Learn how to turn your summer activity from a fun but tiring task to a place of life-changing long-term discipleship and outreach. Also get practical tips and usable resources to start or improve summer ministry at your church.

Children and teens today face real challenges growing up in a culture fraught with division, dishonesty and hate. How do we equip our kids to stand firm in faith especially when so much of our society runs counter to the gospel? In talking to our kids about hard things, we show them that the Christian life is not about ignoring what is around them but about living in the world and loving our neighbors without being worldly citizens.

Join Joseph Parker in exploring not only what we can do to relationally-engage our local community with the gospel, but why and how we should relationally-engage them. This will not only be an informative webinar, but an opportunity to interact with Joseph about your own ideas, providing tangible feedback on what you are doing or considering doing to reach the families around your local church with the gospel.

Most children’s ministry volunteers have a very defined idea of disability—typically, a visible limitation or unique need. But many disabilities go unrecognized because they present with subtle, unique, complex differences not often associated with disability: behavior outbursts, poor impulse control, language delays, memory deficits, learning differences, and more. Kids displaying these are likely not thriving in your children’s ministry. They are present, but are they growing spiritually? Do they have friends? Those two essential components of discipleship are important for every child, including ones with diagnosed disabilities and undiagnosed differences. In this webinar, you will learn how to identify unique needs, how to determine supports needed for the child, and how to have winsome conversation with parents.

Yes! When you connect to the live events or download recordings, you will receive a link to the Discussion Questions along with a list of resources.

Yes. If you are registered for the livestream weekend or sign up for any of the webinars, you will have access to the recordings until the end of February 2022.

You may contact Sue Jakes, sjakes@pcanet.org, for presenter contact information if you are not able to access this on our site.

As many as are comfortably seated in the room with good viewing access. Discussion afterward – the numbers should be up to your discretion. You could break into smaller groups for this if the attendance is large. Leaders of those groups will have discussion questions with which to lead.

Try to determine your interested audience from the webinar or video description. If you are still concerned about the proper audience, contact Sue Jakes sjakes@pcanet.org with questions about your plan.

1. See the Media link below for images to use on your website or church bulletin. Think about broadening your audience by using the following taglines:

• Do you ever question whether you are truly engaged in keeping the baptismal vows you have made as part of our congregation?
• Are you eager to learn how parents and teachers can use your help and prayers in the task of making disciples of our covenant children?
• Is there a child in your life who needs one more gospel influencer?
• In a time where hope is difficult to find and hold on to, want to take an active part in God’s unfailing plan for children?

Registrations will be accepted through Launch Weekend (and beyond) since access will be available until February 2022.

1. Why You and Your Children Should be IN Church – Rev. Scott Barber, Friday Eve Weekend Opener
2. Turning the Hearts of Fathers to Children – Dr. Stephen Estock, Saturday Morning Closer
3. BREAKOUT VIDEO: If You Build It: The Necessity of a Local Church Children’s Ministry Team – Sue Jakes
4. BREAKOUT VIDEO: Covenant Baptism – Dr. Bryan Chapell
5. BREAKOUT VIDEO: Family Worship – Rev. Burress McCombe
6. LIVE WEBINAR: Developing a Congregational Vision for Discipling Children – Dr. John Kwasny
7. LIVE WEBINAR: Equipping Kids to Stand Firm in the Present Culture – Dana Russell
8. LIVE WEBINAR: Teaching Children to Worship God in a Corporate Worship Setting – Becky Sinclair

1. Why You and Your Children Should be IN Church – Rev. Scott Barber, Friday Eve Weekend Opener
2. Turning the Hearts of Fathers to Children – Dr. Stephen Estock, Saturday Morning Closer
3. Teaching the Word to Children: YOU Can Do It! – Sue Jakes, Saturday Morning Opener
4. BREAKOUT VIDEO: Covenant Baptism – Dr. Bryan Chapell
5. BREAKOUT VIDEO: Family Worship – Rev. Burress McCombe
6. BREAKOUT VIDEO: Teaching the Bible at Home to Kids with Unique Learning Differences – Ashley Belknap
7. LIVE WEBINAR: Equipping Kids to Stand Firm in the Present Culture – Dana Russell
8. LIVE WEBINAR: Teaching Children to Worship God in a Corporate Worship Setting – Becky Sinclair

1. Why You and Your Children Should be IN Church – Rev. Scott Barber, Friday Eve Weekend Opener
2. Teaching the Word to Children: YOU Can Do It! – Sue Jakes, Saturday Morning Opener
3. BREAKOUT VIDEO: Teaching Jesus! Through the Ages and Stages of Childhood – Sherry Kendrick
4. BREAKOUT VIDEO: Modeling the Message of the Gospel to our Littlest – Lisa Updike
5. BREAKOUT VIDEO: Understanding and Reaching the Whole Child – Laney Stayton
6. LIVE WEBINAR: Classroom Management – B.A. Snider
7. LIVE WEBINAR: Unique Needs:  How to Identify, Love and Disciple Kids Impacted by Disability in Your Children’s Ministry – Ashley Belknap
8. LIVE WEBINAR: Equipping Kids to Stand Firm in the Present Culture – Dana Russell

1. Why You and Your Children Should be IN Church – Rev. Scott Barber, Friday Eve Weekend Opener
2. Turning the Hearts of Fathers to Children – Dr. Stephen Estock, Saturday Morning Closer
3. BREAKOUT VIDEO: If You Build It: The Necessity of a Local Church Children’s Ministry Team – Sue Jakes
4. BREAKOUT VIDEO: Understanding and Reaching the Whole Child – Laney Stayton
5. LIVE WEBINAR: Developing a Congregational Vision for Discipling Children – Dr. John Kwasny
6. LIVE WEBINAR: Beyond Sunday Morning – Sue Jakes
7. LIVE WEBINAR: Transformational Summer Ministry – Rev. Jimmy Brock
8. LIVE WEBINAR: Outreach:  Relational – Engagement with our Community Kids – Rev. Joseph Parker

1. Why You and Your Children Should be IN Church – Rev. Scott Barber, Friday Eve Weekend Opener
2. Turning the Hearts of Fathers to Children – Dr. Stephen Estock, Saturday Morning Closer
3. Teaching the Word to Children: YOU Can Do It! – Sue Jakes, Saturday Morning Opener
4. BREAKOUT VIDEO: Family Worship – Rev. Burress McCombe
5. BREAKOUT VIDEO: Teaching the Bible at Home to Kids with Unique Learning Differences – Ashley Belknap
6. BREAKOUT VIDEO: Understanding and Reaching the Whole Child – Laney Stayton
7. LIVE WEBINAR: Equipping Kids to Stand Firm in the Present Culture – Dana Russell
8. LIVE WEBINAR: Beyond Sunday Morning – Sue Jakes

1. Why You and Your Children Should be IN Church – Rev. Scott Barber, Friday Eve Weekend Opener
2. Turning the Hearts of Fathers to Children – Dr. Stephen Estock, Saturday Morning Closer
3. Teaching the Word to Children: YOU Can Do It! – Sue Jakes, Saturday Morning Opener
4. BREAKOUT VIDEO: Teaching Jesus! Through the Ages and Stages of Childhood – Sherry Kendrick
5. BREAKOUT VIDEO: Modeling the Message of the Gospel to our Littlest – Lisa Updike
6. BREAKOUT VIDEO: Understanding and Reaching the Whole Child – Laney Stayton
7. LIVE WEBINAR: Equipping Kids to Stand Firm in the Present Culture – Dana Russell
8. LIVE WEBINAR: Beyond Sunday Morning – Sue Jakes

Ashley Belknap is the Director of Engaging Disability With The Gospel, a ministry of the PCA’s Mission to North America. Ashley obtained her undergraduate degrees in Christian Education and Business Administration from Erskine College and her Master’s in Theological Studies from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. Ashley helps congregations realize their calling to love, commit to, disciple, and enfold individuals and families impacted by disability. As director, Ashley continually works to see disability ministry expand across the PCA, and accomplishes this through creative planning, teaching online and in-person trainings, conducting ministry consultations, writing timely resources, speaking at churches and conferences, managing a staff, and raising funds for the ministry.

Scott Barber and his wife, Leesa, are both from the beautiful town of Carrollton, Georgia. After practicing law for more than 10 years, Scott was called by God into full-time ministry, a call which led him to Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from seminary in 2008 and moved with his family to Florence to serve as Pastor of Redeemer Church. Because he spent much of his life as a church member and not a pastor, Scott knows first hand what it is like to sit in a service and listen to a pastor. He also knows what it is like to live your life as a Christian in a secular workplace. Scott is a gifted teacher, a faithful shepherd, and a loving husband and father.

Jimmy Brock has been involved in children’s ministry since he was a child himself, serving churches in Virginia, California, Missouri, and Georgia as a Sunday school teacher, camp counselor, camp director, nursery coordinator, and most recently Pastor of Family Ministry. He is now the Church Planting Pastor for Resurrection Community Church in Virginia Beach, VA.

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.

B.A. Snider has more than 20 years’ experience as a children’s director in 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. Teach the kids all of the Bible so they see that the stories from the Old Testament point to Jesus and that the New Testament shows how Jesus fulfilled God’s promises—yesterday, today, and forever.

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 (www.gcp.org) in 2014 as the Children’s Ministry Consultant and Marketing Director.