Jesus said “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Although ministering to toddlers is not for the faint of heart, there are so many blessings and so much joy in serving these little ones. Their hearts are open, curious, and ready to receive the love of Christ. In this session we’ll talk about the logistics of working in the toddler room along with meaningful ways to share God’s love and truth with them.

Our goal is to come alongside families to help lay a strong foundation of truth from God’s Word in the hearts of 4 and 5-year-olds. In this workshop, we’ll explore practical teaching tools, memorizing verses, the value of worship, the necessity of prayer, and effective ways to handle behavioral challenges. With an experiential approach, we’ll share tips, insights, and encouragement to help you minister to these young hearts with intention and joy.

As God Sees Them – Ministering to the Heart, Mind, and Soul of a Child

Planting seeds in a child’s life and ministering to them takes patience, wisdom, love, and faithfulness. Psalm 139:14 reminds us that every child is fearfully and wonderfully made, and as believers, we are called to care for each one individually, starting with their heart, soul, and mind. This workshop will explore how to better understand and reach 6–8-year-olds by looking at their developmental stages, sensory processing, academic differences, emotional needs, family dynamics, and more. We’ll also discuss teaching styles, biblical truths, prayer, and how to communicate with families effectively. Through

This fun and practical workshop will equip you with creative and effective ways to engage 3rd–4th graders—an energetic and unique “in-between” age group. We’ll explore how to teach the Bible in ways that match their developmental stage, what motivates them as learners, and what ministry time with this age looks like here at Calvary Philly. Come ready to gain insight, share ideas, and be inspired to reach these young hearts with purpose and joy!

Before we can truly teach or reach a child, we must first love them—just as Christ first loved us (1 John 4:19). In this workshop, we’ll walk through how to structure a Bible lesson for 5th and 6th graders and explore a three-part approach to ministry: loving the children with Christ-like care, teaching them God’s Word with clarity and purpose, and reaching every heart—including those who seem uninterested or difficult to engage. Come be encouraged and equipped to lead this next generation with truth, grace, and love.

Drama is a powerful tool that can help bring the stories of Scripture to life for the kids. Whether you are a small church with limited resources, or you are trying to start a full drama ministry, this workshop will teach you how to find and train volunteers, acquire props, create characters, plan a skit, and more. We will also look at both how to do drama in a formal, “staged” context, and how to use it in the classroom with your students.

We were made to worship, and kids are no exception! God is seeking those who will worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Come learn practical ways to lead kids in worship in your ministry, in a way that isn’t just fun, but awe inspiring and Christ exalting. Whether you have access to musicians or not, we will discuss important considerations regarding song choice, format, expectations for volunteers, etc.

Jesus instructed, “Let the little children come to Me!” How do we help? How might we hinder? In this workshop, we will discuss some helps and hinderances in leading kids to Christ, and learn practical ways and useful tools to use as you share the Gospel in class and equip kids to live out the great commission.

Providing a safe space and protecting the children in our care comes before anything else we do in ministry. The Bible reminds us that danger can come from both outside and within the church. Proverbs 27:12 states that a wise man sees danger and takes precautions. It’s our responsibility to be well-informed, prepared, and on guard. In this workshop, we’ll explore practical steps to create and maintain a safe environment for our kids. You’ll learn policies, best practices, and proactive measures that help build a culture of trust, accountability, and safety for your ministry.

When Paul said, “Let all things be done decently and in order,” there was no way he had children’s ministry on his mind… right?! I can’t speak for Paul, but I’m sure it was on the Lord’s mind when he moved Paul to write it. Structure and discipline in children’s ministry are not about behavior modification or rigid rule-following—it’s about heart transformation and discipleship, and it’s something we can all grow in. In this practical, biblically-grounded workshop, we’ll explore how to serve children with grace, structure, and purpose—modeling godly behavior, setting clear expectations, and lovingly correcting when needed. Whether you’re a new volunteer or a seasoned leader, this workshop will help you move towards a ministry culture where kids are constantly pointed to Jesus—even in moments of correction.

Leadership in ministry isn’t easy. Whether you’re a pastor, director, team leader, or serve in any other capacity, leadership comes with unique challenges—discouragement, burnout, doubt, and isolation can creep in and cause us to lose sight of Who called us and why. This workshop is designed to help you recalibrate your heart and perspective through the lens of God’s Word. Together, we’ll explore what Scripture says about leadership, reminding ourselves that we are followers before we are leaders—sheep before shepherds. My prayer is that you’ll walk away with a renewed understanding of biblical leadership and practical tools to lead well in the ministry God has entrusted to you. He is faithful to equip those He calls.

Parents hold the primary responsibility for their child’s spiritual formation. It turns out that parents are the greatest influence in a child’s life — and that’s by God’s design! If we fail to engage and equip the whole family, we miss a big opportunity for discipleship. This workshop offers practical strategies for partnering with parents. In an age of information overload, we can help families by creating and/or pointing them toward biblically rich resources that help them raise their children in the wisdom and instruction of the Lord. 

Children of all ages are enthralled with Puppets. Puppets can help bring Bible stories to life! During this workshop, we’ll give you the foundations for starting your own puppet ministry or enhancing your existing puppet ministry. We will share practical ways to use Puppets during a Sunday school program or within your individual classroom. We’ll demonstrate good puppeteering techniques, as well as show you what poor techniques would look like. We’ll present a short puppet skit to you and provide you with names of companies where you can get puppets, ready-made skits, a puppet stage, and puppet accessories. Our puppet pals are looking forward to meeting you!

Drawing from the Parable of the Sower, this workshop explores practical classroom strategies for cultivating receptive hearts in both students and parents. We will discuss how to prepare an environment where the Word of God can take root and flourish.

A workshop on the value of intentionally shaping curriculum through careful attention to scope and sequence. This workshop will walk through the thought process behind the development of our in-house Foundations curriculum, available for free online for anyone to use. It will offer insight into how thoughtful planning creates a strong framework for student growth both inside and outside of the Church.

Our current cultural climate presents a set of acute challenges to Christianity, and therefore to ministry to young people in our churches. Ideas that affect how we understand humanity, new technologies, and changing social structures in our communities, all these things add to the ever-present challenges related to growing up in any time and place. How do we minister to young people in the face of these challenges? Topics covered will include common errors in Sunday school classes and practical strategies for making the time spent in Children’s Ministry count for young people and teachers alike.

God’s Word is our primary source for knowing God and growing in our faith – but we can also be equipped, encouraged and inspired by other resources. Good books that reflect biblical truth can stir our hearts and help our children and families connect with the bigger picture of God’s work in the world. C.S. Lewis captured this beautifully in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, when Aslan tells Lucy, “You must learn to know me by another name… that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.” As a child, that quote sparked a desire in me to know the true Jesus – and that’s the power of a good resource! But not all resources are helpful. Some may water down or distort the truth, and it’s vital that we use discernment. In this workshop, we’ll talk about why reading matters, how to find books and tools that are worth your time, and how to wisely navigate the growing world of available resources.