Toddlers are full of energy, curiosity, and a sense of wonder. This workshop explores what is happening developmentally during these important years and how that shapes the way we care for, teach, and interact with them. Discover practical ways to communicate biblical truth, establish healthy expectations, and display God’s patient and loving heart to little ones. 

Children in Pre-K and Kindergarten are developing rapidly in every area of life. Learn how they think, learn, ask questions, and process new ideas, and discover practical ways to minister to them through engaging Bible teaching, meaningful relationships, and age-appropriate expectations. Whether you’re teaching a lesson, leading an activity, or simply spending time with them, you’ll gain tools to better reflect God’s heart to children at this exciting stage. 

Early elementary children are becoming more independent while continuing to need caring adults who point them toward Christ. This workshop will help you better understand how children at this age learn, grow, and relate to others so you can teach effectively, build meaningful relationships, and communicate God’s truth in ways they can understand and apply. 

Children in these years are asking deeper questions, forming convictions, and becoming increasingly aware of the world around them. Learn what characterizes this stage of development and how to effectively minister to them through thoughtful teaching, intentional conversations, and Christlike relationships that encourage spiritual growth. 

Preteens are navigating a season of tremendous change as they prepare for adolescence. This workshop will help you understand their unique developmental, emotional, and spiritual needs while exploring practical ways to earn their trust, engage them with God’s Word, encourage meaningful discussions, and help them develop a faith that becomes increasingly their own. 

In this workshop, we will briefly cover the why of worship in Children’s Ministry, and do a deep dive on the how. Experience what it’s like when I lead worship in Children’s Ministry. I will lead you through songs and sets. I will also discuss considerations for song choice, class size, age range, etc. Come ready to have fun! 

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.     

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 don’t become adults who love God’s Word by accident. In a culture of declining literacy, increasing screen time, and growing biblical illiteracy, we must intentionally help children develop a lifelong relationship with the Bible. This workshop will explore practical ways to build biblical literacy by teaching children how to navigate and understand the Bible, introducing them to the language and storyline of Scripture, and encouraging habits of personal Bible reading from an early age. Our goal is not simply that children know Bible stories, but that they become lifelong readers of God’s Word. 

What would happen if every child in your ministry was regularly prayed for? What if prayer became more than an opening exercise and instead became a central part of your ministry culture? In the busyness of ministry, it is easy to rely on our plans, experience, and preparation while giving little attention to prayer. This workshop will explore the biblical purpose, place, and power of prayer in ministry. Together, we’ll consider how prayer shapes our dependence upon God and works to disciple and care for those we serve. Practical ideas will be shared for making prayer a meaningful and consistent part of your classroom, leadership team, and personal walk with the Lord. 

Recruiting and onboarding are only the beginning; lasting ministry requires caring well for those who serve. This workshop will explore practical ways to care for your volunteers by prioritizing their walk with Christ, recognizing when they need encouragement, rest, or a change of role, and creating a culture where people are known, valued, prayed for, and supported. Our goal is not simply to fill positions, but to faithfully care for the people God has entrusted to us in ministry. 

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!

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.

Your onboarding process is one of the most important investments you can make in the health of your ministry. Done well, it protects your ministry while laying the foundation for healthy, effective service. This workshop will walk through Calvary Philly’s volunteer onboarding process, including the application, screening questions, child safety training, and interview. Along the way, we’ll discuss how each step helps communicate your ministry’s vision, establish clear expectations, and build a culture of safety, excellence, and Christlike service.

Learn to manage a class, using the time you have to effectively teach children and lead them in truth. You can include a Bible lesson, memory verse, prayer time, review game, teaching songs, snack, and a craft all into a 1-hour or 1.5-hour class time. I will show you how!

In this class, you will understand children’s different learning styles, how to use this understanding to your benefit, and what will help you as the children’s ministry leader and teacher to teach God’s Word in a way that captures their attention. This is often paired with the workshop The Way We Teach.

Calling all teachers! The way you teach and share the Word of God matters! Incorporate the way children learn, visuals, story-telling, and more into your personal teaching style to engage children and bring God’s Word to life for boys and girls! This is often considered part 2 of the workshop The Way Children Learn.

It is more than discipline; it’s meeting these children with the gospel of Jesus, and showing love and grace to the least of these. In this class, we will look into all these things and offer practical help in your classroom!

The Attributes of God are the characteristics of God that help us understand who He truly is. We are teaching children the Attributes of God. We can weave these truths about God’s Character into our teaching time with children as young as preschoolers all the way through elementary school. This class offers training on the 22 Attributes of God and complementary visual aids. Be ready to grow with your class!

You can share the gospel with children! In this class, you will learn how to use a simple tool, the Wordless Book, to lead children to the saving knowledge of Jesus.

We don’t need to be experts on child development when it comes to children’s ministry, but it is helpful to have a level understanding regarding the children God has entrusted to us. This workshop provides a broad overview of how children develop from the toddler years through preteens, exploring how they think, learn, communicate, and grow at each stage. Discover how developmental differences shape the way we teach God’s Word, build relationships, establish expectations, and faithfully minister to children at every age and every stage. 

Conflict is an inevitable part of ministry, but it can also become an opportunity for growth, unity, and Christ-centered witness. Whether navigating challenging conversations with parents, addressing behavior concerns with children, or working through misunderstandings with fellow ministry workers, biblical principles can help us respond with wisdom and grace.

This practical workshop will explore effective communication strategies, biblical conflict resolution, and proactive approaches to building healthy relationships within your ministry. Participants will leave encouraged and equipped with tools to handle difficult situations in a way that honors Christ, preserves unity, and strengthens their ministry team.

“If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” — Romans 12:18