Lifeway’s Kids Ministry Conference & Special Needs Workshops

October 8th – 10th I’ll be presenting several workshops at Lifeway’s Kids Ministry Conference in Ridgecrest, North Carolina (near Asheville). For more information on all the speakers, workshops and registration, see kidsministryconference.com. Below are the list of workshops I’ll be leading.

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Getting Started with a Special Needs Ministry (Monday AM Pre-Conference)

For two hours we’ll walk through a checklist addressing various issues ministry leaders should consider as they determine their church’s calling and capability for disability accommodation. Several models for special needs inclusion will be presented while also offering best practices to ensure success for everyone involved.

Raising Spiritual Healthy Staff Kids with Dr. Gary Fenton

Along with my dad (who is the Senior Pastor of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church in Birmingham), we’ll discuss ways the ministry leader-parent can facilitate the spiritual and emotional growth of their own child. Ideas will be offered to engage in authentic conversation, allowing the child to wrestle through the politics and public life unique to a family serving in church ministry.

Using High School Students in Kids Ministry

Students can be an asset to the children’s ministry environment. We’ll help you equip teens for service while fostering their own spiritual growth. We’ll talk about issues related to Sunday morning, Wednesday night, VBS and special needs settings.

Making Bible Stories come Alive for Kids with Special Needs

For a literal learner, understanding and processing an abstract Bible concept can be a challenge. We’ll explore ways to translate a Bible story into tangible or concrete experience and arm you with ideas to facilitate the spiritual growth of the child with special needs.

Strategies for Special Needs Inclusion

Understanding a child’s “sensory diet” and other physical and emotional needs is imperative for managing behavior challenges among children with differences and disabilities. In this fast-paced session we’ll offer ideas and tools to help the volunteer and the child with special needs experience success.