Children’s Ministry ‘Learning Lab’ offers innovative training for workers with children and their families

The Children’s Ministry Learning Lab, slated Feb. 17-18 at Asbury United Methodist Church in Lafayette, will bring together those who minister to children and their families for training, resourcing and inspiration. A special “Newbie Night” will begin at 3 p.m. on Friday, helping newcomers to children’s ministry by covering topics such as nursery/child care, budgets, volunteers and special needs ministry.
 
In addition to plenary sessions and “best practices” sharing, Saturday will include a keynote address, “What Every Child Should Experience in a Methodist Congregation,” given by Melanie Gordon, Director of Ministry with Children for Discipleship Ministries of the United Methodist Church.

“During Baptism, we promise one another, in God, to nurture each other’s children,” said Gordon, pictured above. “Even though church volunteers may not have a degree in child development, they have a heart for children. What volunteers will experience during the ‘Learning Lab’ will equip and inspire them. Together, we will explore the essential pieces in children that WE need to know in order to help them grow in faith.”
 
This unique learning opportunity will affirm the importance of those who work with children and will outline how those volunteers can support parents in every way possible to provide an environment of spiritual growth.
 
Participants in the “Learning Lab” will receive a downloadable resource written by Gordon, a known author on the subject of ministry with children who has served with Discipleship Ministries for more than nine years.  
 
To view the brochure for this exciting event, click here.
 
To find out more about “Learning Lab” and to register, click here.