170 Children’s Ministers Trained at IOU Conventions
This summer the IOU Region (Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Navajo Nation) partnered with International Children’s Ministries to offer one-day training intensives held in conjunction with three of the region’s state conventions. Offered as an additional third day the convention schedules, International Children’s Ministries Director Dr. Shaun McKinley presented one-day intensives on a variety of topics for pastors, children’s ministers, and church leaders at each convention location.
Regional Bishop Dr. Wallace Pratt themed his 2023 conventions “A Passion for Children.” At each convention, Bishop Pratt shared a message challenging parents and pastors to ensure that “no child was left behind.” Using Deuteronomy 4:9; 6:6-7 as his text, Bishop Pratt reminded those in attendance of the important role parents and grandparents have in the discipleship of their children. Additionally, he encouraged local churches to give intentional focus in reaching children with the Gospel and engaging them as part of the church community.
In Oregon, 60 participants attended the one-day intensive entitled “A New Day: Strategies for Moving Children’s Ministry Forward.” Presenting six workshops, the training discussed six foundational elements that renew passion, commitment, and effectiveness in children’s ministries. Topics included vision and values in children’s ministries, how to serve families, growing missionally minded volunteers and kids, utilizing technology in ministry, and how to relationally connect with kids.
In Utah and Idaho, the one-day entitled “Influencing the Influencers” was shared with 65 and 44 participants, respectively. This training included five sessions; Confidently Moving Forward; Influencing the Influencers, Influencing at Church, Influencing Beyond Church, and Milestone Moments. Each session was aimed at practically equipping churches to engage parents, grandparents, and other influencers in the discipling of their children. Participants were given access to a wide array of customizable resources to launch these efforts in their own church.
“We applaud Bishop Pratt for this visionary approach to training,” said Bishop McKinley. “By including these training in his convention plans, he not only made this training more accessible to all of region’s leaders and churches, but also reinforced the priority of the discipleship of children at home and in the local body. I am deeply grateful for his innovative idea to include us in his conventions.”
International Children’s Ministries offers a number of one-day training intensives aimed at sharpening skills, clarifying direction, strengthening commitment, and building a sense of team for local, regional, and state ministries. These one-days offer relevant, practical, and interactive ministry and leadership training, taught in just six hours. One-days are presently being scheduled for 2024. If you are interested in hosting a training, contact cgpkids@cogop.org for more information.