…and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Acts 1:8b (ESV)

Our Key Ministry team is delighted that Steve will be serving as the keynote speaker for this year’s Awana Ministry Conference on Saturday, August 23rd at First Baptist Church in Oxford, MS.

The theme of this year’s conference is all.

Each week, more than 2,000,000 children and youth gather in Awana clubs all around the world. ALL Awana leaders are serving together in the work of the gospel to reach these children. But what about the family, community and world beyond your church? Are you bringing the hope of Christ to them?

Steve will be introducing conference attendees to families beyond the church in his featured presentation-There’s this kid…Including kids with emotional, behavior and developmental challenges in your ministry.

One in five kids in the U.S. meet criteria for at least one mental health disorder, one in four experience a traumatic event by age 16, and a majority of the one in 68 kids diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders have average to high intelligence. For many, the environments in which we “do church” present subtle, but very real barriers to participation for kids with mental illness, trauma or developmental disabilities and their families. In this session, we’ll help Awana leaders identify potential pitfalls to kids with common disabilities becoming involved and staying involved with ministry, while exploring ideas for welcoming and including ALL kids in your ministry…many who may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience the hope of Christ.

In addition to the keynote presentation, Steve will be presenting three additional workshops…

Workshop 1: Helping kids with ADHD to grow spiritually. Steve relates our current understanding of brain functioning in kids and teens with ADHD with strategies to help them have a great Awana experience and overcome unique obstacles to spiritual growth.

Workshop 2: When kids become aggressive at church. This workshop is designed to help Awana leaders and volunteers develop strategies for serving kids at risk for behaving aggressively during ministry activities.

Workshop 3: Including kids in your ministry who struggle with anxiety. This workshop helps ministry leaders to recognize situations when anxiety represents a barrier to participation in Awana activities and develop strategies for welcoming and including kids with all types of anxiety into your programming.

In addition to Steve’s presentations, nearly 30 workshops will be available, addressing topics of interest to pastors, ministry leaders and volunteers serving kids of all ages.

Click here to make your reservation for the conference. Early registration is available for $25.00 through August 12th, after which the cost is $30.00 (senior pastors and their spouses attend for free). For questions or additional information, contact Awana missionaries T.J. and Kathy Sipes at tjs@awana.org or kathys@awana.org.

Steve is very much looking forward to Southern hospitality and the opportunity to meet new friends of Key Ministry in Oxford, MS on Saturday, August 23rd!

***********************************************************************************************************

Key Ministry is pleased to make available our FREE consultation service to pastors, church leaders and ministry volunteers. Got questions about launching a ministry that you can’t answer…here we are! Have a kid you’re struggling to serve? Contact us! Want to kick around a problem with someone who’s “been there and done that?” Click here to submit a request!