2016 FOCUS Children’s Ministries Leadership Training Conference Announced
Turn It Up is the theme of the 22nd annual FOCUS Church of God Children’s Ministries Leadership Training Conference to be held March 3-5 at the Marriott Hotel in Knoxville, Tennessee.
In January 1994 at an interdenominational children’s ministry conference, nine local-church Church of God children’s covenanted to help advance Church of God ministry to children.
In September of that year, a two-day children’s leaders retreat was held near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Twenty-seven children’s leaders from nine states met and formed Children’s Pastors Fellowship, which later became the National Children’s Leaders Association.
In 2011, the name of the fellowship was changed from National Children’s Leaders Association to Children’s Leaders Association. The purpose for the name change was to be inclusive of many of the international leaders who are a part of this fellowship.
On May 13-15, 1995, the first national children’s ministries conference, called “For the Kids!” drew 300 people to a three-day event in Asheville, North Carolina. This annual conference, now called FOCUS Children’s Ministries Conference, has continued annually for 21 years. It has expanded to include Middle School leaders, as well as Spanish speaking delegates. There are 32 workshops, four general sessions, and even several workshops which begin before the initial conference general session. Each general session includes a variety of elements, including worship, entertainment, inspiration and fellowship.
Guest speakers for the FOCUS 2016 Conference include Frank Bealer, Family Pastor at Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC; Michelle Anthony, Family Ministry Advocate and Vice President of Learning Resources at David C Cook. JumpStart 3 will be teaching scripture through contemporary and relevant music styles. Natalie Miller a renowned ventriloquist from Australia, will entertain and teach. Young and emerging in ministry, Madison Hagler will share his skills with illusions and Tanner Lemon will worship through painting. In addition to the variety of workshops, there will also be SMT’s, Specialized Ministry Tracks, providing an in-depth series of workshops. In these series of workshops, participants will have the opportunity for more in-depth training on specific areas of ministry. Dr. Mary Bellofatto, a Church of God counselor from Naples, FL, will lead a course in Counseling and Healing in Action. She will also be available to provide counseling for ministerial couples. Becky Fischer will lead training on teaching children about the supernatural. Jessica Bealer, wife of Frank, will teach on the systems and standards in children’s ministry, sharing her many insights as the administrator of children’s ministry systems for all locations of the Elevation Church in Charlotte. John Tasch, a conference favorite, will teach on limitless creativity.
To register, go to www.cogyouth.org or call 423.478.7229. FOCUS is a ministry of CLA, Children’s Leaders Association, and Church of God Youth and Discipleship.
