Over the weekend of March 2 and 3, the fifth annual Children’s Ministry conference, organised by the Board of Education Children’s Work Team, took place at the Barton Grange Hotel near Preston, writes Sarah Earnshaw, Children’s Work Adviser for the Diocese.

With more than 100 people in attendance from parishes across the diocese and beyond (one delegate travelled all the way from Gloucester) the title of this year’s conference was ‘P is for Parent’.

The aim was to explore how churches can support and encourage parents to use everyday opportunities to reflect something of God; whether they have a strong faith or very little.

Delegates listened to three brilliant keynote speakers; Rachel Turner (Parenting for Faith and author of ‘It takes a church to raise a parent’); our own Bishop Jill who is an advocate of the importance of family ministry and Dr Sam Johnson (Deputy Director of Education, speaking on relating with ‘Generation Z’).

Free podcasts of the three keynote sessions are available to download here now from the Diocesan Board of Education website.

Experience of the conference was summed up by this response from one enthusiastic delegate who said: “A fantastic and well-structured conference. My first time attending, and I have been well blessed.”

In addition to keynote speakers, attendees also had a wide choice of interesting and engaging workshops.

The conference was also supported by many Christian organisations, including Scripture Union; The Christian Book Centre Preston; Walk Through the Bible and Bible Eggsplorers, who were all represented in the ‘mini-marketplace’ plus others that sent materials for the fantastic conference packs that were given out to everyone that came.

Stephen Whittaker, Director of Education, said: “At a time when the diocese is focussing on what being a disciple is, the conference gave us all opportunity to reflect on what discipleship in the family looks like and how we can support it. A challenging, supportive and great day that left us all ready for action.”

Ronnie Semley, March 2019