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That they may believe…

That’s the reason the apostle John wrote his gospel account of the life of Jesus. And it’s our launch pad for all the good things we’re bringing you at this year’s SMBC Children’s Ministry Conference.

How can we take the vivid images and stories of John and creatively use them to open children’s hearts to Jesus? How can we use the simple language but big concepts to grow their faith?

And we know there’s so much more that comes with children’s ministry – training up junior leaders, caring for kids with disability, reaching out to non-Christian families, staying on top of the latest technology…

We think we’ve got something for everyone – whether you’re just starting out in volunteer ministry or you’re a seasoned veteran. We’ve got a great line-up of children’s ministry experts ready to share their wisdom with you.

So come, bring your friends, bring your team, for a great day of learning together – all with plenty of fun thrown in too!

TICKETS
Early Bird $79 – before 11.59pm 30 March
Standard $89 – before 11.59pm 24 April
Last Chance $99 – before 11.59pm 30 April
Livestream $39 (per person) – before 11.59pm 2 May

Note: all on-campus tickets include Morning Tea, lunch and Afternoon Tea.

SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND CHURCHES

We'd love you to let the people in your life, who have an interest in any kind of children's ministry, know about this conference. The day will suit teams, groups and individuals. Keep an eye out on our social media, or use this 16:9 slide, digital flyer or social media images 1 and 2, to help spread the word.

PROGRAM

This conference is held simultaneously at two campuses – SMBC Croydon Campus and SMBC Roberts-Dale Campus. The programs at each campus are identical in content. Each person chooses one 12.50pm seminar and one 2.25pm seminar. Please choose carefully as seminars sell out and can't easily be changed. 

For those watching via livestream, the program will follow the Croydon Campus program and only Seminars 1 and 2 will be available to watch.

CROYDON CAMPUS
43 Badminton Road, Croydon 2132
8.15am – CHECK IN (+ tea and coffee and bookstall)
9.00am – John's Gospel for Children with Bill Salier
10.10am – MORNING TEA
10.45am – Quiz Worx
12.00pm – LUNCH
12.50pm – Seminars 1, 3, 5, 7 (choose one)
2.00pm – AFTERNOON TEA
2.25pm – Seminars 2, 4, 6, 8 (choose one)
3:30pm – FINISH

ROBERTS-DALE CAMPUS
150 Croydon Avenue, Croydon Park 2133
8.15am – CHECK IN (+ tea and coffee and bookstall)
9.00am – Quiz Worx
10.10am – MORNING TEA
10.45am –  John's Gospel for Children with Bill Salier
12.00pm – LUNCH
12.50pm – Seminars 2, 4, 6, 8 (choose one)
2.00pm – AFTERNOON TEA
2.25pm – Seminars 1, 3, 5, 7 (choose one)
3:30pm – FINISH

SEMINARS

1. ‘Take heart!’ – AI and Children's Ministry with Simon Hood
A highly practical and fun session on using AI (Artificial Intelligence) creatively and biblically in ministry. The session will take you through a range of ideas, with a deep dive into using AI to create Bible stories and animations. Bring a device if you want to try things as you learn!

2. ‘Eat my flesh!?’ – Reaching Unchurched Families with the Gospel with John & Kristen Young
We reach kids in the community in various ways: SRE, kids' clubs, in-school and after-school groups and kids' church. But how do we go about reaching their families? In this seminar, we'll be exploring some ways in which churches can start to think 'outside the box' to build relationships and extend warm welcomes to unchurched families.

3. ‘I am...’ – Creative Approaches to Gospel Themes with Sarah Lancaster
John’s Gospel is full of intriguing descriptions of Jesus. We’ll think about creative ways help kids understand these big ideas about Jesus. And ways to engage kids with familiar stories of amazing miracles.

4. ‘That they may believe’ – Packaging a Kids Program with Quiz Worx
This session will expand on what Quiz Worx shares in their keynote address. They will focus specifically on ideas to write and create an entire series on the book of John. Whether that be for your kids church/Sunday School, or for a Holiday Kids Club. They will share some of what they have written/used, and will have interaction from others in the room.

5. ‘Come and see!’ – Helping Children Share their Faith with Tim Beilharz
This seminar will focus on helping children know, understand, recall and live out the Gospel story so they can confidently share their faith with friends, family and neighbours who do not yet know Jesus as King.

6. ‘All those the Father gives me’ – Teaching the Gospel to Children with Disability with Bec Baines
How do we teach the good news of Jesus to young people with disability? How do we help them engage in a ministry setting? How does God call us to love and disciple? In this session, we are going to explore some biblical principles of bringing the gospel to young people with disability, and thinking through practical strategies and ideas to take home and try in your ministry. 

7. ‘Feed my lambs’ – Teaching the Gospel to Little Ones (Under 5s) with Naomi de Vries
We’ll explore together the key components of the gospel message to include when teaching little ones, and how to teach these to toddlers and preschoolers in fun, engaging, creative and age appropriate ways. We’ll look at ways you might teach children in a church and community context like Playgroup, and use John 's gospel as a launch pad for ideas and tools you might like to try in your context. 

8. ‘It's not all cotton wool’ – Creative Ideas for Teaching Under 5s

PRESENTERS

Bill Salier
Bill works facilitating a network of theological colleges around the world and is passionate about good theological education at all levels that serves the church and equips people to minister in the name of Jesus.

Quiz Worx
Quiz Worx is a team of humans and puppets who present the good news of the Bible through creative live shows for kids, especially in state schools.

Simon Hood
Simon serves at Logosdor in Sydney, helping to multiply creative and innovative children's, family and sport ministry worldwide. Among many things, they help Max7.org to provide free Biblical ministry resources.

Kristen & John Young
Kristen is the Director of Community and Student Care at SMBC, and was involved in Children's ministry for 30 years prior to this role. John is the Youth & Families Minister at St Paul's Anglican Church Lithgow.

Sarah Lancaster
Sarah is the Children's Pastor at St Paul's Carlingford and North Rocks. She has over 20 years of kids ministry experience and loves getting to explore big ideas, ponder questions, pray and have fun with kids.

Tim Beilharz
Tim is the Kid's Pastor at Soul Revival Church and lectures in Intergenerational Ministry at Youthworks College.

Bec Baines
Bec is the Accessibility Ministry Advisor for the Sydney Anglican Diocese at Youthworks. She is passionate about seeing young people with disability welcomed and included in churches, and for them to know Jesus as their friend.

Naomi de Vries
Naomi is the Children and Families Pastor at Bridge Church. She is passionate about enabling the church family to grow children who live for Jesus and love like him.

PLEASE NOTE

1. We are not able to offer creche facilities for young children at the conference. There will be some space set aside for nursing mothers.
2. The livestream program will be recorded. All ticket holders will be able to access it a little while after the conference (a link will be emailed).

HELPFUL MAPS

CROYDON CAMPUS
43 Badminton Road, Croydon 2132
Burwood Station to Croydon Campus
Croydon Station to Croydon Campus
Street parking at Croydon Campus

ROBERTS-DALE CAMPUS
150 Croydon Avenue, Croydon Park 2133
Burwood Station to Roberts-Dale Campus
Croydon Station to Roberts-Dale Campus
Croydon Campus to Roberts-Dale Campus

REGISTER HERE

Got questions? Email us or call us on 02 9747 4780
Note, if payment is an issue for you or your church, please get in contact with us.