LEAD Retreat Online Program

Click on the workshop title (below) for the handout PDFs.

Workshops #1

• Mission and Vision (Saralyn Tyler)
• Tech-wise Parenting (Joe Parker)
• Reaching the Children in Your Community (Lisa Updike)
• Building, Leading, and Sustaining an Effective Children’s Ministry Team (Bethany Belue)
• How Being Presbyterian, Reformed, and Covenantal Shapes What We Build in Children’s Ministry (Sherry Kendrick)

Workshops #2

• Belonging Together: Helping Children and Families Live Out their Gospel Identity (Jajuan McNeil and Laura Tucker)
• Exploring the Teach Us to Worship Program (Heather Dirkse)
• Buddying Well: Helping Every Child Belong (Jeanette Simpson)
• Better Together: Children’s and Student Ministries Partnership (Katie Gordon and Katie Flores)
• How Do We Teach Teachers to Build a Strong Bible Foundation in Children (B.A. Snider and Sherry Kendrick)

Workshops #3

• Hard Conversations When Everyone is a Sinner (Stephen Estock)
• Leading Little Hearts Without Little Ones at Home (Jeanette Simpson)
• From Cradle to Calling: Nursery as the First Steps in Discipleship (Lisa Updike)
• The Importance of Character and Connectedness of the Children’s Ministry Leader Volunteer (Monica Kim)
• Buckets of Children’s Ministry (Sherry Kendrick) – Page 1 and Page 2

Pre-Grow Group Questions:

• Please take a moment to complete the Pre-Grow Group Questions here.

Grow Group #1:

• Grow Group Session 1
• HOTC Home and Church

Grow Group #2:

• Grow Group Session 2
• Yardsticks Chart
• Child Development in a Nutshell

Grow Group #3:

• Grow Group Session 3

Post-Grow Group Questions:

• Please take a moment to complete the Post-Grow Group Questions here.

Directory Plan – Lower Level Directory Plan – Main Level Directory Plan – Upper Level

Directory Plan – Main Level

Directory Plan – Lower Level

CertificationPlus is a continuing education opportunity for our Children’s Ministry Certification Graduates. CDM believes that churches will be strengthened as Children’s Ministry Leaders continue learning together. Our fall 2025 offering included an in-person gathering in collaboration with Iron City Fellows. We met in Birmingham, AL to hear stories from others to help us consider ways to welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us. Many of our churches are growing (we met virtually to discuss The Multigenerational Church Crisis by Bryan Chapell) and we want to steward well the hearts of the people God brings through the doors of our buildings. We wanted everyone attending LEAD 2026 to be able to enjoy these offerings that can possibly keep you company as you travel.

The Cost of Welcoming (40 min.) – Rev. John Fountain

Learning From Others – Interview 1 (23 min) – Deborah Stanghelle, American in Norway 

Learning from Others – Interview 2 (33 min) – Olga Kukushkina, Ukrainian in America

Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (50 min) – Rev. Zack Owens and Jajuan McNeil

Whole Body, Whole Church (35 min) – Kristian Hatley

Becoming a Trauma-informed Covenant Community (58 min) – Catie Lumpkin