Awesome KidMin conference provides connection, teaching

Event assists people with a passion for children’s minstry

WINNIPEG, Man.—Has anyone else had moments in the last months where you go to a service or event that at one point in time would have been nothing really out of the ordinary, but after two years of COVID-19 isolation you can’t believe how good it is?

Those with a shared passion for children’s ministry gathered March 11–12, 2022, at the Awesome KidMin conference in Winnipeg. (Leonard Ulrich)

This was my experience attending the Awesome KidMin conference held March 11–12, 2022, in Winnipeg, Man. I was thankful the event was also offered online because it allowed for those living farther away to participate. But, after two years of Zoom, it felt amazing to connect face-to-face with other people in Manitoba and beyond who share a passion for kids and ministry.

To start off the conference on Friday, March 11, we listened to Marie Thiessen speak on the topic of understanding complex trauma and attachment issues in children, and Cathy Dyck on being a shepherd, not a hired hand. Our main speaker, Christie Penner Worden, spoke on Who is our Anchor.

Each of these women spoke with words of wisdom and a clear passion for our Lord Jesus and for ministry. The topics were so relevant to what the church is facing, as we have all faced some level of trauma—without question, our kids have been dealing with trauma as well. Marie Thiessen challenged us to be aware of many ways in which children can be affected by trauma.

Christie Penner Worden (Leonard Ulrich)

As a children’s ministry coordinator, I’ve also been faced with the question of why I’m doing what I’m doing through this era of constant change. Am I just going through the motions of a job description, or am I shepherding volunteers well by modelling an authentic and passionate love for Jesus, as Cathy Dyck spoke about?

Christie Penner Worden’s encouragement to us from the book of Hebrews was timely as well. We’ve all faced some storms, and all need the reminder of what it means to hold fast to an Anchor that will hold us even in the fiercest storm.

I could go on about the many other speakers and resources available, but my absolute highlight was the personal fellowship. Most faces at the conference were strangers when I arrived on Friday. As we shared and ate way too many delicious locally made snacks and meals together, we also shared our hearts around the tables.

I played the “Mennonite game” (making family relation connections) and talked about all the people we both knew together with a Bible camp director. I spoke to a children’s pastor of the pain of losing countless volunteers and feeling overwhelmed with the possibly of starting up programs post-COVID-19. I asked questions about how other children’s ministry workers handled particular challenges in their own churches, what curriculum worked for their programs, and many other things. By the end of the conference on Saturday night, my heart was filled with a lot of different emotions.

More than anything, I was struck by how we all left with what we might have needed most: connection.