Kidz Matter Conference 2025 Takeaways
For three days in early October, the church sent me to a Children’s Ministry conference in Evansville, Indiana. The conference is called KidzMatter and this was my second year in attending this event. I would love to have had all my children’s ministry teachers and volunteers go with me—it was just so good! Here are some highlights of my memorable trip.
Q: How many people went to this conference? A: Imagine 3000 Kids Ministry leaders under one roof! Things were not dull at any time!!!
Q: What was the theme of this year’s conference? A: Stand: Live Boldly, Love Deeply. What I share with the next generation isn't just a story; it’s the foundation that empowers them to STAND—to live boldly and love deeply in a world that desperately needs hope and truth.
Q: What was your favorite part of the entire conference? A: My favorite part was worship. At the beginning and at the end of each day, we were led in worship by an awesome team and then a keynote speaker. Maybe it was being part of a 3000-member choir or maybe it was the feeling of humbleness of having God’s call on my life to be a part of such an important work of ministering to kids—but worship time was my favorite!
Q: What one word summary would you use for the entire conference? A: Encouragement. Knowing that there were so many people like me, that my calling is real and blessed, that God is working in our youngest generation, that I have the resources to help do my job better, that all God requires is a servant-heart in both leader and volunteer to be used in mighty ways, His wonders to perform!
Q: What about the workshops? A: How to pick 11 workshops/breakouts from over 200 offered???? I was all over the place In my choices from “Teaching the Bible Like Jesus” to “Training Volunteers” to “Everyday Discipleship for Real Families” to “How Trauma Effects the Kids We Love and What to Do About It” to “Faith for Every Child: Teaching Beyond One-Size-Fits-All” to “Social Media Mania.” So many choices, so many great truths!
Q: What was your favorite takeaway from the workshops? A: I was very moved and motivated by the speaker on the theme of “Creating a Ministry to Parents That Actually Works.” Building a family framework that builds up the family and the importance of parent-led discipleship of their own kids is the Biblical way to build generations that love God and live out their faith.
Q: Give one statistic worth repeating. A: 936-A parent has 936 weeks with their child from birth until graduation. 468-By the time they reach fourth grade, parents only have half that time with their kids. 208-When your child reaches high school, parents have roughly 208 weeks left until graduation. 100-By the time they get their driver’s license, parents have just over 100 weeks left. The days may get long and slow, but the years go fast. “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Q: What one thing would you like to implement in your ministry? A: I would love to get started a teacher-training workshop(s) for interested members of our congregation so that teaching kids (or of any age) is a non-scary event and will keep the attention of those attending so you can share the BEST story in the world. If anyone reading this is interested, please let me know!
Q: What would you suggest for your current and future volunteers in Children’s Ministry? A: Your “job” at church is not babysitting kids. It is not trivial. Your job is training our youngest generation to be living testaments (proofs) of God’s love, His power, and His wondrous works. What more thrilling and important ministry could there be?
Q: Last words? A: Thank you, church, for providing me this opportunity each year to “continue my education” in the work of the ministry to our children!
Because Kids Matter to God,
Your Children’s Ministry Director
Shari Coelho