Children's & Pathfinder Leadership Event
Took place Oct. 11-12 at Andrews University
Gerry Lopez, NAD associate director of Children’s Ministry, spoke for the Saturday morning worship service at the Children’s Leadership Conference. Lopez has enjoyed working in children’s ministry for more than 14 years as a youth pastor, children’s ministry pastor and elementary school chaplain.
Over the weekend of October 11–12, 2019, nearly 200 people gathered for the annual Children's Leadership Conference and Pathfinder Leadership Training at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. This collaborative conference was sponsored by the Center for Youth Evangelism, Lake Union, Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, and North American Division Children’s Ministries.
The theme this year was “Lead Me Home,” with the goal to empower leaders to equip parents with the tools needed to raise and train their children in their own home.
“Oftentimes, churches don’t have the funds for children’s ministry,” said Marsha Bucknol, Children’s Leadership Conference attendee. “This workshop gave us creative ideas for things that we can do on a small budget, such as dollar store-made activities that make it possible for children to participate and have fun."
Chrystal Flerchinger, who also participated in the conference, commented, “This training event equips attendees with a new perspective.”
By the end of the conference, 40 Pathfinder Leadership Training classes were taught, as well as 10 children’s ministries classes. Through these classes, children’s ministry leaders were given many resources to take back to their home churches, clubs and children's ministries.
“Working with young people is not an easy task, and if our mission is to demonstrate God's loving character, produce personal growth, and train our young people for leadership and service, we ourselves have to be the leaders and example that we want to see in our youth,” said Dania Luna, Pathfinder Basic Training presenter.
PR
pr@andrews.edu
