‘Fantastic’ training day for children’s ministry leaders

Wednesday May 20th 2015

Children’s ministry leaders get stuck in during the Messy Church workshop at the Equipped Training Day.

Relevant, informative, useful, engaging and fantastic – just some of the words used to describe the Equipped Training Day organised by Connor Children’s Project Development Officer Jill Hamilton.

Almost 70 children’s ministry leaders took part in the event held in All Saints’ Parish Hall, Antrim, on Saturday May 16.

There was a great buzz as people arrived with time for refreshments and a chat before the sessions got underway.

Jill said: “We began all together with some child friendly worship – a chance to focus on God and praise him together but also introduce some resources which could be helpful in All Age or children’s ministry settings. The dance number ‘Shackles’ from the Go Fish guys with the karate high kicks had everyone up and moving and we learned some sign language to accompany ‘You need not Fear’ from the BIG Ministries Unstoppable album.”

Participants then split into groups for workshops on Storytelling and Drama, Messy Church, Puppets and Creative Prayer. Everyone had a chance to take part in two workshops and these were broken up by brunch in the middle of the morning.

“As important as the training is a chance to have a morning with your team and get chatting to leaders from other churches about what is going on in their groups and how they organise things,” Jill said.

“It’s a chance for us all to realise that there is a Connor family to be connected to. We want leaders to feel part of that family and receive support and encouragement from us in the Diocesan and Children’s council team as well as from each other. There is so much expertise in one place when we all come together.”

Jill extended thanks to workshop leaders, Karen and Amy Webb (puppets); Andrew Neill and Chris Neilands (Storytelling and Drama); and Aimee Jess (Creative Prayer).

Feedback from the evaluation sheets on the Equipped Training Day was very positive:

“Really enjoyed the training today! Found it relevant and informative and am excited to apply everything to our setting.”
“Thank you for a great and useful day.”
“I really enjoyed the training day –the ideas were so useful and relevant. The trainers were well prepared and engaging.”
“The workshops were great and I have left with lots of ideas! A very enjoyable and well organised day.”
“When you give us ideas that are realistic, that is very helpful. Today was FANTASTIC!”