ETCH 26 Hold Fast - ETCH NextGen Ministry Conference

YOU’RE INVITED TO

ETCH CONFERENCE 2026

Being called into Next Generation ministry is a marathon, not a sprint. In a culture that prizes speed, success, and quick results, ministry leaders are called to persevere over the long haul.

This year’s ETCH NextGen Ministry Conference will encourage and equip you to hold fast—to remain faithful to God’s Word, persevere in your calling, and be rooted in Christ.

ETCH is an invitation for you to anchor yourself and your ministry in steadfastness. Bring your whole team and experience:

Reviving worship with hundreds of believers
Skill-sharpening breakout sessions from trusted experts
Timely wisdom from seasoned NextGen ministry leaders
Powerful encouragement highlighting God’s faithfulness in seasons of doubt, uncertainty, and exhaustion.

And so much more!

Through biblical teaching, practical ministry insights, and intentional times of worship and encouragement, ETCH will challenge you to stay the course in your personal faith and ministry leadership.

Whether facing cultural pressures, ministry fatigue, or the everyday challenges of discipling the next generation, you will be reminded that faithfulness over time is what shapes lasting impact.

We can’t wait to see you there.

YOU’RE INVITED TO ETCH CONFERENCE 2026

Being called into Next Generation ministry is a marathon, not a sprint. In a culture that prizes speed, success, and quick results, ministry leaders are called to persevere over the long haul.

This year’s ETCH NextGen Ministry Conference will encourage and equip you to hold fast—to remain faithful to God’s Word, persevere in your calling, and be rooted in Christ.

ETCH is an invitation for you to anchor yourself and your ministry in steadfastness. Bring your whole team and experience:

Reviving worship with hundreds of believers
Skill-sharpening breakout sessions from trusted experts
Timely wisdom from seasoned NextGen ministry leaders
Powerful encouragement highlighting God’s faithfulness in seasons of doubt, uncertainty, and exhaustion.

And so much more!

Through biblical teaching, practical ministry insights, and intentional times of worship and encouragement, ETCH will challenge you to stay the course in your personal faith and ministry leadership.

Whether facing cultural pressures, ministry fatigue, or the everyday challenges of discipling the next generation, you will be reminded that faithfulness over time is what shapes lasting impact.

We can’t wait to see you there.

PRICING

Individual

$250

(through July 31)

Groups 4-9

$225

(through July 31)

Groups 10+

$215

(through July 31)

Student

$199.99

(through July 31)

SPEAKERS

SCHEDULE

1:00pm – Pre-con Check-in Begins

1:30-3:30pm – Pre-cons

3:00pm – Regular Check-in Begins / Solutions Zone & ETCH Market Open

4:00pm – Breakout 1

5:00pm – Dinner (on your own)

7:00pm – Main Session 1

8:00am – Morning Break / Solutions Zone & ETCH Market Open

9:00am – Main Session 2

10:45am – Breakout 2

11:45am – Lunch (provided)

1:00pm – Breakout 3

2:00pm – Breakout 4

3:00pm – Break / Solutions Zone & ETCH Market Open / State Meet-ups

4:00pm – Main Session 3

5:30pm – Dismiss for Dinner / Night Out (on your own)

8:00am – Solutions Zone & ETCH Market Open

9:00am – Breakout 5

10:00am – Breakout 6

11:15am – Main Session 4

12:15pm – Dismiss

BREAKOUTS

Leadership

The Ministry Balance Myth
Called Not Qualified: Dealing with Imposter Syndrome in Ministry
Team Dynamics: Working Better Together
Leading Courageously in Uncertain Times
Hard Conversations, Healthy Leadership
Execute with Excellence: Leading Well Start to Finish
Organized for Success: Making Much of the Weeks, Months, and Monies of Ministry
Find Your People: Building Community Outside of Work
How to Stay When Everyone Else Quits: Building Ministry Longevity in a Burnout Culture
When Plan B Becomes Plan A: 5 Leadership Lessons from Gideon

NextGen

Essentials of a Healthy NextGen Ministry
VBS 2027 Sneak Peek
Engaging the Whole Church in NextGen Ministry
The Conversation We Can’t Ignore: Talking About Porn with Kids, Students, and Parents
Why So Anxious?
Rewiring of the Brain: Understanding How Kids and Students Are Learning to Think
Hold Fast: Creating Leadership That Lasts
6 Gospel Truths Families Can Live Every Day
Equipping Your Team to Support Kids and Students with Disabilities
A Family Portrait: Observe & Identify Your Ministry Context
The “No-One-Wants-Training” Training
Deconstructing Ministry Myths
Don’t Wing the Year: How to Build a Strategic NextGen Framework & Calendar
Designing the Handoff: The Healthy Transition Between Kids and Student Ministry
One Minister, Many Hats: How to Manage Multiple Roles
The Relationship Business: Why Relational Equity Is Your Greatest Ministry Strategy
The Sauce: Building a Healthy NextGen Ministry Culture
Teamwork Makes the Discipleship Pathway Work
Audience Advocacy: The Art of Effective and Accessible Communication

Preschool

Play It Again! Bible Review Games That Stick
Engaging Families Through Preschool Events
Giggles, Wiggles, and Wonder: The Secret Sauce of Preschool Ministry
Helping Preschoolers (And Their Parents) Flourish in an Anxious Age
Guiding Preschool Parents Toward Meaningful Discipleship
Turning Preschool Chaos Into Purposeful Learning
Simple Ideas for Engaging Preschoolers
Building Faith Habits in the Preschool Years

Kids

More Than a Moment: Building Lifelong Faith in Kids
Thinking Theologically and Strategically About AI in Kids Ministry
Why Do Kids and Preteens Need Spiritual Disciplines?
Preteen Ministry 101
Keeping the Gospel at the Center of Your Kids Ministry
Navigating Suffering: Caring for Kids, Families, and Yourself in Crisis
From Surviving to Thriving: How Churches Can Support Families Raising Vulnerable Children
Making Vision Clear to Make it Count
Faith in Action: Giving Kids Real Ways to Live What They Learn
Discipling Every Child: Teaching with All Abilities in Mind
Not Quite Kids, Not Yet Students: Engaging Every Preteen
Creating Space for Each Child to Belong
Enlisting and Retaining Preschool and Kids Leaders
Keeping the Ministry in Ministry
Less Chaos, More Connection: Managing Behavior in Kids Ministry
Practical Tips to Share with Your Kids Ministry Teachers
Building Bible Skills That Spark a Love for Scripture