ETCH NextGen Ministry Conference

Drew Dixon

Drew Dixon is the publishing team leader for all the Lifeway Students ongoing curriculum. He also co-founded and served as the Chief of Content for Love Thy Nerd, a unique 501c3 nonprofit serving geeks and nerds. Prior to that I was Editor-in-chief of GameChurch.com. Regular writer for WORLD Magazine, Christian Research Journal, Think Christian, and Christ and Pop Culture, Lifeway Group Ministry, Lifeway Church Leaders, Lifeway Group Ministry, and The Gospel Project. Written previously for Christianity Today, Relevant Magazine, and Paste Magazine.

No More Raw Chicken: Bible Teaching for Kids

Be inspired and equipped to teach preschoolers, children, and students the Bible in creative, fun ways. We may only get one Sunday, one Wednesday, one event, one opportunity to plant the seeds that can change eternity. Come learn how to make it happen and how to equip those you lead to do just that.

Chuck Peters

Chuck Peters is the Director of Lifeway Kids. A graduate of Columbia Bible College, Chuck, and his wife, Cris, have served in Student and Children’s Ministry for many years. Before his role at Lifeway, Chuck had a prolific career in television and video production. He is a 3-time Emmy Award Winning producer, director, writer and on-screen talent. He is driven to equip and inspire ministry leaders.

Chuck Peters

Chuck Peters is the Director of Lifeway Kids. A graduate of Columbia Bible College, Chuck, and his wife, Cris, have served in Student and Children’s Ministry for many years. Before his role at Lifeway, Chuck had a prolific career in television and video production. He is a 3-time Emmy Award Winning producer, director, writer and on-screen talent. He is driven to equip and inspire ministry leaders.

Stephanie Chase

Stephanie Chase has been married to Rick Chase for 30 years. They have 3 children—Nicole (29), Tori (27), and Michael (24), and two amazing grandchildren ages 4 and 8 months. She is a graduate of Texas Tech University and received her master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Stephanie loves the Lord, her family, and people and is passionate about developing leaders and raising up the next generation of believers through writing, speaking, and serving! She has worked in Education and Kids Ministry as a teacher, director, writer, and trainer for over 20 years. She currently serves as the Kids Minister at Champion Forest Baptist Church. For fun, she loves to run, eat ice cream, read, and play outside!

Ben Trueblood

Ben Trueblood has over 20 years of student ministry experience, 14 of which were spent in the local church as a student pastor. In addition to his role at LifeWay, he is involved in training, consulting, and speaking to student ministries throughout the U.S. and has authored three books. Ben and his wife Kristen have four children. He enjoys spending time alone in a duck blind, racking up miles in Nike Run Club, drinking an ice cold Coke Zero, collecting random hobbies, and afternoons watching Cardinals baseball.

Ben Trueblood

Ben Trueblood serves as the Director of Student Ministry for Lifeway and has served in student ministry for over 20 years. In addition to his role at Lifeway, Ben is involved in training, consulting, and speaking to student ministries throughout the U.S. He is driven by a desire for student ministries to expand God’s Kingdom, to see the lives of students transformed by the gospel, and to produce students who shape the culture in which they live.

Ben and his wife Kristen have four young children. In his free time, Ben enjoys family, hunting, CrossFit, and the St. Louis Cardinals. You can follow Ben on Instagram and Twitter at: @bentrueblood.

Jana Magruder

Jana Magruder serves as the Strategic Initiatives Director of Lifeway Kids. She is a Baylor graduate and offers a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and publishing. She is the author of Kids Ministry that Nourishes and Life Verse Creative Journal, which she co-authored with her teenage daughter. She and her husband, Michael, along with their three children reside in Nashville.

Katy Boatman

Katy Boatman is the author of You Can Rest: 100 Devotions to Calm Your Heart and Mind and lives in Nashville, TN with her mini goldendoodle. She’s on staff with IF:Gathering, but her favorite role is being an aunt to Shelby, Blake, and Ellie. Katy has spent fifteen years mentoring girls through student ministry, and she is passionate about helping them understand who God is and reminding them they are not alone. If she’s not writing or walking her dog, you can typically find Katy eating Mexican food with her friends! You can connect with Katy on Instagram: @katyboat.

Ben Mandrell

Ben Mandrell is the 10th president of Lifeway Christian Resources. Prior to joining Lifeway, Ben pastored churches in Colorado and Tennessee. Ben and his family moved to the Denver area in 2014 to plant Storyline Fellowship in partnership with the North American Mission Board and First Baptist Church in Orlando, FL. The church launched in February 2015 and grew to 1,600 in weekly attendance in four years. In its third year, Storyline voted to quadruple its giving through the Cooperative Program, becoming one of the top 10 churches in the state giving through the Cooperative Program. Before planting Storyline Fellowship, Ben served as senior pastor of Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, TN, from 2006-2013, leading the church to grow from 1,800 to 2,600 in weekly attendance.

A native of Tampico, Illinois, Mandrell graduated from Anderson (Indiana) University in 1998. He also holds a Master of Divinity degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. Ben and his wife, Lynley, have been married since 2001 and have four children: Ava, Max, Miles, and Jack.

Zac Workun, Anthony Vargas, Tony Bianco and Crystal Mazzuca

Zac Workun currently serves as the Student Ministry Specialist for Lifeway Students. Zac is also the co-founder and network lead for Youth Ministry Booster. Zac is a voracious reader, avid gamer, car-camper, folk musician, black coffee-drinker, beard aficionado. Enneagram 7, and ENFP. He loves to eat breakfast food at new places with his wife, Karen, and two wild boys, Isaiah and Gideon. For 15+ years, Zac has served on staff at local churches in Oklahoma and North Carolina to oversee the middle school, high school, and college-aged ministries. Zac received his undergraduate education from Oklahoma Baptist University and his Master’s of Divinity from Duke University.

Anthony Vargas currently serves as the Student Pastor at the North Campus of Prestonwood where he’s been for over five years. He’s had the privilege of serving students for over a decade while helping other Youth Pastors by writing eBooks and hosting the Youth Pastor Tips Podcast. He’s been married to his wife, Bailee, for over eight years and they have one son, Oliver.

Tony Bianco is the Student Minister at Houston’s First Baptist Church and has been in ministry for 15+ years. Tony is married to his high school sweetheart, Diamend, and together they have two amazing kids. Tony has a MDiv from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a concentration in Student Ministry. Tony leads a ministry team and is a nationwide speaker who teaches students, parents, and ministry leaders on technology, discipleship, and leadership. Tony’s desire is to see students and families have King Hearts and live Kingdom Lives!

Crystal Mazzuca is the Director of Kids’ Ministry at Westwood Baptist Church in Olympia, WA, INCM coach, blogger, and freelance writer. She’s done youth ministry in five cities, including two in Swaziland, Africa. Crystal has a strange love of video games, comic books, and ninjas, which typically have some influence on the stories she writes.

Danielle Bell

Danielle has over 25 years of kidmin experience and possesses a great fervor for sharing, discipling, and shepherding children and families. Danielle is a well-respected leader and trainer in the area of Children’s Ministry and has spoken regionally at local churches and nationally at children’s ministry conferences. She is a curriculum writer for The Gospel Project for Kids and has also written the following resources: “God’s Brave Girl” Leader and Student Guides (Lifeway), “The Gospel God’s Plan for Me” Leader and Student Guides (Lifeway), and the Younger KidMin chapter for “Children’s Ministry Volunteer Handbook” (Outreach). Danielle is the lead instructor for the Children’s Ministry Certificate at beadisciple.com. In 2010, Danielle was named one of the top 20 Children’s Ministry Leaders to watch by “Children’s Ministry Magazine.” You can follow her on her blog at dandibell.com.

Jana Magruder & Stephanie Salvatore

Jana Magruder serves as the Strategic Initiatives Director of Lifeway Kids. She is a Baylor graduate and offers a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and publishing. She is the author of “Kids Ministry that Nourishes” and “Life Verse Creative Journal,” which she co-authored with her teenage daughter. She and her husband, Michael, along with their three children reside in Nashville.

Stephanie Salvatore has worked at Lifeway Christian Resources for over 25 years in a variety of areas, ranging from student ministry to magazines, to app development. She has served as the creative director for Lifeway Kids for 10 years. When she isn’t working, chasing chickens around her farm, or collecting vinyl, you can find her volunteering in her church’s Kids Ministry.

Ministering to Community in Times of Crisis

Are you prepared to minister to your community during a time of significant crisis? The truth is that very few churches are prepared when a community-wide crisis hits. This conference will feature the wisdom of several leaders who have “been there, done that” and gone on to make it a focus of their ongoing ministry. No one can predict when a tragedy will burst onto the scene of a church or community. However, all of us can strive to be better prepared to minister in these difficult circumstances.

Flipping the Script: Discipleship in Relationship

True discipleship only occurs in the context of personal relationship. In Bible times, instruction took place as disciples walked behind a Rabbi, listening to his instruction and observing his life. Paul said it like this, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” In this session, you will discover why relationships are essential to a healthy ministry, uncover 4 key relationships you need to foster in your churches, and learn how to equip volunteers with skills that will enable them to cultivate influential relational connections more effectively with the kids they lead.

Life as a Minister: Facing the Challenges of Ministry with the Hope of the Gospel

The call to ministry brings unique challenges that can make us feel overwhelmed and underprepared. Is it even possible to balance family, personal growth, and the obligations of ministry? If you’re facing these challenges and struggling to stay motivated, join us as we discuss five of the biggest challenges faced in ministry and how the gospel gives us power and hope to continue serving where God has called us to serve. This session will also include a Q&A.

Zac Workun & Nathan Howard

Zac Workun currently serves as the Student Ministry Specialist for Lifeway Students. Zac is also the co-founder and network lead for Youth Ministry Booster. Zac is a voracious reader, avid gamer, car-camper, folk musician, black coffee-drinker, beard aficionado. Enneagram 7, and ENFP. He loves to eat breakfast food at new places with his wife, Karen, and two wild boys, Isaiah and Gideon. For 15+ years, Zac has served on staff at local churches in Oklahoma and North Carolina to oversee the middle school, high school, and college-aged ministries. Zac received his undergraduate education from Oklahoma Baptist University and his Master’s of Divinity from Duke University.

Nathan serves as Project Coordinator for Lifeway Students. and has served in student ministry for 15 years in a variety of roles from volunteer leader and student pastor in the local church to working with student pastors at the associational level. “Producer Nathan” helps facilitate student ministry training through the podcast, Youth Ministry Booster, and other outlets and also served on FUGE camp staff for six years, four as camp director, before joining the team full time. Nathan enjoys baking, video games, and officiating sports.

Sacred Space: Creating Environments, Rooms, and Events for Student Ministry

This session will explore ideas to reimagine and remake your student ministry gathering spaces that are inviting, creative, and memorable for worship, prayer, and teaching.

Jameson Barker

Jameson Barker and his wife, Mallory, have one son, Ridge. They are constantly looking for adventure and shared experiences that create meaningful memories. In his own time, he loves to swim, bike, and run. He has been on staff with Prestonwood Students at Prestonwood Baptist Church for the past seven and a half years. Before moving to Texas, he served at a church in Southern Indiana for over 10 years. He received his Masters in Youth Ministry from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

NextNow: Creating a Pipeline for High School Students to Lead

The best time for students to learn leadership is now. It is really important to not wait around until we begin to train up the new generation of student leaders now. This session will give you the framework and tools for building out a thriving leadership pipeline in your youth ministry.

Starting from Scratch: Engaging a New Generation in a Post-Christian World

For decades the Church has engaged the culture assuming some fundamental understanding of God, the Bible and church. In today’s post-Christian world, that can no longer be assumed. So, how do you engage a generation of kids where many truths and stories in scripture are unknown, and the very fabric of what they believe to be true in the world is antithetical to Christian teachings? In this session, you’ll discover new tools to reach the next generation with strategies that engage the kids walking in your door today.

The Importance of Understanding a Child's Brain … and Mind

The need for understanding God’s design for the growth and development of children has never been more needed than NOW! The mental health of children and adolescents has been declared a national crisis. Parents and teachers are struggling to make sense of what is best for children. In this session we’ll examine the most recent and relevant findings on how God wired the brain for learning and how connection and relationships are critical for children to thrive in all areas of development.

Change the Way Your Church Views Kids Ministry—Be Heard, Be Seen

Feeling overlooked? Do you feel like you’re leading a ministry that no one cares about except you? Decisions being made for your ministry without your buy-in or with no ownership from you? Learn how to grow your influence and make a BIG, POWERFUL difference in the leadership of your church and the congregation. Learn ways to be heard and seen and get your church and team understanding that Kids Ministry is where it’s at!

Scott Pace

R. Scott Pace is the Vice President of Undergraduate Studies, Dean of The College at Southeastern, and Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Preaching. He has authored many books ranging from theology to ministry and leadership to preaching including “Answering God’s Call,” “Student Ministry by the Book,” and the forthcoming book “Calling Out the Called” co-authored with Shane Pruitt. His greatest passion is for his family. He and his wife, Dana, have been married since 1999. They have four children—Gracelyn, Tyler, Tessa, and Cassie.

Calling Out the Called: Discipling Those Called to Ministry Leadership

How do you prepare, coach, and equip students in your ministry who feel called to ministry? This session will help you make plans to care for your called students.

Transitioning from Kids Ministry to Middle School

One of the most important batons to pass in ministry is from kids to student ministry. This panel discussion will focus on the best practices in welcoming new kids into your student ministry.

Understanding and Ministering to Today's Families

Society says the “ideal family” isn’t the reality for many of families we minister to today. Families look different, are overscheduled, are raised by grandparents or adoptive homes, and often don’t make church a priority. In this session, we’ll explore the needs of families and discover Christ-centered, practical ways to engage and minister to them so they are connected to the church body. This session will also include a Q&A.

All-in Parents: How to Help Mom and Dad Win at Home

Every great team knows how to win at home. This session is primed for church leaders to help parents and students and families win spiritually at home.

Amanda Meijas

Amanda Mejias serves as the Lifeway Girls Brand Specialist, which is just a super fun way of saying that she serves parents and leaders of teen girls. After serving on church staff for many years, she is passionate about building relationships and creating resources that equip the local church. Amanda has been married to her wonderful husband, Brandon, for five years and they have a daughter named Blakely. When she is not chasing her toddler around, Amanda is always down to hear a good joke, meet for coffee, and talk about her golden retriever.

Girls Ministry for All Youth Leaders

Every youth ministry is at least 50% girls. So how are we, as ministry leaders, making plans to minister to them well?

Avoiding the Pitfalls of Ministry Trends

Are you trying to copy the latest dog and pony show? How has pop culture influenced your ministry? Are you teaching biblical truth or chasing trends? In this session, we’ll explore tips for successful evaluation of resources and discover practical helps to avoid the dangers of ministry trends created by today’s culture.

What Every Children's Minister Should Know about Welcoming Students with Disabilities

If your ministry reflects your school district, it’s likely that 20% of your students have special needs, learning disabilities, and mental health diagnoses. In this session, learn how to identify students who need extra help and discover ways to support them.

Guiding Preschoolers to Gain the Most from Their Classroom Experience

Preschoolers can become loud and out of control unless the teacher knows how to guide the learning time. This conference will prepare you for creating an environment of safety and learning that everyone can enjoy each week.

Heidi Hesley

Heidi M. Hensley has been in full time ministry since 1995 and currently serves as the NextGen Pastor at Skyline Church in San Diego, California. She is passionate about serving the whole family as she works to build strong connections between parents, kids, and student ministries. Heidi has a master’s degree from Southern California Seminary and lives in San Diego with her husband and two grown sons.

NextGen Volunteer Strategy

Whether you lead one of the NextGen ministries at your church or all of them, we can agree that volunteers are element that can make or break your ministry. In this session, we’ll look at the top ways to recruit, develop, train, and retain leaders and consider the importance of a NextGen-wide strategy to support healthy handoffs between ministries.

Mark Jones

Mark Jones serves as the Children’s Pastor of Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City where he loves and teaches preschoolers, children, and their parents. Mark enjoys speaking all around the nation to train children’s ministry leaders and parents. He is the founder of Mr. Mark’s Classroom, an online leadership development and teacher-resource company which helps overwhelmed children’s ministry leaders get clarity, confidence, and the resources they need to win at reaching kids for Jesus, equipping kids with Bible skills and teaching kids to serve others.

Spice Up Your Teaching Time with Active Games Kids Love

This session will equip you with one full year of interactive games that get kids out of their seats and highly engaged. Your class will be the one every kid wishes they could attend. Be ready to play fast and take pictures!

Sandra Peoples

Sandra Peoples is one of the leading voices in the special-needs community. She is the author of three books and is currently a PhD student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in the area of family ministry with an emphasis on inclusion for special needs families. Sandra and her husband Lee have two sons—David and James, who has level 3 autism. Sandra also has a sister with Down syndrome, which gives her a life-long perspective on being in a special-needs family. Her family lives outside of Houston, TX where Lee is a pastor and Sandra serves their church as the inclusion coordinator for special needs families. She also serves the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention as their special-needs ministry consultant, helping churches around the state start and strengthen their disability ministries.

Supporting Students with Invisible Disabilities

Students with invisible disabilities (autism, dyslexia, ADHD, anxiety, etc.) often struggle at church. But as we take steps to get to know them and meet their needs, they will feel more comfortable and calm during their time with us. Learn how to support and encourage these students through suggestions for classroom management, specialized volunteers, and sensory-friendly spaces. This session will also include a Q&A.

Chad Higgins

Chad Higgins serves as the campus pastor at Summit Church in Oklahoma City, OK. He is also the co-founder of Youth Ministry Booster. He is passionate about seeing ministers grow both spiritually and professionally to serve the Kingdom well. Chad and his wife, Martha, have been married for 12 years and have a two-year-old daughter and Daniel Tiger enthusiast, Malia. Chad lives for Shark Week, sushi, and lazy Saturdays. Ask Chad about his latest secret venture or current audiobook obsession.

Connection & Communication: A Strategy for Building Better Relationships with Parents

When parents hear that they should be the primary disciple-maker in their kid’s life what do they really hear? This session will focus on helping churches and parents speak the same language as they work together to tackle this most important task. No more being frustrated as a staff member or overwhelmed as a parent!

Tony Bianco

Tony Bianco is the Student Minister at Houston’s First Baptist Church and has been in ministry for 15+ years. Tony is married to his high school sweetheart, Diamend, and together they have two amazing kids. Tony has a MDiv from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a concentration in Student Ministry. Tony leads a ministry team and is a nationwide speaker who teaches students, parents, and ministry leaders on technology, discipleship, and leadership. Tony’s desire is to see students and families have King Hearts and live Kingdom Lives!

Ben Trueblood and Nathan Howard

Our students (and us) are on their phones, tablets, and devices more than ever. Come discover strategies for reaching and discipling teens in a screen-addicted world.

Ben Trueblood and Nathan Howard

Ben Trueblood has over 20 years of student ministry experience, 14 of which were spent in the local church as a student pastor. In addition to his role at LifeWay, he is involved in training, consulting, and speaking to student ministries throughout the U.S. and has authored three books. Ben and his wife Kristen have four children. He enjoys spending time alone in a duck blind, racking up miles in Nike Run Club, drinking an ice cold Coke Zero, collecting random hobbies, and afternoons watching Cardinals baseball.

Nathan serves as Project Coordinator for Lifeway Students. and has served in student ministry for 15 years in a variety of roles from volunteer leader and student pastor in the local church to working with student pastors at the associational level. “Producer Nathan” helps facilitate student ministry training through the podcast, Youth Ministry Booster, and other outlets and also served on FUGE camp staff for six years, four as camp director, before joining the team full time. Nathan enjoys baking, video games, and officiating sports.

How to Become an Admin All-star: Creating a Balanced Calendar, Budget, and System for Student Ministry

Growing a healthy ministry is sometimes a matter having better systems, structures, and organization to empower leaders and find work/life balance. This session is for those who feel disorganized, overwhelmed, or want to check off some boxes in their ministry.

Melita Thomas

Melita Thomas is the Team Leader for Kids Ministry Training and Events at Lifeway. She also serves as the Vacation Bible School Specialist. Melita holds a masters degree in Christian education and is a passionate advocate for children’s ministry in the local church. Melita enjoys teaching kindergartners at her church, spending time with her two wonderful nephews (6- and 9-years-old), and cheering on the Nashville Predators hockey team.

VBS 2023 Sneak Peek

VBS is not just for kids—it’s for students and adults, too! Come get your first look at the resources for Twists & Turns VBS and find out why VBS should be an important piece of your NextGen strategy.

Shelly Melia

Dr. Shelly Melia is Professor of Childhood of Childhood Education at Dallas Baptist University where she serves as the Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Ministry. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor with a special research interest in grief and resilience. Prior to her time at DBU, she served as a children’s minister and family minister for over 25 years in churches in Oklahoma, Florida, and Texas.

Relationships & Connections: There’s Not an App for That

We are hardwired for relationships but there is a deficit of relationships in most of the children and students in our ministries. This conference will unpack the importance of relationally driven and relationally rich environments in our churches.

Chad Higgins

Chad Higgins serves as the campus pastor at Summit Church in Oklahoma City, OK. He is also the co-founder of Youth Ministry Booster. He is passionate about seeing ministers grow both spiritually and professionally to serve the Kingdom well. Chad and his wife, Martha, have been married for 12 years and have a two-year-old daughter and Daniel Tiger enthusiast, Malia. Chad lives for Shark Week, sushi, and lazy Saturdays. Ask Chad about his latest secret venture or current audiobook obsession.

Pastoring and the Art of Conflict Management

Conflict is hard, conflict is inevitable, but as pastor-leaders we are called to navigate and negotiate dissent and disagreement between parents, volunteers, and staff leaders. This session will explore strategies to help you successfully navigate conflict.

Zac Workun

Zac Workun currently serves as the Student Ministry Specialist for Lifeway Students. Zac is also the co-founder and network lead for Youth Ministry Booster. Zac is a voracious reader, avid gamer, car-camper, folk musician, black coffee-drinker, beard aficionado. Enneagram 7, and ENFP. He loves to eat breakfast food at new places with his wife, Karen, and two wild boys, Isaiah and Gideon. For 15+ years, Zac has served on staff at local churches in Oklahoma and North Carolina to oversee the middle school, high school, and college-aged ministries. Zac received his undergraduate education from Oklahoma Baptist University and his Master’s of Divinity from Duke University.

How to Make Student Ministry a Priority Again in an Apathetic Age

Church leaders have reported that students and adults are more apathetic about their faith, involvement, and attendance than ever, so what are church ministry leaders to do? This session is a bold look at what it might take to stir a generation.

Kevin Jones

Kevin M. Jones serves as the Dean of the School of Education at Cedarville University. He also serves as the Managing Editor for Lifeway’s The Gospel Project. Kevin is a graduate of Kentucky State University, two-time graduate of the University of Kentucky, and earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Spalding University. He began his career as a first grade teacher and has taught in various K-12 and post-secondary settings. Kevin currently serves as a pastor at St. John Missionary Baptist Church. His longing is to see fathers build resilient sons and to see Christian teachers and leaders influence the lives of students nationally and internationally for the glory of God. He and his high school sweetheart, Demica, have three children: Kennedi, Kevin Jr, and Karsynn.

Family Matters: Preparing Your Family to Be an Example for All Families

Families are dynamic and have unique challenges and opportunities to shape the lives of people around them. This session will explore how Paul’s writings in 1 Thessalonians can be an encouragement and guide for families seeking to glorify God, impact the local church, and serve the community.

Helping Children Develop a Biblical Worldview

In a world full of cultural influences, how do we equip kids to be culture shapers instead of being shaped by culture? In this breakout, we’ll engage in activities, discuss relevant applications, and look at practical resources to help children develop a biblical worldview.

Landry Holmes

Landry Holmes is the Manager of Lifeway Kids Ongoing Bible Studies and Network Partnerships, Nashville, TN, and is a graduate of Howard Payne University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Author of It’s Worth It: Uncovering How One Week Can Transform Your Church, co-author of Every Age, Every Stage: Teaching God’s Truth at Home and Church, and a general editor of the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary for Kids, Landry is a church leader, writer, workshop facilitator, and publisher. He teaches kids at his church in Middle Tennessee, where his wife, Janetta, is the Preschool Minister. They enjoy spending time with their two adult sons and their wives, and spoiling their grandchildren.

What to Do When Preschoolers are Anxious, Angry, and Anti-social

Almost three years ago, did you think “COVID” would become a common vocabulary word for preschoolers? One outcome of that global pandemic has highlighted what many of us have observed for the past several years: preschoolers are becoming increasingly anxious. If present realities are any indication, preschoolers will experience a continuation of anxiety and its cousins—anger and antisocial behavior. Therefore, we may need to adapt classroom management strategies at church to provide appropriate discipline and positive guidance.

Amanda Meijas and Kate Downing

Amanda Mejias serves as the Lifeway Girls Brand Specialist, which is just a super fun way of saying that she serves parents and leaders of teen girls. After serving on church staff for many years, she is passionate about building relationships and creating resources that equip the local church. Amanda has been married to her wonderful husband, Brandon, for five years and they have a daughter named Blakely. When she is not chasing her toddler around, Amanda is always down to hear a good joke, meet for coffee, and talk about her golden retriever.

Kate Downing has served in Student and Girls Ministry for the last eleven years at churches in Georgia, Texas, and Oklahoma. Through teaching and writing, she loves to help others come to know Jesus and fall in love with Scripture. She currently serves as the Girls Minister at BattleCreek Church in Tulsa, OK.

Ministering to Girls at Every Age

This panel discussion will include best practices for girl’s ministry as well as strategies for ministering well to girls at every age and stage.

Jody Dean & Faye Scott

Having several decades of experience in the local church, Dr. Jody Dean teaches courses in administration, risk management, and discipleship. Co-author of “Protect” and “Together We Lead” as well as a contributor to several other works, he has a desire to equip ministry leaders and lay leaders to serve the church. He serves as Associate Professor of Christian Education and Associate Dean of Distance Learning at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married to Emily and they have two children.

Dr. Faye Scott has served as Minister to Children and Families in four churches across the state of Louisiana over the span of 28 years. Faye has recently retired from fulltime service in the local church and serves as the Content Editor for Lifeway’s Bible Studies for Life Grades 1–2 curriculum. In addition, she serves as adjunct faculty for Leavell College at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Faye’s doctoral dissertation focused on the prevention of child sexual abuse in the local church and she is passionate about equipping church leaders, especially in the area of preventing child sexual abuse. Faye has three married children and six grandchildren.

Together We Guard

Unfortunately, sexual abuse in the church is not a new issue. This session will provide a brief overview of the topic of child sexual abuse in the church, the spiritual implications of abuse in the church, and an in-depth discussion of preventive measures the church can utilize to create a safe environment.

Ken Hindman

Ken Hindman serves as the Children’s Pastor at Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tennessee. He has served in preschool and children’s ministry for 29 years. He is a graduate of The University of Alabama with a BS degree in Childhood Education. Ken is the creator of Marketplace, a hands-on biblical learning experience for kids. Ken has designed a variety of programs for preschoolers, children, and families such as Resurrection Journey, Kid$ense, Creation Station, TeamKid Camp, Fall Fun Fest, and Journey to Bethlehem. Ken is also a contributing author of Every Age, Every Stage and spends time influencing young parents to disciple their kids at home. In his spare time, Ken enjoys vegetable gardening, Alabama football, collecting nativities and spending time with his family. Ken and his wife, Kristina, live in Arlington, Tennessee with their two sons, Mack (22) and David (20).

Mentors, Mentees, and Finding a Network

Where do you go for answers to the difficult questions? Who do you trust when it comes to ministry to preschoolers, kids, teens, and their families? In this session you’ll discover trusted methods for securing a coach, mentor, or group of experienced ministry leaders who can help you find the answers. We’ll also explore the process for supporting and encouraging a ministry mentee the Lord can use to impact the world.

Anthony Vargas

Anthony Vargas currently serves as the Student Pastor at the North Campus of Prestonwood where he’s been for over five years. He’s had the privilege of serving students for over a decade while helping other Youth Pastors by writing eBooks and hosting the Youth Pastor Tips Podcast. He’s been married to his wife, Bailee, for over eight years and they have one son, Oliver.

Attention! Captivating Communication for a Middle School Audience

Sometimes it is really hard to keep the attention of your 12–14-year-old students, but there is hope! In this session we’ll talk about the tips, tricks, and creative talk planning/sequencing that will capture your middle school (junior high) students’ attention. Squirrel!

Kate Downing

Kate Downing has served in Student and Girls Ministry for the last eleven years at churches in Georgia, Texas, and Oklahoma. Through teaching and writing, she loves to help others come to know Jesus and fall in love with Scripture. She currently serves as the Girls Minister at BattleCreek Church in Tulsa, OK.

What Teen Girls Want Their Parents and Pastors to Know

What are teen girls wanting you to know? This session takes an honest look at what teenage girls wish more of their parents and pastors knew about how hard it is to be a teen today.

The Way to Find Rest as a Busy and Burnt-out Leader

Discover the way out when you feel worn down, worn out, and just unsure if you have anything left to give as a pastor, minister, or volunteer.

Calling in Ministry: How to Discern the Voice of God and Follow the Direction He Leads

There are seasons in ministry where a leader must ask, “Is God calling me to stay or go?” Whether you’re seeking a new vision for where God has placed you or clarity on where He might be calling you, this breakout session will help you identify how to discern the voice of God through His Word, His people, and His Spirit, and will encourage us to keep following wherever He leads.

Creating Family Values in Your Ministry Culture

“Culture is created by the positive behaviors we celebrate and the negative behaviors we tolerate.” This principle applies in every organization—including our homes. In this practical workshop, Lifeway president Ben Mandrell and his wife Lynley share: a) why they felt led to create their own set of family values, b) how they use them with their children, and c) how every family in the church can easily design their own.

Discipleship Starts at Home

This session is a panel discussion of the importance of ministering to the whole family plus practical helps for engaging and equipping parents to disciple in the home.

Play and the Young Child’s Faith

Play is critical for young children (and adults)! Play is how children explore, discover, socialize, develop creativity, learn teamwork, and make sense of their world. And the latest research presents evidence that brain functions such as attention, focus, empathy, and behavior regulation are best developed through play. But most importantly, play nurtures the child’s wonder and awareness of God. This session will explore the definitions of play along with its benefits and discuss the barriers preventing children’s play.

Mary Ann Bradberry

Mary Ann Bradberry brings many years of experience in Christian education for children to each of her sessions. After eight years as the Executive Director of Texas Baptist Church Weekday Education Association, Mary Ann recently retired to spend more time exploring the world through the eyes of her five-year-old granddaughter. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a graduate degree in Early Childhood Education from North Texas State University in Denton, Texas. For 12 years, Mary Ann was an editor-in-chief for Lifeway Kids where she edited preschool Sunday School curriculum, ParentLife magazine, and Vacation Bible School resources. Before going to Lifeway, Mary Ann served as a Preschool and Children’s Minister at churches in Texas and Oklahoma. She has also been an adjunct professor at Dallas Baptist University. Mary Ann lives in Austin, Texas where she attends Real Life Church.

John Paul Basham, Jameson Barker, Heidi Hensley and Crystal Mazzuca

John Paul Basham serves as the Manager of Lifeway Student Ministry Publishing. He served in the local church for 10 years before coming on staff at Lifeway and has a deep passion for the work of the church and its mission to make disciples.

Jameson Barker and his wife, Mallory, have one son, Ridge. They are constantly looking for adventure and shared experiences that create meaningful memories. In his own time, he loves to swim, bike, and run. He has been on staff with Prestonwood Students at Prestonwood Baptist Church for the past seven and a half years. Before moving to Texas, he served at a church in Southern Indiana for over 10 years. He received his Masters in Youth Ministry from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Heidi M. Hensley has been in full time ministry since 1995 and currently serves as the NextGen Pastor at Skyline Church in San Diego, California. She is passionate about serving the whole family as she works to build strong connections between parents, kids, and student ministries. Heidi has a master’s degree from Southern California Seminary and lives in San Diego with her husband and two grown sons.

Crystal Mazzuca is the Director of Kids’ Ministry at Westwood Baptist Church in Olympia, WA, INCM coach, blogger, and freelance writer. She’s done youth ministry in five cities, including two in Swaziland, Africa. Crystal has a strange love of video games, comic books, and ninjas, which typically have some influence on the stories she writes.

Ben and Lynley Mandrell

Ben & Lynley Mandrell host The Glass House podcast—conversations that point the way forward to healthy emotions and relationships for ministry leaders and their families. They have been married since 2001 and have four children: Ava, Max, Miles and Jack.

Matt Morgan

Matt Morgan serves as Campus Pastor at Fellowship Bible Church in Maumelle, AR. Prior to this role, he served in children’s ministry for nearly two decades. He loves seeing people of all ages understand the richness of the gospel. He is husband to Dana and “Daddy” to Maggie and Macy.

Chad Higgins

Chad Higgins serves as the Parent Ministry Specialist for Lifeway Students. Chad is passionate about serving and helping student ministry leaders and helping parents in their discipleship journey.

David Thomas & Sissy Goff

David Thomas, L.M.S.W., is the Director of Family Counseling at Daystar Counseling (daystarcounseling.com) in Nashville, TN, the co-author of eight books, including the best-selling Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys. He is a frequent guest on national television and podcasts, including his own podcast called Raising Boys and Girls, has been featured in publications like USA Today, and speaks across the country. He recently completed Are My Kids on Track? The 12 Emotional, Social & Spiritual Milestones Your Child Needs to Reach. He and his wife, Connie, have a daughter, twin sons, and a feisty yellow lab named Owen.

Sissy Goff, M.Ed., LPC-MHSP spends most of her days talking with girls and their families, with the help of her counseling assistant/pet therapist, Lucy the Havanese. She has worked as the Director of Child and Adolescent Counseling at Daystar Counseling Ministries in Nashville, Tennessee since 1993, with a master’s degree from Vanderbilt University. Sissy speaks to parents across the country and is the author of eleven books including Raising Girls and her newest books, Raising Worry-Free Girls and Braver, Stronger Smarter (for elementary school girls). Sissy is a regular contributor to various podcasts and publications, including her own podcast called “Raising Boys and Girls.”

Christy Nockels

Christy began singing and writing music in the church from a young age, as the daughter of a pastor in Oklahoma. She met Nathan in 1993, at the Christian Artists Seminar in Estes Park, Colorado, and they married in 1995. An invitation from Louie Giglio came later to join the first ever Passion Conference in Austin, Texas, which flourished into a fruitful fifteen years of writing and leading worship for the Passion movement. Christy’s devotion to creating earnest and honest songs prepared her to be an integral author and voice in songs like “Healing Is In Your Hands,” “Waiting Here For You,” “Let It Be Jesus,” and “Lord, I Need You.” She recently launched a podcast entitled “The Glorious in the Mundane,” which is intentionally focused on helping women in all places in life, finding the wonder and awe of God in the moments of the here and now.

Christy & Nathan live in Franklin, Tennessee with their three beautiful children: Noah, Elliana, and Annie Rose. When they’re not focused on parenting, producing, and writing, they love to spend time making their house, affectionately called Keeper’s Branch, a place of rest for their family. Whether it be a season of growth, pruning, or rest, God has been faithful to carry Christy and Nathan and give them songs and prayers for the sharing.

Darren Whitehead

Darren Whitehead is the lead and founding pastor of Church of the City. In 2013, he and a small team had a vision to plant a family of churches that live in the way of Jesus for the renewal of global cities. Every weekend thousands of people join in person and online at one of 3 regional church congregations across the Nashville area. Originally from Australia, Darren has lived in the United States for over 20 years. He holds both Masters and Doctorate degrees in Ministry, with his dissertation focus on millennials and the future of the Western church. He recently released his second book, Holy Roar: 7 Words That Will Change The Way You Worship, co-authored with worship leader Chris Tomlin. Darren and Brandy have three daughters and live in Nashville.

SL/Worship

SL/Worship is a worship collective powered by Student Life Camp. Leading students across the U.S. through camp and on tour by bringing energy and depth that leads to moments students won’t forget as they meet with God through worship.

Gregg Matte

Gregg Matte was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and trusted Christ as his Savior at the age of 16.  Since then, God has done a tremendous work in him and through him.  In 1989, as a Texas A&M sophomore, Gregg and his roommates started a small Bible study named Breakaway in their apartment. Under Gregg’s leadership, Breakaway exploded, reaching thousands of students each week.  In 2004, God called Gregg to become the pastor of Houston’s First Baptist Church.  Today, this great church has grown tremendously and is impacting the world as never before.  Gregg holds a marketing degree from Texas A&M and a master’s degree in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  He is an author of numerous books, the latest being “Capture the Moment.” Most importantly, Gregg is married to Kelly and is a father of two: Greyson and Valerie.

Kevin Jones

Kevin M. Jones serves as the Dean of the School of Education at Cedarville University. He also serves as the Managing Editor for Lifeway’s The Gospel Project. Kevin is a graduate of Kentucky State University, two-time graduate of the University of Kentucky, and earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Spalding University. He began his career as a first grade teacher and has taught in various K-12 and post-secondary settings. Kevin currently serves as a pastor at St. John Missionary Baptist Church. His longing is to see fathers build resilient sons and to see Christian teachers and leaders influence the lives of students nationally and internationally for the glory of God. He and his high school sweetheart, Demica, have three children: Kennedi, Kevin Jr, and Karsynn.

Ricky Chelette

Ricky Chelette is Executive Director of Living Hope Ministries and has been involved in ministry in the church for over 35 years. Having spoken to thousands who struggle with their sexual identity, Ricky brings vast experience and personal knowledge to this difficult subject. His logical, humorous, and straight-forward approach makes sense of a very complex and often confusing topic. Ricky holds a BA in Political Science/Pre-Law and a Masters in Religious Education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. A sought-after speaker, he has taught at seminaries, colleges, and universities, throughout the US and around the world. Ricky also serves on the pastoral staff of First Baptist Church, Arlington, TX., where he has ministered for over 27 years.