Equipping Leaders, Reaching Children
Why You Should Join the Children’s Ministry Leadership Course
Children’s ministry is one of the most powerful platforms the church has to impact eternity. By age 13, most people have already formed their core spiritual beliefs. That means the time we have to reach and disciple children is short and incredibly strategic. If you are serving in children’s ministry—or even just feeling the tug of God to step into this vital area—you have a unique opportunity to help shape the next generation for Jesus.
This fall, you’re invited to be part of the Children’s Ministry Leadership Course – Semester 1, starting Tuesday, September 30, 2025, and running until November 11, 2025. Sessions will be held online via Zoom at 7:00 PM PST, making it accessible wherever you serve.
Led by experienced leaders Kathy Zelman and Jenni Colwell, the course blends mentorship, practical coaching, and rich discussion tailored to your ministry context. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or brand-new volunteer, this journey will give you fresh tools and encouragement to thrive in your role.
What You’ll Learn
This isn’t just theory. The course content has been carefully developed by practitioners across Canada through the Children’s Ministries Leadership Certification Course of The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. Each semester focuses on practical, Spirit-filled training that equips you to both lead effectively and grow spiritually.
In Semester 1, you’ll explore modules such as:
Leaders and the Children They Serve – strengthening your personal walk with God and learning how to lead with influence.
Character and Accountability – being a disciple who makes disciples, learning teamwork, and navigating abuse prevention.
Having a Plan for Ministry – hearing God’s voice, setting goals, and crafting a vision for your children’s ministry.
Building Your Team – recruiting, training, and celebrating volunteers who serve alongside you.
Children and Development – understanding how kids grow spiritually and theologically.
Spiritual Growth in Children – guiding kids through milestones like conversion, baptism, and leadership.
In Semester 2, which follows in the new year, you’ll continue your growth with training in:
Life in the Spirit – deepening your understanding of the Holy Spirit’s role in ministry.
Teaching Strategies – learning how to teach like Jesus and engage kids through creative methods.
Tips from the Classroom – practical skills for large groups, small groups, discipline, and ministering to kids with special needs.
Reaching Out – helping children share their faith and caring for at-risk kids.
Ministering to Families – partnering with parents and supporting families in crisis.
Advancing Children’s Ministry – evaluating effectiveness, managing budgets, and raising up kids as ministers themselves.
Each module is designed not only to increase your leadership skills but also to keep your own walk with Christ vibrant and Spirit-filled.
Why This Matters
It’s no secret—children’s ministry is often under-resourced and undervalued. Yet Jesus made it clear: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14).
When we invest in children, we invest in the future church, the next generation of disciples, pastors, missionaries, and world-changers. This course will help you move beyond simply “keeping kids busy” to leading them into real encounters with Jesus.
Imagine children in your church not only knowing Bible stories but also being discipled, praying with passion, worshipping in Spirit and truth, and even leading their peers to Christ. That’s the vision behind this training.
Why You Should Sign Up
You’ll grow personally. The sessions begin with your own relationship with God, because ministry overflows from who you are in Christ.
You’ll gain practical tools. From volunteer recruitment to handling discipline in class, you’ll receive tested strategies that work in real churches.
You’ll be mentored. Jenni Colwell and the BCYD team will walk with you through challenges unique to your ministry context.
You’ll be part of a community. This isn’t just a course; it’s a cohort of leaders learning and growing together.
And perhaps most importantly, you’ll be better equipped to reach more children for Jesus. Every tool you gain, every conversation you share, every insight you glean is an investment in seeing kids come to Christ and grow as His disciples.
Course Details
Start Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2025
End Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM PST
Location: Online via Zoom
Session Dates: September 30, October 7, October 14, October 28, November 4, November 11
Register here https://bcyd.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2960265
Don’t Miss This
If God has placed children on your heart, this is your moment to lean in. Whether you’ve been serving for years or you’re just beginning, the Children’s Ministry Leadership Course will give you fresh vision, confidence, and skills to impact kids and families in your church and beyond.
Spaces are open now, and registration is live. Gather your team, sign up together, and take this intentional step to see the next generation reached for Christ.
Let’s raise up children who don’t just attend church but become the church—Spirit-filled disciples who love Jesus and carry His mission into their schools, families, and communities.
Register here: https://bcyd.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2960265
For questions, reach out to Kathy Zelman kathy@abnwt.com.
This fall, join us online—and let’s reach more children for Jesus.
Kathy has worked with kids and families for over 30 years in church settings (small, medium, cross-cultural, large, and mega-sized churches), school settings, and early childhood settings. She is presently the Children & Family Ministries Specialist, Special Projects Coordinator at the ABNWT District Resource Centre. She thrives on collaborating and coaching leaders, helping them thrive.