Online Seminar Descriptions

Children’s Ministry

Name: Children’s and Youth Ministry Training Day 2026: Big, Strong, and Mighty
Start: 2026-03-14T09:00:00+11:00
End: 2026-03-14T16:30:00+11:00

CMO1: Grab Their Attention with Stories and Puppets! with Stephen Urmston

You have probably seen a boring puppet show. We all have. But imagine if the puppet was truly relatable asked the tricky question that not only the kids, but also the adults where thinking. The smile that comes across their face ‘oh yeah, what’s he going to say about that?’

What if the story that was shared, helped people not only relax, but laugh, and embedded the idea of your talk in people’s minds, ready to be taught and wrestle with it.

Puppets and stories are powerful when used thoughtfully and intentionally for the benefit of all.

Stephen Urmston is the Children’s and Families Pastor at Trinity Church Adelaide. Stephen thoroughly enjoys teaching others the power of story to teach and introduce big ideas, whilst also sharing with people that arguing with puppets for the sake of the gospel is a really good thing. He has continued to buy custom made puppets and probably should have stopped buying them by now (Yeah, he hasn’t done that).

CM02: Developing natural patterns of prayer with children with Bettrys Lowe

This session looks at four different categories of reach and connection and encourages participants to reflect on what priority they currently give to each of these four within their children and youth ministries. It provides some concrete examples of how different ministry initiatives will have a different reach to these categories (and that’s ok); before asking participants to consider who they are reaching through their Sunday, mid-week, and seasonal ministries (and how effective they are in reaching them at the moment).

Bettrys Lowe is the Director Children, Youth, and Families, at St Bart’s Anglican Church, Toowoomba.

Youth Ministry

YMO1: Discipling Young People with Danny Mitchell

This workshop helps leaders to think beyond the programs, activities and teaching plans that make up their ministries, and consider the culture of our youth ministries. We’ll talk about: the impact of group culture on the discipleship of youth; how the gospel could reshape the culture of a youth group; and strategies to promote and grow a gospel-shaped culture in your ministry. This workshop is good for people who are leading a ministry or team, but it’s also useful for small group leaders.

Danny Mitchell is the Assistant Minister at Ann Street Presbyterian Church, Brisbane.

YMO2: Youth Evangelism: two parallel paths with Ben Staunton

There are many people in our churches that want to see young people reached with the good news of the gospel. Often churches take different approaches to this part of the great commission. Rather than an either/or approach, youth ministries can think through how to use these approaches together to create or encourage a youth ministry that is aiming to share the gospel through a variety of opportunities. This seminar looks at both peer to peer and adult to youth gospel sharing, with some strengths and weaknesses of each as well as some thinking through how both can influence a youth ministry helpfully.

Ben Staunton is freed up by ConnectNT to share the love of Jesus with all sorts of people in Darwin and the wider Northern Territory. He can’t handle anything spicy, hates both coriander and small water glasses at cafes. He loves talking about Jesus, wearing singlets and living somewhere like Darwin.

Intergenerational Ministry

IGO1: Intergenerational Ministry with Brendan Petty

In a culture that often fragments by age, the Gospel calls us to a deeper unity. This seminar will help you develop ministries that bring people of all ages together in mutual serving, sharing, and learning. 

Brendan Petty is a Church and Families Specialist with Scripture Union Australia

Leadership in Children’s and Youth Ministry

LO1: Running an inclusive ministry for young people with disability and neurodivergence – Bec Baines

Ministry to young people can and should include people with disability – it’s what makes our church diverse and wonderful! Though, sometimes we might wonder if we’ve effectively taught the gospel or we might think they look uninterested and uninvolved. This seminar will look at biblical principles for including people with disability in our programs, share a bit about disability and what that looks like in Australia, and then think about some practical strategies for inclusion.

Bec is the Accessibility Ministry Advisor for Youthworks. She has worked as a kids and youth minister and is passionate about helping people of all ages and stages know Jesus as their friend forever. Bec loves to bake and bring her creations to the local police station where she serves as a volunteer police chaplain… and sometimes her colleagues!

LO2: Why and How would a Vicar do Youth Ministry? –Jerome Dias, Matt Williams, and Graham Stanton

Youth Ministry is often a job that gets given to an energetic young adult or a junior staff member. But finding appropriate leaders, whether paid or volunteer, is an enduring challenge. So what does leading youth ministry look like for a vicar or lead pastor? This seminar is intended for vicars, lead pastors, senior ministers, whatever your role title might be. We’ll learn from the experience of two vicars who have been working at establishing new ministries among young people in their churches and think through the important role that church leaders have in promoting ministries to, with, and by young people that can enliven the whole church.

Jerome Dias is a Joint-Vicar, together with his wife, Vivianne of Hills Anglican Community (Parish of Upwey, Belgrave & Monbulk). Though now a Vicar, and having hung up his hat as a specific Youth minister, Jerome continues to be passionate in this area. He keeps up his skills and experience by habitually practicing his ‘dad jokes’ and crazy dance moves in the kitchen (when no one is looking!).

Matt Williams is the Vicar of St. James Old Cathedral, Melbourne West.

Graham Stanton is the Director of the Centre for Children’s and Youth Ministry. He has often been asked to consider becoming a vicar but has never been brave enough to say yes.

Onsite Seminar Descriptions

Children’s Ministry

CM1: Introduction to Children’s Ministry

If you’re new to children’s ministry, this seminar is for you. We’ll be covering some of the foundational tools you need for sharing Jesus with children

TBC

CM2: Engaging Children in Prayer through creative, interactive spaces with Sue Allison

Prayer Spaces in Schools is an initiative of 24-7 Prayer. On their website they have 300 creative engaging activities that invite young people into a space of prayer whether in a school, a church or an outreach program. Prayer spaces give children an opportunity to make meaning of their own world, to explore emotions and feelings and experience the presence of God, whether or not they know who that God is. God wants to be known and sometimes it just take a simple activity or moment of reflection to facilitate that encounter. Come and be inspired as you engage in prayer spaces and see how they can be utilised in different contexts.

Sue is the National Co-ordinator for Prayer Spaces in Schools. Sue is passionate about helping young people explore faith, nurture their well-being and encounter the presence of God through creative, interactive and reflective activities. Sue has experience as both a Primary and Secondary school teacher, a school chaplain and pastoring kids and youth in the local church. Sue loves chocolate, the beach, chocolate, hanging out with her grandchildren and chocolate.

CM3: Collaborating for Kids Club with Louisa Pfitzner

How do you start a holiday Kids Club from scratch? Come along to learn from the experience of connecting a church wanting to start something new with another church with a 30 year track-record. Whether your ministry is looking for how to get something started, or you’re in a position to help equip others, this seminar will help think through effective collaboration as a way to grow ministry.

Louisa Pfitzner is the Children and Families Minister at St. Alfred’s Blackburn North.

CM4: Leveraging the In-between Times for Discipleship with Julian Barnard

What do you do with children before the formal program starts? Or in the space between the game finishing and the next activity? The in-between times are great opportunities for building relationships with children. And better relationships can make for better small group and ministry time. This seminar looks at effective ways to connect with children outside of the formal parts of your program.

Julian Barnard is the Generations Ministry Coordinator for CYC Ministries.

Youth Ministry

YM1: How to be the World’s Best Youth Leader (or at least above average) with Tom French

Being a youth leader can feel daunting – at minimum, you need to be a friend to teenagers, a leader of games, a contextual Bible teacher, a connoisseur of junk food, and a Christ-like example. In this seminar we’ll dig into what makes youth leading so rewarding and how to be a world-champion leader (if there were world championships for it!). This one’s for youth leaders in their first few years, or anyone wanting to get back to the basics of loving Jesus, loving young people, and serving well.

Tom French is the youth minister for the Inner North Youth Group and Merri Creek Anglican Church. He loves potatoes, Jesus, and his family, and writes books about the Bible for teenagers and youth leaders.

YM2: Doing Application Well In A Diverse Youth Ministry Setting with Andrew Wort

You sit down ready to lead your small group. Some are paying attention, others are making paper planes. Some have been here for years, two of them it’s their first night ever in a church or youth group. Some are eager to learn and longing for encouragement while others are pretty sure this is a waste of time. One declares he is bored already, another wants to know if Adam and Eve had belly buttons or not. This is a standard night for many youth groups. How can we not only faithfully teach the Bible, but make sure it lands well with clear application no matter what the passage is and who is in the group? Let’s workshop that exact question!

Andrew Wort is the youth pastor at Bundoora Presbyterian Church. He loves the challenge and privilege of helping youth see that Jesus is better than they (and we) can possibly imagine and that by listing to Jesus we discover boundless riches. He loves good coffee, can sing Les Miserables from start to finish, and is passionate about good quenelles.

YM3: Creating a space that Young People Love with Geoff Hall

Why will the youth in your area come to the youth group, both new people and regulars? Is it because they want to meet Jesus and get to know him better? Hopefully so, but do we do hour-long theology lectures or 30-minute sermons? I doubt it, just like we don’t serve cordial with no water. They’ll come because they like the people, the program, and the personality of the group. So, come along to discuss how to create a space the youth love and want to come, and bring friends to.

Geoff is the youth pastor at Holy Trinity Doncaster and St John’s Blackburn Anglican church. Geoff has been working in this role for 2 high school generations and is excited and encouraged by what God has done among the young people at Doncaster and Blackburn in that time, and he can’t wait to see what more God will do in the next 10-15 years.

YM4: Discipling Second Generation Youth with David Cheung

Second-generation migrant youth straddle two worlds: their family heritage and Aussie culture. How do we effectively disciple second-generation migrant youth to build authentic faith that bridges cultures and generations.

David Cheung is the Pastor for Youth and Tertiary Students at Cross Culture Church of Christ.

Teenager

T1: How to be LIT Leaders in Training with Amy Brown

Are you a young person in years 9-12? Are you a young person who’s just dipping their toe in for the first time to help out at your church? Are you excited, nervous or something in between as you get stuck into serving at your church this year? Are you exploring what it means to be a young Christian leader? This workshop is designed specifically for you! Together we’ll explore the greatness of God and the work he’ll be doing in & through you in the year ahead to be LIT leaders in training.

Amy is the Generations Minister at Mt Eliza Anglican Church, MAF (Melbourne Anglican Foundation) Schools Engagement Officer and Director of LiT (Leaders-in-Training) Victoria. Amy loves exploring the great outdoors with her adorable cavoodle Oscar, enjoying coffee (& pup-cups) with friends, travelling the world, and making stuff (I will literally dabble in any and all creative hobbies!)

t2: Equipping Teenage Evangelists

Effective youth ministry isn’t just about ministry to young people, it’s about supporting ministry by young people. In this seminar we think about how teenagers can be inspired, equipped, and supported to share the good news of Jesus wherever they are.

Intergenerational Ministry

IG1: Making Ministry More Intergenerational with Matt Keller and Megan Macaluso

In a culture that often fragments by age, the Gospel calls us to a deeper unity. This seminar will help you develop ministries that bring people of all ages together in mutual serving, sharing, and learning. We will consider both the theory of Intergenerational ministry and how to practice it in different church settings. 

Matt and Megan both work for City on a Hill, Matt as the National Director for Next Generation Ministries and Megan as one of the Regional Children’s Ministry advisors. Matt loves his job, particularly because Megan does all the real work!

IG2: Intergenerational Ministry skills with Naomi Swindon

You’re on board with the vibe of intergenerational ministry. You’d love to see people of all ages interacting more intentionally in your ministry. But how do you actually do it!? This seminar will provide you with practical skills for strengthening intergenerational connections in your ministry.

Naomi Swindon is a Youth Worker with Scripture Union Australia.

Leadership

L1: What to do when leadership is missing: how to lead without the title, talent or training with Lars Vorlicek

How do you lead when you aren’t actually the one in charge? What if we’re new to ministry or leadership, and want to step up in a larger way? What if suddenly, for the first time, we’re responsible for other people, and don’t feel like we’re possibly good enough? In this Leadership 101 seminar, we’ll consider what leadership actually is, and see how God loves working through leaders that aren’t particularly talented.

Lars Vorlicek is a volunteer youth leader at St Thomas Anglican Church Burwood by night and a Learning & Development Consultant by day. He has actively been involved in various youth ministries for over 10 years and is convinced that adults in church secretly want things to be more like they are in youth ministry. He has a wife and two dogs, and spends his spare time investing in Lego, Pokemon cards, and firewood.

L2: Help! I need more leaders! with Kristina Kettleton

Don’t have enough leaders? Where will they come from? How will you train them? Sound familiar? Come along to think through how you can develop leaders in your context.

Kristina works for the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne and City to City Australia as a consultant in ministry to children and young people. Mum of three, lover of fiction, BJJ hobbyist and Goldador wrangler. Life is full and fun!

L3: How we help young people grow to maturity – and global mission as a tool with Joshua Millard

Young people are growing with our without us. Our programs and efforts are often a best guess at our part in helping them reach Christian maturity. Global mission might not be an obvious tool for the discipleship of young people, but our contention is that it is a vital one. Come explore why and how.

Joshua is the Youth Development Director for the Church Missionary Society Victoria. Joshua is a luddite, but still manages to be engaged with young people.

L4: Why and How would a Vicar do Youth Ministry? with Matt Williams, Jerome Dias, and Graham Stanton

Youth Ministry is often a job that gets given to an energetic young adult or a junior staff member. But finding appropriate leaders, whether paid or volunteer, is an enduring challenge. So what does leading youth ministry look like for a vicar or lead pastor? This seminar is intended for vicars, lead pastors, senior ministers, whatever your role title might be. We’ll learn from the experience of two vicars who have been working at establishing new ministries among young people in their churches and think through the important role that church leaders have in promoting ministries to, with, and by young people that can enliven the whole church.

Matt Williams is the Vicar of St. James Old Cathedral, Melbourne West.

Jerome Dias is a Joint-Vicar, together with his wife, Vivianne of Hills Anglican Community (Parish of Upwey, Belgrave & Monbulk). Though now a Vicar, and having hung up his hat as a specific Youth minister, Jerome continues to be passionate in this area. He keeps up his skills and experience by habitually practicing his ‘dad jokes’ and crazy dance moves in the kitchen (when no one is looking!).

Graham Stanton is the Director of the Centre for Children’s and Youth Ministry. He has often been asked to consider becoming a vicar but has never been brave enough to say yes.

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Time	Event
09:00 – 09:50	Opening Session
10:00 – 11:15	Seminar 1
11:15 – 11:45	Morning tea
11:45 – 13:00	Seminar 2
13:00 – 13:45	Lunch
13:45 – 15:00	Seminar 3
15:15 – 16:30	Final Session with Panel: CYM amidst Shifting Technology (AI, Social media ban, and the rest)

	Teenagers	Session 1	Session 2	Session 3
T1	How to be LIT Leaders in Training with Amy Brown	X
T2	Equipping Teenage Evangelists		X	X

Time	Event
09:00 – 09:50	Opening Session (Live Stream)
10:00 – 11:15	Seminar 1
12:00 – 13:00	Seminar 2
14:00 – 15:00	Seminar 3
15:20 – 16:30	Final Session with Panel: CYM amidst Shifting Technology (AI, Social media ban, and the rest)

	Children’s Ministry	Session 1	Session 2	Session 3
CMO1	Grab Their Attention with Stories and Puppets! with Stephen Urmston	X	X
CMO2	Reaching Kids and Families: Creative ways to reach and connect families with Bettrys Lowe	X		X

Big, Strong, and Mighty

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