What are Learning Labs? Learning Labs are our new type of “breakout session” that focuses on hands-on experience and real-life takeaways that can be implemented in your ministry immediately. These labs have been chosen carefully and intentionally to provide the most relevant resources for moving your own church’s Mission Forward!
Next Gen Ministry is one of the most volunteer-intensive areas of church life. The high demand for leaders places constant pressure on ministry staff and volunteers alike. In a season when the pool of available volunteers continues to shrink, even the most passionate leaders can become discouraged, frustrated, and eventually burned out. But it doesn’t have to be this way. This interactive Learning Lab will equip children’s and student ministry leaders with a practical framework for building healthy, sustainable teams that does more than fill holes.
Multiply your church’s impact without multiplying your budget. Artificial Intelligence isn’t just for big tech companies; it’s the biggest tool of our lifetime for ministry empowerment. Join us to learn how to ethically and practically use AI to free up time for what truly matters: mission.
In this hands-on workshop, you’ll discover how to leverage simple, powerful AI tools to create your own “AI staff.” You’ll leave with actionable takeaways, real-world examples, and a clear blueprint to leverage this new tech. Learn how to lead with AI while keeping the human at the center of your ministry.
Led by Liz B. Baker, Fortune 500-trained strategist, AI leadership expert, and founder of Nimbology. With 20+ years of helping organizations work smarter through technology, Liz specializes in practical AI implementation that amplifies human ministry without replacing the human touch.
What if the greatest mission field for your Next Gen ministry is just outside your church doors? This Learning Lab invites children’s and student ministry leaders to move from programs to presence: engaging kids, teens, and families right where they already live, learn, and play. Through stories from local practitioners and hands-on exercises, you’ll learn how to listen to your community, partner with what God is already doing, and help your leaders and students become bridge-builders of hope. You’ll leave with a personal map and one actionable next step to bring your ministry closer to your neighbors.
This session will explore how to transform time-honored ministry events into dynamic experiences designed to resonate with Generation Z and Generation Alpha. Generations change, but a desire to love God and others well continues to connect with younger generations. Participants in this lab will learn characteristics of Generations Z and Alpha, assess the ways in which they are currently ministering to children and youth, and take part in an interactive ministry event redesign to implement in their context.
This session will explore how to transform time-honored ministry events into dynamic experiences designed to resonate with Generation Z and Generation Alpha. Generations change, but a desire to love God and others well continues to connect with younger generations. Participants in this lab will learn characteristics of Generations Z and Alpha, assess the ways in which they are currently ministering to children and youth, and take part in an interactive ministry event redesign to implement in their context.
Many churches already hold a vibrant mission field within their walls: weekday preschools and Child Development Centers. These ministries provide daily access to and build important relationships with children and families, but without an intentional strategy these families may never find their way into the life of your church. This session invites senior leaders to reimagine these ministries not as separate operations, but as sacred opportunities for gospel-centered transformation. Through real-world examples, collaborative exercises, and practical tools, participants will learn how to align their church and CDC for shared mission, deepen staff partnership, and create a clear next step toward reaching families in their own community.