“Children are not just the future. They are the present.”
This was one foundational truth highlighted at the Strengthening Children’s Ministry workshop, put on by Fresno Pacific University’s Center for Community Transformation on April 25 in Fresno, California.
Carolina Mueller, director of ministry training, says the event provided an opportunity to support local leaders’ growth in their own ministries—especially for the next generation.
“Equipping leaders is our heart,” she says.
With 76 people registering to attend, Mueller was pleasantly surprised when nearly 90 people showed up.
Theology of children
In the opening plenary session, Adam Ghali, associate professor of marriage and family therapy at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary, presented “Theology of Children: Jesus and his model of care.” Ghali shared gospel accounts of how Jesus transformed both the status of children and the role of caring for children during his earthly ministry.
Ghali pointed out that the characteristics of children—spiritual openness, relationality, imagination and the capacity for growth—reflect the image of God. In addition, Ghali emphasized recognizing children as spiritual beings: “Children have capacity for deep experiences with God, even if they do not experience him in the same way adults do.”
Breakout sessions
After the main session, participants attended one of four breakout sessions:
- Learning styles and disabilities in ministry
- Child development and parenting
- Understanding the new generation
- Transmitiendo la Fe a los Niños (Nurturing faith in children)
While all were well-attended, Mueller says the session about understanding the new generation brought a high level of interest—a trend she has seen at other ministry and training events as well.
Supporting families affected by disabilities
In the breakout session, “Learning styles and disabilities,” Launa and Jeff Grunau of Action Community Church in Clovis, California, discussed major learning styles (auditory, visual, tactile and kinesthetic) and processing styles (internal and external).
The Grunaus also unpacked the challenges and realities of families affected by disability. One statistic indicated that 80% of families affected by disability do not attend church.
In a conversation after the event, Launa shares that, for a number of reasons, churches often struggle with how to engage families or individuals with disabilities, fearful of unintentionally hurting people further.
“If you don’t know what disability culture looks like, it can be intimidating to engage,” she says.
Having two children with disabilities herself, Launa shares that people with disabilities are often overlooked as also being people who need the gospel.
“We need to reach these families with the gospel—and not exclude them any further,” Launa says.
In their breakout session, the Grunaus covered how to remove barriers and create environments where every child and family feels welcome. Some practical tips included:
- Using “first-then” statements to reduce anxiety and provide clear communication and motivation (“First, we are going to wash our hands—then we will have a snack.”)
- Limiting choices to two or three options
- Prompting peer interactions
- Using visual timers to support transitions
Ultimately, it’s not about creating complex systems—it’s about making connections.
“My philosophy is you don’t have to create a whole new program around disability, but can you create a community around it,” Launa says.
Mueller says one piece of advice that stuck out from the Grunaus’ session was to be specific when offering assistance to families affected by disability.
“Be there for the family in tangible ways,” Mueller says. “Not just ‘How can I help you?’—but if you see a specific need, offer to help.”
Development and parenting
In addition to the plenary session, Ghali also led a breakout session titled “Child development and parenting.”
While discussing childhood development, Ghali shared insights about the formation occurring during each stage. Some highlights include:
- Infancy (0-18 months): The primary developmental work belongs to caregivers and the community.
- Toddlerhood (18-36 months): Toddlers are learning two necessary tasks—becoming a self and staying connected.
- Preschool (ages 3-5): Children use play and imagination to work through inner conflict.
- Middle childhood (ages 6-12): Children are explorers, learning not just facts but how to participate in life.
- Adolescence (ages 11-20): This is a time of emotional intensity, social engagement, novelty and creativity.
Ghali also explained that parenting is not only about stopping behavior. It’s also about developing self-regulation, responsibility and a moral compass for children.
When reflecting on the takeaways from this session, Mueller relates that development in children also provides growth opportunities for parents and adults.
“Let your own children shape your transformation,” Mueller says.
The new generation
In “Understanding the new generation,” Emily Ávila, ministry administrator at Youth for Christ, shared first-hand insight on how to connect with Generation Z (of which she is a part) and Generation Alpha.
Ávila detailed what these generations value—including authenticity, identity, flexibility, social awareness and family—as well as what misconceptions exist.
When engaging the new generation in gospel conversations, Ávila noted authenticity is paramount. Additionally, leaders should take the new generation’s values into account when planning ministry and be willing to listen with curiosity. “Tell me more” is a phrase to use to help lead with authenticity.
For unchurched youth, Ávila shared in her presentation: “Step out of your ministry, and go where the young people are. You’ll be surprised by what you see.”
Nurturing faith in children
Mueller led the breakout session “Transmitiendo la Fe a los Niños (Nurturing faith in children)” in Spanish.
Touching on themes presented in the other breakout sessions, Mueller reminded attendees about guiding children through each developmental stage. She invited participants to reflect on how faith is transmitted to children and youth through relationship, intentional examples and discipleship.
Mueller emphasized that children don’t learn faith through words alone but by what they see, experience and receive from adults.
She highlighted practical daily actions—such as prayer, conversations about the Bible, acts of kindness,patience and grace-filled responses—that can have lasting spiritual impact.
Encouraged, challenged and resourced
At the end of the workshop, event coordinators invited participants to share about their experience.
Mueller relates that one “brave sharer” stood up with a simple call to action: Listen to our youth—have a posture of listening.
Having a tangible takeaway is a mark of success for the event, according to Mueller: “Our hope is that they left encouraged, they left challenged and they left with at least one resource.”
Lacey joined the Christian Leader staff as editor in July 2025. She has more than two decades of experience in editorial writing and strategic communications, creating and editing content for newspaper, magazines, websites and email campaigns. Lacey, her husband and their two girls live in Wichita, Kansas, and attend Ridgepoint Church.
