The 2007 annual Children’s Ministry Conference was held January 16-18 at the Lawrenceville, Ga., Marriott. For two days, 150 people gathered from across the church for instruction, inspiration, encouragement, and networking.  This Christian Education and Publications event featured Steve Smallman, Sr., as the keynote speaker.  Smallman, a pastor, teacher, and author spoke on the spiritual birthline concept from his recent book Spiritual Birthline and his latest publication from Presbyterian and Reformed Publishers, How Our Children Come to Faith. Steve’s wife Sandy added her perspective on these topics from their family experiences. Smallman is currently serving with CityNet Ministries of Philadelphia and is an adjunct professor at both Westminster and Covenant Theological Seminaries.

Other plenary speakers included Allen Curry of Reformed Theological Seminary and a regional trainer for CE&P, Susan Hunt, writer and consultant for CE&P, and Mark Sumpter, an Orthodox Presbyterian Church pastor from Oregon and a CE&P regional trainer.  The plenary speakers spoke on various aspects of kingdom discipleship within a covenant context and how that relates to and impacts children’s ministry in local churches and families. CE&P Coordinator Charles Dunahoo explained the purpose of the conference in his opening welcome, "How to tell God’s story to the next generation within a kingdom of God, world and life view context, from a covenantal perspective that will touch many practical areas of application in ministering to the children, churches, and families--that is what this conference is all about.  It will seek to blend the truth with application and practice that will impact your lives and ministry."

Other highlights of the conference focused around the worship times.  Steve Smallman Jr., son of the main speaker, led the worship time. Steve is the associate pastor of New Song Community Church in Baltimore.

A variety of workshops were offered:  protecting against child abuse, helping children learn to use their Bibles, fundamentals of children’s ministry, knowing how to effectively relate to and teach children, uniting a covenant church with a covenant home, and church growth from children’s ministry experts were among the topics offered. Small focus groups gathered around selected topics for discussion: nursery, PCA 101, music, special events, recruiting volunteers, and special needs education were among the topics.

While the conference laid out a strong biblical and theological base for ministry among God’s covenant children, it was balanced with practical instruction and application.