The Illinois Baptist State Association’s Kid Min Conference 2025 brought together children’s ministry leaders from across the state for a day of practical training, encouragement, and connection. The event opened with breakfast and fellowship, followed by a powerful keynote from Brian Dembowczyk on “Breaking the Cycle: Casting a Compelling Vision for Family Discipleship.” His message set the tone for a day focused on helping churches and leaders partner with parents to make lasting generational impact.
Throughout the day, attendees chose from multiple breakout sessions designed to strengthen every aspect of kids ministry. Dembowczyk led sessions on building a culture of family discipleship, using catechisms to deepen learning at home and church, and understanding Bible translations for kids. Melita Thomas from Lifeway introduced adaptable curriculum options and offered a sneak peek at VBS 2026, while Isaiah Stonecipher, Jennie Ross, and Claudia Tackett shared strategies for ministering to preteens, developing volunteers, and leading in smaller church contexts.
This webpage provides access to the videos, slides, and handouts from each session so you can revisit the training, share it with your team, and continue developing your ministry to children and families. Whether you attended in person or are exploring the content for the first time, these resources will help equip your church to reach the next generation with the gospel.
Available Video Titles
Building a Culture of Family Discipleship: Partnering with Parents for Our Greatest Win (Brian Dembowczyk)
Bible 101: Why So Many Translations? Which is Best For You and Your Kids? (Brian Dembowczyk)
Kids Curriculum that Fits Your Church (Melita Thomas)
VBS 2026 Sneak Peek (Melita Thomas)
What about the Big Kids? Ministry to 4th-6th Grade and Beyond (Isaiah Stonecipher)
Recruiting and Training KidMin Volunteers and Leaders (Jennie Ross)
KidMin in the Smaller Church (Claudia Tackett)
