The conference dates for 2011 are 4th-6th February

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A picture gallery, details of conference downloads, speakers notes, recommended titles and songs sung over the weekend are below.

Conference report

For those of us organising the conference the few weeks after Christmas were tense. The heavy snow and ice meant, understandably, that people held back from booking. But we were blessed by a break in the weather and over 1300 people gathered in Eastbourne for another fantastic weekend. here are a couple of typical comments - one from a first time attender (as were about half the delegates) and one from a regular.

‘This year has been my first conference attendance. I came looking to God to speak to me to reignite my enthusiasm and vision for ministry to children and I have come away with that and so much more! Thank you Father God – and thank you to all who have been involved in the conference in any way. God bless you!’ (Children's Work Co-coordinator)

‘This was the best CM conference ever. The standard of the main talks and workshops was extremely high and the worship and songs in the main celebrations were excellent. The whole event was so well organised that it all seemed to run seamlessly. Well done to everyone involved and thank you for such a refreshing, inspiring and energising conference.’ (Person in charge of Sunday School)

Anne Richards spoke on main stage on Friday evening and set the weekend off on an inspiring note. I think she gave a slightly different perspective on God's view of children and would have made many delegates listen to other sessions over the weekend with new ears.

Geraldine Latty and her band led the worship in our three main sessions over the weekend and as always she was awesome. As the conference organiser I know that she really understands the heartbeat of the conference and leads worship appropriately - a real skill given the wide range of churchmanship represented at the conference.

We started Saturday morning with Bible study - although half the delegates chose the 'lighter' option offered by Bob Hartman! Then George Barna introduced us to his research that underpins his work on encouraging churches and parents to build up their children as spiritual champions. David Pearson gave us important and up-to-date information on the ISA Vetting and Barring Scheme and delegates were generous in their offering towards the work of Ray of Hope, Amazon.

Saturday afternoon, along with Friday afternoon and Sunday morning, was taken up with optional seminars and workshops. Although we plan the progamme in topic streams, delegates never follow a single stream through the weekend which I guess just goes to show that most people engaged in children's and family minstry have a wide range of roles and responsibilites.

On Saturday evening Lucy Moore hosted 'Entertaining Angels' a light-hearted event inspired by the story from Genesis of Abraham's visitors - although I'm quite sure that the Genesis account doesn't include a chicken! That was just quick thinking from Rhema Theatre Company when props went astray - but eveyone who was present will never forget it!

Bishop Paul Butler encouraged us to help children engage with the Bible, and not just Bible stories, in the closing session on Sunday.

Far more than I expected attended and enjoyed Ruth Hassall's session on 'Feeding your soul' on Sunday morning. We will take that on board and give more time to personal reflection and refreshment next year. I'm also hoping to have an interactive prayer area available throughout the 2011 event.

I'll also take into account the other feedback on topics delegates would like to see included - although there is no indication of any subjects that should be dropped to accommodate them! In particular we'll look at adding more on prayer, children and the Holy Spirit and working with inner city children and families.

Sue Price, Conference Director

Picture gallery

Click on a picture to see a larger version

Friday 5.00-6.00pm
Showcasing: BIG Ministries. Jo Squires with the BIG team
Session download not available.

Practical ideas for families to share at home. Cathy Kyte
Download this talk (£2.99).
Download speaker notes.

Practical ideas for under 5s. Claire Wells with Sheila Pearson
Session download not available.

Friday 6.15-7.15pm
Explaining the cross. Andy Saunders
Download this talk (£2.99).
Recommended book (~~£2.99~~ £2.84)

Keeping tweenagers. Mark Ashworth
Download this talk (£2.99).

Using conjuring in ministry. Graham Nunn
Session download not available.

Friday 7.30-9.00pm
Through the eyes of a child. Anne Richards
Download this talk (£2.99).

Recommended book (~~£19.99~~ £18.99)
Worship: Geraldine Latty and her band
Go to the list of songs that Geraldine used over the weekend.

Saturday 9.15-10.15am
A Biblical and theological perspective on childhood. Ian White
Download this talk (£2.99).
Download speaker's slides.

Biblical reflections on children and families: a lighter alternative. Bob Hartman
Download this talk (£2.99).

A Biblical and theological perspective on the family. Sharon Prior
Download this talk (£2.99).
Download speaker's slides.

Saturday 10.45am-12.45pm
Transforming children in to spiritual champions. George Barna
Download this talk (£2.99).

Recommended book (~~£10.99~~ £10.44).

Worship: Geraldine Latty and her band
Go to the list of songs that Geraldine used over the weekend.

Saturday 2.00-3.00pm
Exploring creation. Doug Horley
Session download not available.

Recommended DVD (~~£14.99~~ £13.49)

The discipleship of children: are we structured right in both content and intent? Ian White
Download this talk (£2.99).
Download speaker's slides.

Multi-sensory worship for all ages. Irene Smale
Download this talk (£2.99).
Recommended book (~~£8.99~~ ££8.09)

If you were at this session and Jane promised you a copy of her dissertation please contact us office@familyministry.co.uk - and we will pass your email address onto her.

Using mime in ministry. Ken Wylie
Session download not available.

Best practice in children's ministry. Sharon Prior
Download this talk (£2.99).
Download speaker's slides.

Exploring the Bible with tweenagers. Terry Clutterham
Download this talk (£2.99).
Recommended book (~~£2.99~~ £2.69)

Involving teenagers in children's ministry and training them in leadership. Heather Hughes with Rebecca & Sarah
Download this talk.

Download speaker's slides.
Recommended book (~~£7.99~~ £7.59)

Worship and singing with under 5s. Julia Plaut
Download this talk (£2.99).
Recommended CD (~~£14.99~~ £13.49)

Toddler groups: an opportunity for community engagement. Fiona Burt
Download this talk (£2.99).

Download speaker's slides.

Saturday 3.30-4.30pm
Teaching the Bible through song. Ishmael
Session download not available.

Recommended CD (~~12.99~~ £11.69)

How should churches support parents in faith development? George Barna
Download this talk (£2.99).

Recommended book (~~£25.99~~ £23.39)

Showcasing: Messy Church. Lucy Moore
Download this talk (£2.99). There is some background interference on this recording but you can listen to it OK.
Recommended book (~~£8.99~~ £8.54)

Using puppets in ministry. Steve Morgan-Gurr
Session download not available.

Faith development in children. Sharon Prior
Download this talk (£2.99).
Download speaker's slides.

Bible stories and under 5s. Andy Saunders
Download this talk (£2.99).

Welcoming children with special needs. Alice Langtree
Download this talk (£2.99).
Recommended book (~~£2.99~~ £2.84)

Discipleship and tweenagers. Ali Campbell
Download this talk (£2.99).
Download speaker's slides.

Child friendly church. Jane Leadbetter
Download this talk (£2.99).

Saturday 5.00-6.00pm
Using visual media in ministry. Dave Carlos
Download this talk (£2.99).

Passing on the baton: ensuring continuity of good practice as leaders move to new positions. Ali Campbell
Download this talk (£2.99).

Download speaker's slides.

Showcasing: Light for everyone – developing imaginative regular Sunday groups. Terry Clutterham
Session download not available.

Using drama in ministry. James Hamilton
Session download not available.

Intergenerational church. Lucy Moore
Download this talk (£2.99).
Recommended book (~~£7.99~~ £7.59)

Worship and tweenagers. Rich Thomas
Download this talk (£2.99).

Assemblies with impact. Amy Stock
Download this talk (£2.99).

Storytelling for all ages. Bob Hartman
Download this talk (£2.99).

Recommended book (~~£8.99~~ £8.09)

Parenting courses: why and how? Lindsay Melluish
Download this talk (£2.99).
Recommended book (~~£6.99~~ £6.29)

Sunday 9.15-10.15am
Worship and songs for 5-13s. Doug Horley
Session download not available.

Recommended DVD (~~£14.99~~ £13.49)

Faith development in practice: some examples of successful groups and a time for discussion. Chaired by Ruth Hassall with Lianne Smith from X:site

Download this talk (£2.99).

Showcasing: Roots. Jane Chevous
Download this talk (£2.99).

Using flags and dance in ministry. Marie Bensley
Session download not available.

Recommended book (~~£2.99~~ £2.69)

Holiday clubs and year-round outreach. Andy Saunders
Download this talk (£2.99).

Faith at home: why, how and who? Jane Butcher
Download this talk (£2.99).

Presenting the Gospel to secular congregations. Dennis Pethers
Download this talk (£2.99).

Sunday 10.45-11.45am
Discovering the Bible with children. Terry Clutterham
Download this talk (£2.99).

Feeding your soul: a time for refreshment. Ruth Hassall
Download this talk (£2.99).

Showcasing: ALF and Check It Out. Dennis Pethers
Session download not available.

Using BibleBop in ministry. John Hardwick

Session download not available.
Recommended CD/DVD (~~£12.99~~ £11.69)

More than babysitting: ministry with 0-2s and their families. Claire Wells with Jenny FitzSimmon
Download this talk (£2.99).

How do you build a vision for your Family Ministry? Pauline Burdett
Download this talk (£2.99).
Recommended book (~~£2.99~~ £2.84)

Local church, local school. Martyn Payne
Download this talk (£2.99).

Sunday 12.15-1.45pm
Loving God’s Word. Bishop Paul Butler
Download this talk (£2.99).

Recommended book (~~£19.99~~ £18.99)

Worship: Geraldine Latty and her band

Songs sung by Geraldine over the weekend: