Training Kids Leaders

Everyone wants to have an impact in their world. Children’s Ministry has shifted from traditional Sunday School to an impacting, vibrant, growth causing ministry in the life of local Churches. ACCkids provides to the wider church leadership development into this area through conferences, training events, formal education and mentoring so that the Church can influence locally and into the world.

Over the past two years ACCkids has been focussed on Leadership development through the demographic of Children’s Leaders. In that time we have held 2 x Kidshaper National Tour events which is a five City training event over one week. We have continued with our successful Coaching Program, continued with our weekly Leadership Podcast, partnered with OneHope to bring relevant research and training along with resources to churches.

Leadership and structure

Over the last two years we have had some changes in State Leaders with the current team listed below.

National Andy Kirk

QLD/NT Laura Douglas

NSW Allyson Parker

VIC Todd Werner (took over from Barry Newton)

WA Bek Van Sant (took over from Jordan Keehan)

SA Alice McInnes

Training, Equipping & Resources

ACCkids has continued to develop it’s Coaching program and well over 90 Kids pastors and leaders have been trained and mentored. The continuation of the ACCkids Kids Ministry and Leadership Podcast has created another platform for Kids pastors and leaders to upskill weekly. The Podcast has seen the leading Kids Pastors Internationally feature along with incredible Australian pastors and leaders from within our Movement

Highlights

The main highlights in the last 2 years has been the expansion into training through ACCkids Coaching and the partnership with OneHope that delivers research to arm and equip the churches. These Studies include: Guiding Children, Households of Faith and the Global Youth Culture reports. The resources of The Bible App for Kids, Kids Bible Experience have also assisted.

New initiatives

OneHope and YouVersion Partnership

OneHope and YouVersion brought us the Bible App for Kids a number of years ago and this has been an incredible resource for families. ACCkids has been joined with both these organizations around a new project ‘Kids Daily Bible Experience’ which has launched stage one on the YouVersion App. The creation of Content and continued joint partnerships will see many of our leading ACC Churches Kids Ministries involved.

Roundtable Events

In 2022 & 2023 we have hosted Roundtable events that have gathered key churches from around Australia to look into the latest research and work together on large projects together as the wider Body of Christ

Goals and vision

Over the coming two years, ACCkids plan to continue growing and developing leaders in Children’s Ministry. We are looking for a continued growth in attendance in all our events and initiatives as we serve the wider church. We aim to outwork this through:

• More intentional Leadership development to these Regional Leaders (whether online or other specific training opportunities)

• A yearly Key Kids Leaders Summit

• Continue to give Kids pastors / leaders coaching opportunities (especially to support new leaders as they take on a seemingly daunting role)

• Continue to build the Kidshaper tour and Conference, for opportunities for leaders to gather and be inspired.

• Create a communal online cloud that people can access resources / templates or that key leaders could contribute resources that may help others.

• Greater education to Senior Leaders and Ministry Staff around engagement with families and discipleship

As ACCkids continues over the coming two years to outwork the training and development of Children’s pastors and leaders we would like to thank the ACC National Executive for it’s ongoing support. For local churches wanting any information on how they can be a part of all that is being offered please contact us at info@acckids.org.au

Andy Kirk ACCKids National Leader