Ministries: Children: Our Most Precious Gifts

Children: Our Most Precious Gifts

The Children’s Ministries Department of the Southwestern Union supports the five conferences and their children’s ministries departments, children’s ministries departments in our churches and parents and caregivers who are looking for spiritually-enriching resources for their children. This year marks the seventh annual children’s ministries leadership training retreat, an event intended to provide fellowship, training, information, and resources to the volunteers who take on the vital responsibility of children’s ministries. This year’s training retreat will take place in person, at Lone Star Camp in Athens, Texas.

“Children are our most precious gifts,” says Sonia Canó, children’s ministries director for the Southwestern Union. “It is our job to protect, encourage and train them with loving guidance so that they will have a wonderful example of who God is and how much He loves them. In children’s ministries, we provide tools and training to create that environment in our churches and in our homes.”

Canó also works to empower volunteers in children’s ministries so that they feel confident about making space for children’s ministries within their own churches. “Some of our churches haven’t yet embraced having our children as a part of our worship together. It’s important for children to be valued and to be a part of our services,” she says.

One way to accomplish this is through a children’s Sabbath day, says Canó. “While we have an official Children’s Sabbath Day in the fall of each year, I would encourage our pastors and church leaders to think about how our children can participate in each service, or on a more regular basis.”

Understanding the importance of protecting our children, providing volunteer training on how to spot predators, and providing volunteer screening tools are additional ways that children’s ministries support local leaders.

“Adventist Screening Verification is a tool that can be found on our website and should be utilized for anyone looking to volunteer. It’s a great first step in protecting our children,” says Canó.

Canó and her team of conference coordinators also provide training on various aspects of children’s ministries throughout the year as requested by conferences and churches, including training on the topics of Vacation Bible School, Sabbath School, Children’s Safety, and more. She also trains on the North American Division Children’s Ministries Certification Tracks at the annual retreat and at area trainings. For more information and upcoming events, visit SouthwesternAdventist. org/Children or email Sonia at scano@swuc.org.