21 Child Discipleship Forum

Missed It Live? Don't Worry.

The Forum is Now On-Demand

Forum 2021 Speakers

Ed Stetzer

Bill Graham Center at Wheaton College

As an author, speaker, researcher, pastor and church planter, Ed Stetzer helps Christians learn how to share Christ. Ed has earned two master’s degrees and two doctorates and has written a dozen books and hundreds of articles. He is frequently interviewed by and cited in news outlets such as USA Today and CNN. He is the founding editor of The Gospel Project, a curriculum used by more than 1.7 million individuals each week for bible study; and currently works at Wheaton College as executive director of the Billy Graham Center there, and as the dean of the School of Mission, Ministry, and Leadership. His national radio show, Ed Stetzer Live, airs Saturdays. He also teaches at many colleges and seminaries, and is the teaching pastor at Highpoint Church, in Naperville, Illinois. Ed and his wife, Donna, have three daughters and have been married more than 25 years.

Valerie Bell

Awana

Valerie Bell is CEO of Awana, a global leader in child discipleship. From a young age, she felt called to be an advocate for children and families, and has lived out that out as an award-winning author, global children’s activist, and sought-after speaker on topics such as the legitimacy of children’s spirituality, the need for foundational trust between children and parents, and how a child’s faith is shaped. Valerie has written eight books. Her newest, RESILIENT: Child Discipleship and the Fearless Future of the Church, challenges church and ministry leaders to disciple today’s children and youth so they can become the leaders of tomorrow’s churches, communities and cultures. Before joining Awana in 2012, Valerie worked with The Chapel of the Air, The Global Bag Project and MOPS International, where she served as Board Chair. She and her husband, Steve, have two sons and six grandchildren.

Cynthia Dixson

Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church

Cynthia Dixson has advocated for the lives of children and youth and discipled them for more than 20 years. She founded Cynthia Y Dixson Ministries to provide a platform to boldly minister, provide solutions, and motivational tactics to children’s ministries, youth ministries, and parents of children with disabilities. Currently she serves as the children’s ministry director at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church, in Dallas, under the leadership of Dr. Tony Evans. While under the direction of Bishop T.D. Jakes, Cynthia was selected to spearhead and coordinate MegaKidz, one of the largest Christian events for children in the U.S. and a component of the historic MegaFest. Cynthia and her husband, Dale, have four children and four grandchildren.

Darren Whitehead

Church of the City

Darren Whitehead is the lead and founding pastor of Church of the City. In 2013, he and a small team had a vision to plant a family of churches that live in the way of Jesus for the renewal of global cities. Every weekend thousands of people join in person and online at six regional church congregations across Nashville and New York City. Originally from Australia, Darren has lived in the United States for more than 20 years. He holds a Master’s in Ministry from Wesley Seminary and a doctorate from Capital Seminary and Graduate School, with his dissertation focus on Millennials and the future of the Western church. He recently released his second book, Holy Roar: 7 Words That Will Change The Way You Worship, coauthored with worship leader Chris Tomlin. Darren and his wife, Brandy, have three daughters and live in Nashville.

Dr. Christopher Yuan

Author, Speaker

Christopher Yuan is a minister, teacher and speaker with a heart for those working through faith and sexuality. Through the narrative of his transformation from an agnostic gay man to born-again believer and professor at Moody Bible Institute, he has shared his message of redemption across five continents. He is the coauthor of Out of a Far Country: A Gay Son’s Journey to God, A Broken Mother’s Search for Hope. Christopher received his undergraduate degree at Moody Bible Institute, his Master of Arts in Biblical Exegesis at Wheaton College Graduate School, and his doctorate of ministry from Bethel Seminary. Outreach Magazine named his newest book, Holy Sexuality and the Gospel: Sex, Desire, and Relationships Shaped by God’s Grand Story, 2019 Book of the Year for Social Issues.

Sam Luce

Redeemer Church

Sam Luce has a passion for preaching the Gospel, and building and strengthening the local church through the multiplication of disciples. For the past 23 years he has served in multiple roles at Redeemer Church, a multisite church in upstate New York, including 16 years in children’s ministry. He currently serves as the global pastor of families, overseeing the kids and youth team. Sam is a prolific blogger, a popular conference speaker, and contributing editor to K! Magazine. He coauthored the book The Eric Trap, a fable that reveals five things every ministry leader must get right. Sam holds a B.A. in Theology from Portland Bible College and just received two Master’s degrees from Knox Theological Seminary: one in Christian and Classical Thought and the other in Biblical and Theological Studies. He and his wife of 22 years have four children.

Dr. Holly Catterton Allen

Lipscomb University

Dr. Holly Catterton Allen (PhD, Talbot School of Theology) is professor of Christian ministries and family science at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. Her most recent book is Forming Resilient Children: The Role of Spiritual Formation for Healthy Development (InterVarsity, 2021, in press); she is editor of InterGenerate: Transforming Churches through Intergenerational Ministry (ACU Press, 2018); she also co-authored Intergenerational Christian Formation (InterVarsity Press, 2012). Holly’s first book, Nurturing Children’s Spirituality: Christian Perspectives and Best Practices (Cascade), an edited volume, was released in 2008. For the past six years, Holly has chaired two international, cross-denominational conferences: InterGenerate and the Children’s Spirituality Summit.

Mark Matlock

WisdomWorks

Mark Matlock is a facilitator of innovation and impact, helping organizations adapt to changing times through turning research-based insights into action. He is founder of WisdomWorks LLC, a consultancy that helps churches and faith-based organizations leverage their collective wisdom and insight to innovate and adapt in changing times. Mark is the author of more than 20 books for teens and parents, and coauthor of Faith for Exiles: Five Ways for a New Generation to Follow Jesus in Digital Babylon. Having initiated research projects with Barna over the past two decades related to Next Gen studies, Mark’s research continues to provide insights into emerging generations and how to cultivate faithful disciples. Mark is an ordained minister, certified LifePLanner, LEGO Serious Play facilitator, and MCORE trainer and coach. He and his wife, Jade, have two adult children.

Matt Markins

Awana, President

Matt serves as the President and Chief Strategy Officer of Awana, a global leader in child discipleship. He is passionate about equipping church leaders to disciple the most fruitful mission field on the planet—children and youth. Matt firmly believes the most strategic investment the global church can make is to invest in making resilient disciples who will engage the culture and lead the fearless church of the future. Prior to joining the Awana executive leadership team, Matt served in leadership roles with Randall House Publishers, Thomas Nelson Publishers and was the co-founder of the D6 Conference, a discipleship and family ministry community. He’s a public speaker and the coauthor of three books: RESILIENT: Child Discipleship and the Fearless Future of the Church, Leading KidMin: How to Drive Real Change in Children’s Ministry, and The Gospel Truth About Children’s Ministry. Matt enjoys carpentry, active learning, outdoor exploration, travel, and breakfast with Katie. Matt and his wife Katie have been local church volunteers for more than 20 years and spend their time in Nashville and Chicago with their two sons Warren and Hudson.

Samuel Porcha

Awana, Emcee

As the director of the Child and Youth Discipleship Network at Awana, Samuel Porcha’ engages with ministry leaders in the inner city areas of Chicago, Dallas and Cleveland to provide them with encouragement and resources to disciple the kids in their care and expand the kingdom. Before joining Awana, Samuel was a fraud investigator with JP Morgan Chase and a business account executive with Xfinity, where he cultivated his skills in networking, leadership and training. He has a Theology Degree in Biblical Studies, and has served as an associate and youth pastor. He is also the senior pastor of his ministry Christ is Everything, as well as a volunteer mentor to elementary-aged children through Kids Hope, and a weekly volunteer in a local food pantry. Samuel lives with his family in Hoffman Estates. He and his wife, Kimberly, have a total of four children.

Why are kids leaving the church after high school? What if the strategy to change this started in children’s ministry?

The Child Discipleship Forum is where children’s ministry leaders, senior pastors and parents gather to collaborate, pray, learn and dialogue about the most critical factors to shape long-term discipleship in children.

On Demand Access

Leading VoicesOn cultural changes, child advocacy & local church ministry
Practical Research About children & the Church
Resources To bring biblical child discipleship to your church

Child Discipleship Drives the Future of the Church

Are we adequately preparing today’s kids to engage the culture and lead the church of the future?

With the rapid changes taking place within our culture, child discipleship has become the most crucial conversation in the church. More and more Children’s Ministry Leaders, Senior Pastors, NextGen Leaders and Parents are asking these questions.

Let’s unite together at the Child Discipleship Forum as we collaborate, pray, and learn together. This is a critical moment for us to shape the future of the church and make the greatest generation of disciples the world has ever seen.

On Demand Access

Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.

Matthew 19:14

Missed Us Live?

Watch and experience the forum for 30 days. Get Access Now

On Demand

Missed Us Live?

$249 30 Day Access Available for Pre-Order

Watch the Forum On Demand

On Demand Access

Founding Partners

About Awana

The Child Discipleship Forum has been organized by Awana. To many in North America, Awana is known as a “mid-week ministry” to children and youth. The reality is that Awana is a leader in global child and youth discipleship in 122 countries in a variety of curricula and leader equipping networks. Awana partners with ministries like Compassion International, World Vision, and numerous denominations in over 65,000 churches (11,400 of them in North America) engaging 4.7 million children and students weekly.

21 Child Discipleship Forum

Missed It Live? Don't Worry.

The Forum is Now On-Demand

Forum 2021 Speakers

Ed Stetzer

Valerie Bell

David Kinnaman

Cynthia Dixson

Gabe Lyons

Eli Bonilla

Dr. Denise Muir Kjesbo

Darren Whitehead

Dr. Christopher Yuan

Leah Broach

Sam Luce

Yancy

Dr. Holly Catterton Allen

Jim Wideman

Mark Matlock

Dr. Wess Stafford

Matt Markins

Samuel Porcha

Melanie Hester

Why are kids leaving the church after high school? What if the strategy to change this started in children’s ministry?

Leading VoicesOn cultural changes, child advocacy & local church ministry

Practical Research About children & the Church

Resources To bring biblical child discipleship to your church

Child Discipleship Drives the Future of the Church

Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.

Missed Us Live?

On Demand

Missed Us Live?

Founding Partners

About Awana