Schedule of Events
Rooted in Jesus
For 16 years, we’ve come together as a diverse and vibrant community united by a shared passion for nurturing children’s faith through the gospel. This year, Rooted in Jesus invites us to slow down, go deeper, and consider what helps children develop a faith that is grounded, relational, and resilient. Get ready for inspiring workshops, dynamic speakers, hands-on experiences, opportunities for Soul Care, and a few special surprises along the way.
Don’t forget to preorder your limited-edition conference T-shirt to pick up at the event.
Explore the full schedule below and prepare to be inspired and equipped to serve children with fresh energy and vision!
Event Special Features
Plenary Speaker
Natalie Frisk
Natalie has served in pastoral ministry and spiritual formation for nearly 20 years. After earning a Master’s in Theological Studies from McMaster Divinity College and spending thousands of hours ministering with children and youth, she now focuses on curriculum development and equipping church leaders.
Soul Care
Tend Your Roots!
This year, as we explore what it means to be Rooted in Jesus, we want to make space not only to learn about nurturing deep roots in children, but to tend to our own. We are please to have 2 small group soul care experiences facilitated by Leanne Cabral, a certified Spiritual Director, author and speaker.
Event T-shirts
TCMC Special Edition t-shirts are available while quantities last for purchase to be picked up upon your arrival at the Conference. They are ordered separately by clicking the link below.
ORDERS DUE by OCT 15, 2026
PRICE: $20 each
GROUP BUNDLE PRICE: Buy 4, Get 1 FREE
2026 Event Schedule
8-9am | Registration/Coffee/Bookstore/Exhibits
9-10:15am | Opening Plenary Session (Main Auditorium)
10:30-11:30am | Workshop Session 1:
| Leader | Room | Workshop |
|---|---|---|
| Leanne Cabral | Main Auditorium | Hearing God for Families |
| Steve and Stephanie Joneslee | 1 | Plan, Follow-Through, and Proof: Safeguarding That Survives a Busy Sunday |
| Elaine Ho | 2 | Igniting Intergenerational Prayer Initiative |
| Denise LaFayette | 3 | Roots to shoots – Getting all generations involved in kids ministry |
| Brett Ullman | 4 | Parenting: Navigating Everything |
| Corey Parish | 5 | Twisted Branches: The Ministry of Wounded Healers |
| Sydney Pierce | 6 | Reaching and Discipling Sport Families |
| Self Led | Soul Care Room | Interactive Prayer Stations |
11:40-12:40pm | Workshop Session 2:
| Leader | Room | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Adam Clarke | Main Auditorium | Clear Communication for Busy Parents |
| Bryan Dixon | 1 | On the road to Emmaus with Vygotsky |
| Teresa Tong | 2 | Hurried Child-Abandoned Generation |
| Leanne Cabral | 3 | Navigating Family Stress |
| TBD | 4 | Title and Description TBD |
| Angelina Hung | 5 | Training Your Trainers |
| Sydney Pierce | 6 | Faith Formation in a Performance-Driven Culture |
| Self Led | Soul Care Room | Interactive Prayer Stations |
12:40-1:40pm | Lunch (Gym)
1:45-2:15pm | Comedy In Motion 2.0 Hudson & Cole
2:30-3:30pm | Workshop Session 3:
| Leader | Room | Workshop |
|---|---|---|
| Lawson Murray | Main Auditorium | Helping Children Read the Bible |
| Steve and Stephanie Joneslee | 1 | Plan, Follow-Through, and Proof: Safeguarding That Survives a Busy Sunday |
| TBD | 2 | |
| Megan Jull | 3 | Playful Intergenerational Worship Ideas for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany |
| TBD | 4 | |
| Amy Csoke | 5 | From Busy to Intentional. Building A Strategy for Children’s Ministry |
| Karen Murray | 6 | Give me Five! Five ways to welcome and include every child |
| Leanne Cabral** | Soul Care Room | Contemplative Reading of Scripture |
| Spiritual Direction** | Spiritual Direction Rooms | Spiritual Direction |
| ** Soul Care Experiences require sign up at lunch and have limited numbers. |
3:40-4:40pm | Workshop Session 4:
| Leader | Room | Workshop |
|---|---|---|
| Joanne Bieler | Main Auditorium | Don’t Just Teach It, Make It Stick! Interactive Ways Kids Remember Their Faith |
| Lawson Murray | 1 | The Secret Sauce of Children’s Ministry |
| Natalie Frisk | 2 | When Kids Ask Big Questions |
| Irina Dubinski | 3 | A Clergy-Led, Community-Based Model of Children’s Faith Formation |
| Brett Ullman | 4 | Media: Navigating Everything |
| Debbie Valani | 5 | Just like LEGO – Building a Children’s Ministry One Block at a Time |
| Isaac Wilson | 6 | Sharing the Gospel with Children and Youth |
| Leanne Cabral** | Soul Care Room | Art Contemplation |
| Spiritual Direction** | Spiritual Direction Rooms | Spiritual Direction |
| ** Soul Care Experiences require sign up at lunch and have limited numbers. |