There's all your great planning... and then there's what really happens!

Too often children's ministry leaders are surprised by the difference between their best-laid plans and what actually happens on Sunday mornings.

According to experts, Dave Staal and Kerri Mahla, this is the result of an easy oversight: Leaders spend a lot of time thinking about their teaching or "circle" time and neglect the rest of the hour!

Invite your children's ministry team to join Willow Creek experts, Staal and Mahla, and discover the key ingredients to planning a successful Sunday morning.

From playtime, to small group time, to worship time and teaching time, children's ministry leaders are invited to learn how to be intentional and effective all the time!

Mahla will address both the unique challenges and solutions to managing children's groups at different developmental stages, toddler through elementary school.

You'll learn helpful techniques for engaging your children throughout the entire hour! Discover how to:

• Let playtime set the tone .
• Manage the expectations of children and teachers.
• Understand and meet the needs of your kids.

Find out how you can make the whole hour count in Leading a Great Children's Ministry Hour!

Dave Staal is the Director of Promiseland, the children’s ministry at Willow Creek Community Church. He is most passionate about helping kids start a relationship with Jesus. Dave writes for and serves as the editor of Today’s Children’s Ministry, an electronic publication and website from Christianity Today International. His books include Making your Children’s Ministry the Best Hour of Every Kid’s Week, Leading Kids to Jesus, and Leading Your Child to Jesus.

Kerri Mahla serves as Early Childhood Director at Willow Creek Community Church. Her ministry includes writing new and creative lessons, music development, development of activity stations, leading and training early childhood programming teams, and producing programs.
Prior to coming on staff at Willow Creek, Kerri was an elementary school teacher in the public schools for 5 years.