Childhood Discipleship Certification

This program is designed for ministerial staff and lay leaders of the Preschool and/or Children’s areas of a church who have a passion for ministry, but have no formal education on the basics of ministry.

These certification courses equip the ministry leader to meet the needs of preschoolers, children, teachers and parents through events, training events and outreach opportunities.

Led by Jennifer Howington.

Details and Requirements
 

  • Our 2025-26 cohort will be limited to 15 students.
  • Cost is $500 for the year or 2 payments of $250 (August & January).
  • Monthly meetings from August - May.
  • Texts and readings will be required throughout the course.

Dates

Unless otherwise noted, all classes will take place at the Texas Baptists Offices in Dallas from 9:00 am-3:00 pm.
We will not meet the month of March 2025.
For each class, a Zoom option will be available.

  • August 14, 2025
  • September 11, 2025
  • October 6–7, 2025 at Conclave NextGen, FBC Arlington
    Registration for this event is included in the cost of the certification program.
  • November 6, 2025
  • December 4, 2025
  • January 26-28, 2026 at the Preschool and Children’s Ministers’ Retreat, Summers Mill, Belton, TX
  • February 19, 2026
  • April 9, 2026
  • May 7, 2026

Sessions

  • Essentials of Ministry
    What is your call to ministry? This is much more than a job, it is a calling and commitment. Your philosophy of ministry is an integral part of your leadership as a children’s minister.
    Book Requirements: 
    1. Scazzero, Peter. (2015). The Emotionally Healthy Leader: How Transforming Your Inner Life will Deeply Transform your Church, Team and the World. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Reflective.
    2. Byrd, Grant & Wheelington, Rusty. (2022). Following Your Call to Ministry: Recognizing and Responding to God’s Call. GC2 Press.
    3. Haywood, Janice (2007). Enduring Connections: Creating a Preschool and Children’s Ministry. Danvers, MA: Zondervan Publishing House.
  • Theology of Children
    What does the Bible say about children? How does God view children? This course deals with what the Bible says and how that relates to the importance of Preschool & Children’s Ministries.
    Book Requirements:
    1. Stonehouse, Catherine. (1998). Joining Children on the Spiritual Journey. BakerBooks, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
    2. Schuehler, Tedye. KidsFaith: Faith Conversations for Families. BaptistWay Press, Dallas, Texas.
  • Characteristics of Preschoolers and Children
    The reasons we teach preschoolers and children as we do, rests in the fact that research has told us about how children develop cognitively, physically, emotionally and spiritually. When ministers know characteristics, they are able to understand how to meet children’s developmental needs.
    Book Requirements:
    1. Sanders, Thomas and Bradberry, Mary Ann. (2000). Teaching Preschoolers: First Steps of Faith, Nashville, TN: Lifeway Publishing.
    2. Wholly Kids: Guiding Kids to Life in Christ (2015). Nashville, TN: Lifeway Press.
  • Principles of Teaching
    What teaching style needs to be incorporated with preschoolers and children? Why is it important? This course will deal with learning through activities, room arrangements and class schedule.
    Book Requirement: Tobias, Cynthia Ulrich (1994). The Way They Learn: How to Discover and Teach to Your Child’s Strengths. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
  • Guidance in the Classroom
    Discipline is the #1 reason Bible study teachers quit. How can the minister gain information in order to keep great teachers from becoming discouraged? Learning how to be the guide in the classroom and still maintain order is stressed in this course.
    Book Requirement: Crosby, Robert G. and Lori A. Crosby (2022). Trauma-Informed Children’s Ministry: A Practical Guide to Reaching Hurting Kids. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books.
  • Leadership in the Church
    The importance of maintaining records, evaluating the yearly calendar to make sure there is an intentional balance of Bible content taught in fun and serious times will be covered in this course.
    Book Requirement: Beckwith, Ivy. (2010). Formational Children’s Ministry: Shaping Children Using Story, Ritual, and Relationship. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing Group.
  • Implementation of Safe Ministry Area
    Safety, security and screening are necessary components of childhood ministry. This course helps in planning a proactive, rather than a reactive, approach to safety.
    Book Requirement: Dean, Jody and Allen Jackson. (2019). Protect: A Youth Worker’s Guide for Managing Risk, YM360.
  • Family Ministry
    As a minister, it is imperative to be involved with the family unit, but how can you be intentional about ministering to the family as a whole?
    Book Requirement: Earley, Justin Whitmel. (2021). Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan
  • Children with Special Needs
    Every child should be welcomed in every church. When a child with special needs comes to church, teachers should be comfortable in meeting these spiritual and developmental needs. This course will provide resources and methods in teaching children with special needs.
    Book Requirement: Wetherbee, Katie and Jolene Philo (2015). Every Child Welcome: A Ministry Handbook for Including Kids with Special Needs, Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications.

Textbooks

  • Beckwith, Ivy. (2010). Formational Children’s Ministry: Shaping Children Using Story, Ritual, and Relationship. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing Group.
  • Byrd, Grant & Wheelington, Rusty. (2022). Following Your Call to Ministry: Recognizing and Responding to God’s Call. GC2 Press.
  • Crosby, Robert G. and Lori A. Crosby (2022). Trauma-Informed Children’s Ministry: A Practical Guide to Reaching Hurting Kids. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books.
  • Dean, Jody and Allen Jackson. (2019). Protect: A Youth Worker’s Guide for Managing Risk, YM360.
  • Earley, Justin Whitmel. (2021). Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan
  • Haywood, Janice (2007). Enduring Connections: Creating a Preschool and Children’s Ministry. Danvers, MA: Zondervan Publishing House.
  • Sanders, Thomas and Bradberry, Mary Ann. (2000). Teaching Preschoolers: First Steps of Faith, Nashville, TN: Lifeway Publishing.
  • Scazzero, Peter. (2015). The Emotionally Healthy Leader: How Transforming Your Inner Life will Deeply Transform your Church, Team and the World. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Reflective.
  • Schuehler, Tedye. KidsFaith: Faith Conversations for Families. BaptistWay Press, Dallas, Texas.
  • Stonehouse, Catherine. (1998). Joining Children on the Spiritual Journey. BakerBooks, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
  • Tobias, Cynthia Ulrich (1994). The Way They Learn: How to Discover and Teach to Your Child’s Strengths. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
  • Wetherbee, Katie and Jolene Philo (2015). Every Child Welcome: A Ministry Handbook for Including Kids with Special Needs, Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications.
  • Wholly Kids: Guiding Kids to Life in Christ (2015). Nashville, TN: Lifeway Press.

 

Dual Credit with Truett Seminary and Dallas Baptist University

  • Truett Seminary will award a joint-certificate for completion. This course may be applied towards their Advanced Certificate of Ministry program.
  • Participants may qualify for 3 credit hours towards a Masters of Arts in Children's Ministry degree at Dallas Baptist University. For more information contact jennifer.howington[at]texasbaptists.org.

Testimonials

"I wanted to take a moment to share my experience for my one year journey of the children's ministry certification with Jennifer. As someone who has just completed this program, I can confidently say that it has been a transformative and fruitful experience. Our teacher, Jennifer, whose knowledge, passion, and dedication to children's ministry are truly remarkable. Her guidance and support have equipped me with many tools. This certification class not only equips you with practical skills and knowledge but also provides you a lot of resources and support. The opportunity to connect with fellow learners who share a similar passion for children's ministry has been a great experience."

- Rachel Wu, First Chinese Baptist Church, Dallas

"At the start of this class, I was a student pastor who had no experience in children’s ministry, but was asked to oversee that ministry during a season of our church. Therefore, I was not looking to just gain another piece of paper to hang on my wall, but a place where I was able to gain tools for my toolbox to better lead a ministry in an area I knew very little about. It was through this year and this class that the Lord molded and shaped me to be able to confidently step out of my comfort zone and lead a ministry I never imagined leading."

- Michael Inman, FBC Graham

For more information contact children[at]texasbaptists.org.

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