Childhood Ministry Certification Program

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.

Details and Requirements

  • Our 2022 cohort will be limited to 20 students.

  • Cost is $450 for the year or 2 payments of $225 (August & January).

  • Monthly meetings from August - November 2022 and January - May 2023.

  • Texts and readings will be required throughout the course.

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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 December 2022.
For each class, subsequent to the August 6th date, a Zoom option will be available.

  • August 6, 2022–at the conclusion of the Childhood & Family Ministry Summit

  • September 1, 2022

  • October 6, 2022

  • November 10, 2022

  • January 12, 2023

  • January 31-February 1, 2023–at the Preschool and Children’s Ministers’ Retreat

  • March 9, 2023

  • April 20, 2023

  • May 11, 2023

Courses

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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?

  • 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.

Textbooks

Each student is required to purchase their own books, unless otherwise stated.

  • A complete textbook list will be provided to you during session #1 in August.

  • Below is a partial list of the required textbooks:

    • Beckwith, Ivy. (2010). Formational Children’s Ministry: Shaping Children Using Story, Ritual, and Relationship. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing Group.

    • Sanders, Thomas and Bradberry, Mary Ann. (2000). Teaching Preschoolers: First Steps of Faith, Nashville, TN: Lifeway Publishing.

    • Stonehouse, Catherine. Joining Children on the Spiritual Journey. BakerBooks, Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1998.

    • Schuehler, Tedye. KidsFaith: Faith Conversations for Families. BaptistWay Press, Dallas, Texas. (This will be provided to you by Texas Baptists.)


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.

  • Dallas Baptist University will award 3 credit hours toward their Masters of Arts in Children’s Ministry degree. Course grade will be pass/fail.

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

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