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Aiming to help children during transitions in their lives, the Adventist Children's Ministries Department of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Negros Occidental held a "Leadership Development Training Seminar" for the Central and Northern Negros Occidental.

The event, held on June 14, 2025, took place at the Negros Occidental Conference Evangelism Center under the leadership of Meagan Galanza, children's ministries director for the Negros Occidental Conference.

The seminar's theme, "Bridging the Gap: Every C.H.I.L.D. Matters," focused on helping children transition to student ministry, connecting different age groups, and preventing them from feeling lost during this transition.

Over 400 church members attended, 200 of whom were registered delegates.

The first set of lectures addressed several key topics, including: Teaching Biblical Sexuality to Children, Navigating Transgenderism and Children's Ministries, and Children's Protection from Worldly Influences.

During the hour of worship, Melodie Mae K. Inapan, the Adventist children and family ministries director for the Central Philippine Union Conference, emphasized the event's theme by drawing encouragement from the verse: "We are fearfully and wonderfully made; Jesus is the perfect example of inclusivity."

She delivered a talk titled "Unlocking Potential: Empowering Children with Special Needs," highlighting the importance of inclusion and the psychological benefits of involving children with disabilities in the church community.

This engagement helps them connect with their peers and participate in social activities, enhancing their communication, problem-solving, and cooperation skills.

To fully inspire and empower leaders with a passion for training children, more lectures were offered in the afternoon on topics such as "Fostering Mental Health and Cultivating Well-being," "A Challenge to Children's Ministries, and "Discipling and Ministering with Children in the Digital Era."

Inapan concluded the event by discussing "Discipling and Ministering with Children in the Digital Era."

This presentation significantly impacted parents and leaders, guiding them in shaping children through digital discipleship to raise them as faithful servants of God.

One of the participants expressed gratitude for having been able to attend. "There is so much to learn, but time is never enough. Thus, I look forward to events like this in the future.

In addition, Ruth Cautivar, another event delegate, shared how happy and blessed she was to attend the seminar. "I learned a lot, especially regarding our responsibility as parents to guide and teach our children how to use technology appropriately," she shared. "Effective communication is crucial among family members, and we must make enough time to share the love of God."

Stephanie Loriezo | Head Writer | Negros Occidental Conference

This article's original version was published on the official Facebook page of the Negros Occidental Conference.