Do We Still Need Conferences? Absolutely. Here’s Why.

A few years ago, I contacted a pastor friend in California about hosting a KidMin Conference. She declined and said, “Live conferences are a thing of the past. Online training is the way to go.” She’s not alone—many in our social media-driven culture have given up attending in-person conferences altogether. YouTube, Facebook, and Zoom have become our go-to training sources.

There’s value in that, of course. It saves money and is convenient. But online training will never fully replace the power of a live conference. Something unique happens when we gather in the same room with others who share our calling.

Here are five reasons live conferences are still essential:

1. You Learn New Things (Better).
   Yes, you can learn online—but live teaching is a deeper experience. Just look at how many kids fell behind during COVID’s remote learning. Live events remove distractions and engage all your senses. I’ve been in Kids Ministry since 1978, and I still learn something new every time I attend a live event. Once you stop learning, you start moving backward.
   
2. You Build Real Community.
   There’s nothing like eating a meal with ministry friends from around the world. The relationships built at live events are more than surface-level—they’re lifelines. Many of my most meaningful ministry friendships began at conferences, and those relationships have carried me through tough seasons. You can’t “Zoom” that kind of connection.
   
3. You Strengthen Your Team.
   When you bring your team with you, everyone hears the same vision. You return home united and energized. That’s tough to replicate when you attend alone or try to relay a message from a YouTube link. Shared experience builds shared vision.
   
4. You Receive an Impartation.
   The presence of God shows up in special ways when hungry believers gather. It’s like camp for grown-ups. You can’t download that. You have to be there. Something happens in the room—a spiritual impartation you can feel.
   
5. God Speaks to You.
   Stepping away from your everyday ministry to focus on God often leads to powerful moments of clarity. Yes, you can pray at home, but there’s a horizontal anointing that comes from gathering with others. It’s in the worship, in the hallways, in the unplanned moments.

Would you like to bring a conference like this to your church?

I’m itinerating full-time—traveling to churches and ministering to parents and volunteers. Something powerful happens when you get everybody on the same page. I can’t think of anything that would be more impactful for the families in your church.

Reach out to me at Mark.Harper@SuperChurch.com