Conference Kids Equals High Energy

Take 66 high-energy kids, 15 Youth Corps workers, a dozen teachers, three clowns, a fabulous director, and a can of pink paint, and you have a recipe for one week of Conference Kids’ madness.

Working for Conference Kids sounded like a great spring break job, but in many ways it was one of the toughest jobs I have ever had. I woke up each morning with yet another part of my body aching. But when it came time to walk away from those children for the last time, I felt as though I were leaving behind a part of myself. It was difficult for me, as we had been together for a whole week, and though each day was jam packed with activities, it seemed much longer.

When it was time to say good-bye, I realized strong bonds had formed, and I had come to consider them “my kids.” We had run all over the Temple, Auditorium, and Stone Church looking for buried treasure, often leading me to carry a child to the point where I thought my arms would fall off. We had pushed each other on the biggest tire swing I had ever seen, and against my instructions, we had splashed each other in the fountain.

It was only a week, but I had grown to love them. In that short time I could see their little souls. I sensed that spending this week with them might make a difference in their lives the way it had in mine. It made me want to give another spring break to work with Conference Kids.
I was surprised by the extra blessing that came from working with my peers from school as a team. The week gave us a chance to get to know each other better. Now when I pass them at school, I no longer say hi just because we went to school together but because we have now shared this one-of-a-kind experience. We became a unified team working toward a common goal: to provide “our kids” with a fun and exciting week they wouldn’t forget— a week filled with joy, hope, love, and peace.

—Mollie Linkhart reporting
Graceland University

Conference Kids Then

Conference Kids began in 1992 and the program has continued as a way to include children in the message and ministry of every World Conference since, involving more than 1,000 church children and several hundred adult and youth staff.

Conference Kids Now

With the global focus for the 2007 World Conference, the theme of “Peace Olympics” was chosen by director Janelle Varvaro to include the peace focus of our church and the global recognition of the Olympics as a symbol of excellence and teamwork.

The daily themes helped the participants train to become peacemakers in the same way an athlete would train for the Olympics. Starting the week, we got fit and strong by studying Christ’s example and strengthening our relationship with him through prayer. As the week progressed we learned how to share our discipleship with the community to strengthen our team. A trip to the Children’s Peace Pavilion and a play by William Chrisman High School students helped the children learn to identify bullying and how to cope and promote peace in the face of such a crisis.

Throughout the week, as a service project, we took obsolete backpacks and repurposed them for a local women’s shelter, to be used as needed for the residents there. The children donated 50-plus bags, which was greatly appreciated by the shelter staff.