Families Encounter Renewal at Ignite Parenting Conference

Parents, grandparents, foster parents, teens, and children of all ages gathered together November 14-15, for a time of encouragement and spiritual renewal as a family during the most recent Ignite Parenting Conference. Hosted by Life360’s Chesterfield in Springfield, Missouri, the weekend was designed to strengthen families, equip parents to disciple their children, and inspire a generational legacy of faith.

Directed by Elly Marroquin, Assemblies of God national director of Christian Education & Discipleship and Adult & Family Ministries, the weekend offered opportunities for family worship, unique prayer experiences, interactive breakout groups, and dynamic general sessions for parents and caregivers.

The conference opened on Friday evening with a night of family worship, featuring an engaging message for children and parents by Ryan Bennett, the church’s children’s pastor. The message emphasized that God belongs in the driver’s seat of every family.

At the conclusion of the service, families took part in a series of prayer activities together, focusing on the values of thankfulness, service, and trust in God. Across the room, families huddled, prayed over one another, and parents were given the tools to practice leading their children in a time of discipleship.

Adult Discipleship Director Jimmy D. White says, “For me, watching the families engage together in worship and prayer on Friday night was the highlight of the weekend. What a powerful moment. I saw one couple there who did not have children but were expecting a child, sitting in their chair crying and weeping for their soon to be new arrival. They were asking God to help them be a good and godly parent. It was a cool moment.”

During the opening session on Saturday morning, a keynote message was given by Jay Mooney, chief ministries and resources officer for the Assemblies of God. Mooney challenged parents to intentionally nurture children towards a saving faith in Christ, reminding them that they alone are the greatest influence on the spiritual lives of their children. Drawing on decades of ministry and parenting experience, he structured his teaching around three biblical principles found in the lives of Moses’ parents who, he said, “modeled a faith that transcended generations.”

At the provided family-style lunch, families sat together at round tables and were provided with Ignite Parenting’s conversation cards. As they ate, parents and children used the cards to connect in a unique way and practiced communicating on a deeper level.

Breakout groups were offered throughout the afternoon, led by Heather Bixler, licensed professional counselor, Efraim Espinosa, the AG’s first director of the Office of Hispanic Relations, Troy and Brenda Renter, pastors and district KidMin directors, and Josh Wellborn, director of Young Adult Ministries for the Assemblies of God. The groups were followed by a second general session with Vanessa Snyder, a licensed marriage and family therapist and licensed professional counselor, on the topic of sex and sexuality in the Christian world. On these topics, she urged parents not to be silent. She stated the importance of parents being the first voices that speak to their children about these sensitive issues.

Concluding the event was a final general session presented by Marroquin in which she modeled for parents how to bless their children. The passing of a scripturally-based blessing is something that Marroquin believes parents should do regularly for their children, citing several examples from the Bible. “I’ve had parents tell me that they were going to start doing this with their kids once a week,” she says. “I even had one parent who has grown kids tell me that she is going to start texting her children once a week with a statement of blessing from Scripture.”

The conference presented resources, material, and all general sessions in both English and Spanish, making it accessible to as many families as possible. Each family left with tangible tools and strategies to start intentionally discipling their children and grandchildren, building a lasting legacy that points to Jesus.

Parents and caregivers expressed gratitude for the practical tools and structured spiritual moments that helped them grow in their confidence as they seek to pass down a vibrant and contagious faith to their children. “One family told me it was the most organized and best parent training they have ever been to,” says Bennett.

The Ignite Parenting Conference was presented by the Assemblies of God’s Ignite Parenting ministry, an arm of Adult & Family Ministries. Ignite Parenting was birthed from a desire to help parents and caregivers pass down their faith to the next generation and to equip the church to walk alongside parents as they learn to disciple their children.

In addition to regional conferences, Ignite Parenting offers free resources, blogs, parenting books, podcasts, and video courses, as well as conversation cards for families, monthly activity calendars, and more.