Following the success of this first conference, the Planning Team was faced with the next logical question: Do we do it again? Do we have the energy and resources to take what we’ve learned and press ahead? Will people come again? So, with much prayer, we tentatively followed what we felt was God’s nudging to move forward with faith that He would continue to direct us.

One change we made was to select different dates and venue. North Kildonan Mennonite Church would give us the benefit of being all in one building with ample parking and accessibility, which, given the climate of Winnipeg in March, is highly desirable.

The second Awesome KidMin Conference was held in March of 2018. Our theme was Get Real: Real Ministry, Real People, Real Energy. David Rausch (co-creator of Go! Curriculum), our keynote speaker, used his story of a weeks-long backpacking adventure with his daughter to describe the adventure of “Journeying with Jesus” in ministry. Among the 150 attendees who joined us to learn, be uplifted, and be encouraged was a small contingent of attendees from Saskatchewan! Unfortunately, due to the coming snowstorm, they needed to start their homeward journey before the end of the sessions on Saturday. But their presence was a testimony that there is a need for a conference like this even beyond our provincial borders.