Faithful discipleship in a hostile world

BOOKINGS NOW OPEN

5–8 January 2026, Yarnfield Park

There’s no better way to launch into a new year of ministry than gathering with hundreds of like-minded, gospel-hearted servants at the Growing Young Disciples Conference 2026.

Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or stepping into children’s, youth, or families ministry for the first time, this is your home from home—a place of deep fellowship, rich teaching, and shared purpose. Across the week you’ll be sharpened and refreshed through faithful Bible teaching, stirred by powerful plenaries, and equipped through an outstanding range of seminars and ministry streams.

This year, our theme is drawn from the soul-strengthening pages of 1 Peter. In a world that feels increasingly foreign to biblical faith, we are called not to retreat in fear, but to live as joyful exiles—anchored in hope, marked by holiness, and built together as God’s people on mission. Through our expositions in 1 Peter 1–2, we’ll trace how a living hope in Christ steadies us through trials, how holiness in a hostile age sets us apart for God’s glory, and how our identity as God’s chosen people fuels a life of proclamation and courage. For those nurturing the next generation, these truths are essential: young hearts need to know where true hope is found, how to walk in obedience when the world shouts otherwise, and how to stand together as a counter-cultural community, shining the light of Christ. This is not escapism—it’s preparation for faithfulness. Come and be equipped to disciple exiles who sing with joy in the dark.

Streams

How do we disciple children and young people to live with unshakable hope in Christ’s kingdom in a world that constantly pulls them toward temporary comforts, self-reliance, and fear? This stream will equip children’s and youth ministers to cultivate a kingdom-first mindset, prepare young people to persevere through suffering, and help them live faithfully while longing for Christ’s return. This stream is designed for those who want to raise a generation of resilient, gospel-driven young disciples who live in the present with their eyes set on eternity.

In a world that celebrates self-expression, moral autonomy, and instant gratification, how do we disciple children and young people to pursue holiness? This stream will equip children’s and youth ministers to teach biblical holiness in a way that is compelling, grace-filled, and transformative. We will explore how to root young people’s identity in Christ, help them resist cultural pressures, and train them to live as distinct disciples in an unholy world. Through biblical foundations, cultural engagement, and practical application, this stream will provide the tools needed to disciple young believers to be in the world but not of it—living lives of joyful obedience that glorify God.

What if every member of the church—children, youth, and adults—studied the same Bible passage each week? Whole Church Discipleship is a model that strengthens family discipleship, fosters intergenerational unity, and equips parents to continue faith conversations at home. This stream will explore the theological foundations for this approach, practical strategies for structuring an aligned curriculum, and steps for transitioning a church effectively. This stream will help you gain the tools to create a culture where discipleship is a shared responsibility, ensuring children and young people remain deeply connected to the life of the church into adulthood. Whether your church is considering this model or looking to refine it, this stream will provide a roadmap for long-term gospel impact.

For those starting out in children’s and youth ministry, the key to effective discipleship isn’t just great teaching—it’s building relationships of trust and gospel influence. This foundational stream will equip ministry leaders with biblical principles and practical strategies for forming meaningful, disciple-making relationships with children and young people. We will explore how to create a relational culture in ministry, engage young hearts with the gospel, and navigate common challenges in building trust and connection. Whether you’re just stepping into ministry or seeking to strengthen your relational approach, this stream will provide essential tools to help you invest in young lives for long-term spiritual growth.

Effective leadership is essential for the flourishing of children’s, youth, and family ministries and the right care of God’s people. This stream is for those serving in these ministries who want to develop the character and competency to lead wisely and well. Leadership is not just about managing teams or running programmes; it is about shepherding God’s people with integrity, wisdom, and Christlike humility. This stream will explore what it means to lead with conviction and clarity, to build and care for volunteer teams, to organise ministry effectively without burnout, and to cultivate longevity in leadership. Whether you are leading a small group of volunteers or overseeing a large ministry, this will help you grow in the skills and spiritual resilience needed to disciple others, develop leaders, and sustain a thriving ministry for the long term.

FAQS

  • Registration: From 2:30pm
  • First session: 4:30pm
  • The usual essentials! Don’t forget your Bible, pen, and notebook.
  • If you’d like to play football, bring your football gear as there’s usually a game or two.
  • Fancy a walk? There are lovely countryside walks near Yarnfield Park, so pack your wellies if you’d like to get some fresh air.
  • There will be a bookshop, a Costa Coffee (if you want more than the free stuff), and a bar, so bring a means of payment. Yarnfield Park is a cash free venue.
  • Leave your worries at home!
  • No need to bring towels or bedding—these will be provided.

No, we want you to be refreshed in ways that suit you best. This might mean an afternoon nap instead of attending a seminar or an early night instead of staying up for late-night conversations. However, we strongly encourage you to attend the morning and evening sessions and choose the afternoon activities that will be most beneficial for your ministry.

The conference concludes with lunch on Thursday, and attendees usually leave around 1:30pm.

Yarnfield Park Training & Conference Centre is in Stone, Staffordshire.

By Road

  • Junction 14, M6: 10 minutes from Yarnfield Park
  • Junction 15, M6: 15 minutes from Yarnfield Park

NB. If approaching Yarnfield Park from the south on leaving the M6 J14 your Satellite Navigation system may direct you up the A5013/ Eccleshall Road. However the quickest way is to take the A34 north towards Stone and enter Yarnfield Lane at the Wayfarer pub on the left.

There is ample parking for those travelling by car.

By Air

  • Birmingham Airport: 1hr by car or train, 49 miles
  • Manchester Airport: 1hr 10 minutes by car or train, 47 miles
  • East Midlands Airport: 1hr 10 minutes by car or train, 48 miles

By Rail

  • London to Stafford: 1hr 15 minutes, trains run every half hour
  • Birmingham to Stafford: 30 minutes, trains every half hour
  • Manchester to Stoke: 35 minutes, trains every half hour
  • Leeds to Stoke: 1hr 45minutes, trains every half hour
  • Cardiff to Stafford: 2hrs 40 minutes, trains every half hour
  • Edinburgh to Stoke: 3hrs 40 minutes, trains circa every hour

For specific train and ticket information please visit: www.nationalrail.co.uk

By Taxi

Please find relevant taxi company information in the local area below. There are a number of taxi companies available offering a variety of services to suit your requirements. Please contact the companies directly for the most up to date information.

Taxi Numbers

A taxi rank is in use at Stafford Train Station however, you will need to prebook a taxi for Stone Station.

There is a guest drop off point close to reception for guests with mobility challenges. Please see Yarnfield’s Accessibility statement for more info.

Your ticket will entitle you to:

  • 3 nights of accommodation at Yarnfield Park from 5th-8th January 2026
  • All meals throughout the course of the conference (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea & Coffee)
  • Access to all conference talks, seminars and activities.
Ticket prices for 2026 are as follows:
  • Single Occupancy (Event delegate requiring a room by themselves) – £400
  • Twin Occupancy (A reduced single ticket price for those willing to share a twin bedded room with one other person) – £350
  • Double Occupancy (Married couples sharing a room with a double bed) – £750

Book Now

Growing Young Disciples has a threefold mandate: to train, resource, and advise…

Meet the team…

Conference 2026

5–8 January 2026.

Yarnfield Park.

Join us for a dynamic conference experience packed with inspiring speakers, practical workshops, networking opportunities and rich ministry support.

Seminary level training in children’s, youth and family ministry.

Find out more

All content © Growing Young Disciples 2025.

FAQs

The Forge is an online training and resource platform from Growing Young Disciples. It exists to strengthen and support children’s, youth, and family ministry leaders. It is more than a content library. It is a place of sharpening and growth, where gospel depth meets practical wisdom for real-life ministry.

It is for anyone involved in discipling the next generation. Whether you are a full-time youth pastor, a Sunday school volunteer, a church leader, or a parent who wants to think more deeply about gospel-shaped ministry with young people, The Forge has been built with you in mind.

You will find biblically rich training videos, downloadable resources, safeguarding templates, risk assessments, leadership tools, and teaching materials. There is also an online community space where you can connect with others, ask questions, and find encouragement.

The subscription is yearly. You can pay £200 up front, or spread the cost with monthly payments of £20. Either way, you are signing up for a one-year commitment. After that, you are free to cancel at any time.

The subscription covers your whole church team, so anyone involved in children’s, youth, or family ministry can access the training resources and downloads.

Each subscription comes with one named community member. But we know that some churches have more than one key leader involved in children’s, youth, or family ministry. That is why we offer up to three named users per church to access the Forge community area.

This allows your team to grow together without turning the space into a free-for-all. If you need more individual sign-in permissions because of a larger team or unique circumstances, just get in touch and we will sort it out for you.

No. A subscription gives access to your local church team only. Resources must not be shared, copied, or distributed to anyone outside your church. If content is shared beyond these terms, access to The Forge will be withdrawn. We take this seriously in order to protect the integrity of the platform and ensure fairness for all.

Yes. The Forge is a living platform, not a static archive. New resources are added throughout the year, including training videos, downloadable tools, and leadership materials. We are always listening to what churches need and developing fresh content in response.

Yes. This is one of the most common requests we receive. The Forge includes a growing set of short, practical training videos with built-in discussion questions and leader notes. They are ideal for use in monthly or termly team meetings.

Yes. If your church is facing a particular challenge or needs support in a specific area of ministry, we would love to hear from you. The Forge exists to serve the local church, not to replace it. We are here to help.

Yes. While the platform is built on a conservative evangelical and reformed theological foundation, it is designed to serve churches across a wide range of denominations. The resources are biblically faithful, pastorally wise, and practically adaptable.

We would be happy to show you around. Send us a message and we can arrange a preview or talk through how The Forge could serve your team.