Made to Connect DFW

Name: Made to Connect DFW
Start: 2026-07-23T09:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-07-23T16:30:00+00:00
Location: The Grace Place

Thu, Jul 23, 2026 9:00 AM - Thu, Jul 23, 2026 4:30 PM

The Grace Place, 5950, South Collins Street, Arlington, Texas, 76018, United States

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$275.00 $399.00

Early Bird Individual Admission

This discounted price will be available until June 30th.

$50.00 $65.00

Early Bird Group Rate

This discounted price will be available until June 30th for groups of 5 or more.

$45.00 $60.00

Description

Our earliest relationships shape us. They influence whether we trust others, how we set boundaries, and even if we ask for help. That’s why it’s important to understand the impact of childhood experiences. By gaining this understanding, you can better connect with the children in your ministry, point them to Jesus, and set them up for healthy adult relationships.

When children feel safe, they’re more likely to experience and accept God’s love. That’s why we created Made to Connect. We help participants move from trauma-aware to trauma-informed to trauma-responsive. We work with churches to show the crucial link between childhood adversity and our ability to build healthy, loving relationships with others.

We’ll share how experiences shape behavior and equip your leaders and volunteers so they, too, can better serve the families in your ministry. Having a children’s ministry that understands childhood adversity and can create safe, welcoming environments is a necessity.

We start our time together by helping participants understand the need for the church to reestablish itself at the center of our communities. Then we follow this path: trauma-aware (see the need) > trauma-informed (understand the need) > trauma-responsive (address the need).

Goals and Objectives

Create an understanding of how childhood experiences impact our brains and our ability to seek, form, and maintain relationships
Increase empathy and compassion
Decrease staff and volunteer turnover
Create an environment where children feel safe, welcome, and loved
Equip and support staff and volunteers to meet the needs of the kids they serve
Create multi-generational discipleship and evangelism
Increase desire to attend church
Create an environment where kids can learn about Jesus
Decrease in behavior problems
Build a sustainable support system for adoptive, foster, and kinship families