IFD Certification in
Children’s Ministry
Every child is on a spiritual journey, and those serving in children’s ministry have a unique responsibility to influence, guide, and support them in developmentally appropriate ways. With guidance from experts across the spectrum of children’s ministry fields, this certification provides the Biblical, theological, and practical foundation that is essential for meeting the spiritual needs of today’s children and families.
Develop tools to make a big impact in your children’s ministry and gain a network of other Christian children’s ministry workers from around the country!
Certification Details
The IFD Certification in Children’s Ministry requires just four 6-week courses of $125 each — a total of $500.
- Certification courses must be completed in order. Courses will be taught on a yearly rotation.
- Once you begin, you can complete all the courses you need for certification in just one year!
- First courses in the certification cycles are offered in either January or August, with some certifications relaunching at both times.
- This program is taught online via Blackboard Learn. Courses are mostly asynchronous, meaning you can complete the work at the time most convenient for your schedule. Daily engagement on the Discussion Board with peers, required reading, and assignments ensure a quality learning experience. Some courses offer a required or optional live video-based session – see individual course descriptions for more details.
2025 Course Dates:
January 20 – February 28, 2025
March 17 – May 2, 2025 (no class during Holy Week, 4/14-18)
August 18 – Sept 26, 2025
October 13 – Nov 21, 2025
Certification Course List
Enroll in the first course!
If the first course is full, or is not currently enrolling, you will be able to sign up for course opening notifications.
Meet the Instructors
Brenda Hicks
Brenda Hicks is the third grade Sunday school teacher at a United Methodist Church. After being disappointed with the options for curriculum available to her, she sat down and wrote her own curriculum for Children’s ministry. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Kansas State University, a Master’s Degree in Organizational Communication from Wichita State University, and is a graduate of all four of the Disciple Bible Study courses.
Jenny Smith
Jenny Smith served the local church in kids and family ministry for more than 20 years. She currently serves as content/curriculum developer for Awana. Jenny received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Samford University and a Master of Arts in Christian Education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Danielle Bell
Danielle Bell has more than 25 years of children’s ministry experience. She currently serves as Minister to Children at the Dawson Family of Faith in Birmingham, Alabama. Danielle has spoken regionally at local churches and nationally at children’s ministry conferences (i.e. CPC, ETCH, KidMin conference). She is a curriculum writer for Gospel Project Kids and Awana Brite. Danielle was named by Children’s Ministry Magazine as one of the Top 20 children’s ministry leaders to watch.