"Go Fish! Souls are the catch of the day," proclaimed the theme song, "Go Fish," at the 2007 North American Division (NAD) children's ministries convention in Loma Linda Nov. 8-11.

The theme came from Jesus' call to His disciples to leave their fishnets behind and bring people to Him. The convention focused on ministry to children like those Jesus called to Himself and blessed. It offered what Phyllis Washington, NAD children's ministries director, described as "the most current research and information on the 21st century child," as well as food for the children's ministries workers' souls.

Beginning Thursday evening and continuing through Monday morning, the convention offered six general sessions (at brunchtime and dinnertime) and eight sets of "fishing clinics" (breakout sessions) for the more than 350 men and women who attended. Exhibit hall vendors and the area set aside (also in the exhibit hall) for make-and-take visual aids offered opportunities for personal contact and hands-on experience.

Inspiring and equipping those who work with children were the convention's two goals, according to Manny Vitug, Southeastern California Conference children's ministries director and the convention's host. And that's exactly what Nancy Wolfe, a kindergarten teacher at the Loma Linda University church, said she would take with her from the convention—inspiration and specific ideas.

"Go Fish has given me a renewed sense of wanting to be where Jesus wants me," she said.

Wolfe said she had been challenged and motivated by Wintley Phipps, who on Friday evening told his story of founding the U.S. Dream Academy, of which he is president and chief executive officer. And at a fishing clinic, Wolfe had learned ways of training children to live their faith and to be confident about telling their story to others. The clinic, "Kids Taking the Lead," was presented by Sherri Uhrig, children's ministries director of the Oregon Conference.

Bella Palacio, who teaches beginners at the Loma Linda Victoria church and described herself as a "new Adventist," also called Go Fish a learning experience. "I learned how to get kids connected to God," she said.

Speaker after speaker—including Chris Oberg, senior pastor of the Calimesa church, in her Sabbath morning presentation, "Who Do You Say That I Am?" and Jerry Thomas, Southwestern Union communication director and author of 25 children's books—emphasized leading by example.

"We can't teach children to believe," said Thomas. "We can only give them facts. They catch belief from seeing us believe."

The broad range of more than 100 fishing clinics, including more than 20 in Spanish, was planned so that everyone, whether brand new to children's ministries or experienced, could learn something. While some seminars were as basic as how to teach from the church's GraceLink curriculum, or how to teach children with diverse learning styles, or how to tell a story, other clinics were labeled "advanced."

At a clinic about writing articles for publication Feryl Harris, Hawaii Conference children's ministries director and longtime children's worker, was encouraged to write and submit some of her ideas and experiences. She also found "How to Energize Your Classroom in Today's Overstimulated Environment" totally different from what she expected.

"I went there thinking it would be about how to be more creative to compete with the programs children watch and games they play," she said, "but it was about helping children set goals that would challenge them and help them focus their energy."

General session speakers, in addition to Oberg and Phipps, included Shirani de Alwis-Chand, an educational consultant; Craig Jutila, founder and president of Empowering Kids, who spoke at two sessions; and Jose Vicente Rojas, director of the North American Division (NAD) young adult ministries and Adventist Volunteer Ministries Network.

Planning and major funding for Go Fish came from the North American Division and Southeastern California Conference Children's Ministries departments. Co-sponsors included Loma Linda University, the Review and Herald and Pacific Press publishing houses, AdventSource and Vibrant Life Foods.