The Bob Jones University School of Education and Human Services held their first annual Resilience Conference last Saturday. Attendees heard from bestselling author and national speaker Kathy Koch and other guest speakers, including best-selling author Jonathan Catherman.  

The conference gave students, parents and educators the opportunity to learn expert strategies for strengthening children and families from a biblical perspective. Speaking on the topic of resilience, speakers gave sessions on providing guidance on supporting military families, families who are grieving and families experiencing the challenges of cancer.  

“We’re passionate that children know who they are and discover their purposes,” said keynote speaker Kathy Koch. As an author of six books, founder and president of Celebrate Kids Inc. and co-founder of Ignite the Family, Koch has influenced thousands of children, parents and teachers in 30 countries through chapels, seminars, keynote messages and other events. She said she seeks to change lives through the written and biblical word.   

“I want children to believe that they were created on purpose, with a purpose, for a purpose by a very good, intentional and strategic God who knows what He was doing,” Koch said. 

Jonathan Catherman also spoke. Catherman is a sociologist and educator who has worked in public and private education for 24 years and is the author of several bestselling books for teens including The Manual to Manhood and The Manual to Middle School. Speaking worldwide to audiences of all ages, he has influenced many people in the world of education. Catherman was awarded the 2016 President’s Volunteer Service Award and Martin Luther King Drum Major for Service Award.  

At the conference, Catherman shared practices that aimed at helping prepare their children to thrive in the real world in his lecture “Raising Them Ready.”  

The event ran from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a break for lunch. The event included six different speaking sessions, vendor booths and meet and greets with the speakers. At the end of the event, a prize drawing was held where attendees were able to win a variety of prizes, including books written by Koch and Catherman. 

The University’s School of Education and Human Resources plans to host this conference annually. The event is an opportunity for people in ministry to grow themselves in unique ways so that they can minister to children, teens and families more effectively.