Join us for a half-day conference to be equipped with tools for building deeper relationships with your grandchildren, pointing them to Jesus as their hope.
Register Today!1. Welcome and Introduction
Join us in the Sanctuary to kick off the conference!
2. Keynote Session: "Grandparenting by THE Book"
We will kick off the conference with Beverly Coniaris as our Keynote speaker. Beverly led BSF at CPC for 30 years.
3.Breakout Sessions
We’ll break out into three groups based on the age of your grandkids. Our speakers will rotate through the breakout rooms, tailoring their content to the audience.
4. Box Lunch Break
Boxed lunches will be served between the second and third breakout times.
5. Closing Session: "Modeling Faith and Building Legacy: Concrete Ideas for Grandparenting"
We will close the conference in the Sanctuary with parent educators Carol Olsen and Becky Danielson.
Learn more about the breakout sessions and speakers below!
Beverly Coniaris • Keynote Speaker
Beverly Coniaris is wife to Paul, mother to three grown married children, and grandmother to ten grandchildren, ages 8-20. She taught Bible Study Fellowship for 30 years. Currently, Bev is co-host of the podcast “She is Becoming,” a multigenerational, scripture focused podcast. She is a regular guest on Faith radio with Bill Arnold and mentor to young women in her church. Bev loves her grandchildren and takes her influence as a grandmother and role model seriously.
Laura Mulliken • Breakout Speaker
Laura Mulliken is the Executive Director of Trafficking Justice, a non-profit that works to end sexual exploitation and sex trafficking in the state of Minnesota. She has served in anti- trafficking efforts for 12 years and is a sought after speaker and gifted teacher–equipping, inspiring and mobilizing both faith and community individuals and organizations to fight exploitation and trafficking. Laura is available for presentations that include sexual exploitation/trafficking awareness and prevention, the impact of pornography, trauma informed care, online exploitation, Biblical Justice, addressing demand for sex trafficking, and understanding people caught up in exploitation. A current passion is coming alongside families who have been affected by the sexual exploitation, grooming, or trafficking of a family member.
Laura is teaching "Navigating Digital Landscapes".
Beverly Lonsbury • Breakout Speaker
Dr. Bev Lonsbury is a speaker, educator, counselor, chaplain, best-selling author, and former professor. She has a passion for helping others become more self-aware and relationally engaged which results in greater well-being within the person. In 2013, Bev earned her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Pastoral Care and Counseling. She received her Master of Arts degree in Congregational and Community Care in 2008; both from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. Since 2008, she has been teaching self-care, relational care, leadership, well-being, resilience, and personal formation, as well as courses related to addiction, mental health, grief, loss, and counseling to graduate students, educators, pastors, and others. She is a counselor and chaplain in a wet house for late-stage, chronic alcoholics in which residents are allowed to drink alcohol onsite. She has also been a chaplain at a retirement home for veterans. She is grateful for the “hands-on” insightful learning she experiences daily through her family including her husband, two grown sons, two daughters-in-law, and six grandchildren.
Beverly is teaching “Boundaries, Expectations & Other Challenges Grandparents Face”.
Jay Bennett • Breakout Speaker
Jay Bennett has been married to Sally for 53 years and has three married sons and nine grandchildren, ages 3 to 15. A retired lawyer, Jay is the Chairman of the National Christian Foundation and founder of its Twin Cities affiliate in Edina. The NCF is headquartered in Atlanta and operates nationally through 32 offices. It is the world’s largest faith based provider of donor advised funds serving 30,000+ donors who contributed more than $3B into their funds in 2023. Grants of more than $2B were completed in 2023 to more than 34,000 non-profit organizations. Generational wealth transfer is a primary focus of the ministry.
Jay is teaching “The Belmont: Training Up a Child around Spiritual, Character & Financial Capital”.
Becky Danielson • Closing Speaker
Becky’s favorite title is Mom. She and her husband, Scott, have two young adult sons. Becky candidly shares her life as a Christian, wife, mom, and educator in small group settings, workshops, and at national conferences. As a mom, licensed parent and family educator, as well former kindergarten and first grade teacher, she has abundant on-the-job training and experience working with families. Becky is the co-author of the recently released Faithful Grandparenting: Practical Ideas for Connecting the Generations as well as five other parenting books. She offers encouragement and inspiration at FaithFirstParent.com.
Carol Olsen • Closing Speaker
Since graduating from Iowa State University, Carol has spent more than 40 years in the field of education. She taught high school home economics, co-authored the craft book Brass and Beads, and co-directed, as well as hosted, the cable television program Mrs. Olsen’s Neighborhood. As a licensed parent educator, Carol developed and provided oversight for the Edina Family Resource Center, a part of the school district’s community education. Over the past 18 years, Carol has taught and lectured both children and adults on America’s Christian heritage and Christian worldview. In 2013, she authored the family book America’s Forgotten Heritage after realizing how little her grandchildren knew about the part Christianity played in the founding of the United States. As an Elder of Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina, she worked primarily in children’s ministry and in 2005 developed a vacation Bible school curriculum centered on Christian heritage. Carol and her husband Neil have been married for 56 active years. They have three married children and eight grandchildren.
Age Breakouts:
• Littles (baby-elementary)
• Middles (middle & high school)
• Bigs (college age & up)
Special Notes:
• Each registrant will receive a copy of Faithful Grandparenting: Practical Ideas for Connecting the Generations by Becky Danielson and Carol Olsen.
• The registration fee includes a box lunch.
• Space is limited! Register today!
Our Groups Manager, Deb Carlson, would love to get to know you and answer any questions you may have.
Email Deb