Marriage isn’t easy; ministry is tough. Put the two together and things don’t get any easier. This intensive course will focus on the vulnerability of a ministry marriage and offer many positive and practical ideas on how to keep your marriage growing, even during ministry stress.
This intensive affirms the significant role that youth workers play as caring, involved adults in the lives of hurting teenagers. Marv helps listeners understand—in everyday language—what is going on behind behaviors like self injury, substance addictions, eating disorders, and bullying, and gives practical help in determining appropriate responses to some of the wild stuff students do.
In this intensive, Katie and Matt draw from more than 45 years of collective experience to share their successes and failures, as well as some very practical ideas on youth ministry. They’ll give you the strategies to build a solid foundation for a fruitful, long-term ministry and offer advice on how to enjoy the ride.
In today’s world, nothing is truly as it seems. This leads teenagers to abandon their faith as they enter college years and are caught off guard when difficult questions arise. In this session, Dan will discuss ways to pro-actively teach youth to respond to difficult questions.
This session helps prepare youth ministry staff to work more effectively with youth who are unsure about their sexual identity. Mark and Julie offer a developmental model that provides windows of opportunity to address meaning, purpose, and identity as well as provide support to those who are questioning or who identity as LGBT.
Why is it that almost 1 out of 2 graduating seniors will pick up their diplomas and ditch their faith? This seminar takes a practical look at research conducted by the Fuller Youth Institute to unearth some of the myths students believe about the gospel, the church, their family, and youth ministry that cause them to shelve their faith.
In this session, speakers will explore the importance of organization in ministry. The practical session comes out of more than 20 years of experience and will help you develop a framework of support in more than 10 important areas like risk management, communicating, budgeting, leader meetings and more.
Compline comes from the Latin word meaning “completion.” This peaceful and reflective 15-minute service is the liturgical equivalent of being tucked into bed. We pray, listen to God through scripture and silence, and ask God to watch over us as we sleep. On Saturday, communion will be offered during Compline.
Start your day by praying the hours as observed by God’s people for thousands of years. Join the sanctuary team in this simple, 15-minute time of scripture, silence, music, and spoken prayer.
“Go and create disciples throughout all the world, baptizing them and teaching them to do as I have commanded.” How do we change? Is there more we can do to grow in our walk with God? What does a vibrant life in the Kingdom look like? What is the Kingdom of Heaven? How do we become more like our incredible teacher, savior, and king Jesus? Practical steps, ideas, and disciplines can shape and form us. We will explore the basics of Christian spiritual formation and our unique role in life with a good and beautiful God.
New at NYWC this year, this session is for all attendees. It’s a time to explore a current subject in youth ministry from several viewpoints. At this year’s conference, YS Explores will dive into the topic of “Reaching Teens Outside Our Church.”
This 15-minute service is designed to briefly interrupt us in the middle of our day in order to refocus our attention on God as the center of our lives and worthy of our praise.
Learn a brief history about the origin and spiritual practice of the stations of the cross. Engage in this powerful pilgrimage of prayer and meditation with other youth workers as together we commemorate the death of our Savior through the stations of the cross, depicting the final hours of Jesus Christ.
We were created in the imago dei. We were designed to create, to be imaginative people who cooperate with God, the source of beauty and creativity. In this session, we will create art together in response to scripture readings.
Learn about a framework for understanding sexual identity in a way that will affect how you minister to sexual minority youth. We will discuss how sexual identity develops, as well as learn about competing responses from the gay community and the local faith community as we focus on implications for youth ministry.
How do we help kids think theologically and practically about the suffering, hurt, and loss they experience in life? How do we demonstrate that Christianity "works" when the ache in their hearts is bigger than anything they've before faced? This workshop seminar offers practical ways to walk with teens and their families through dark days when God seems far away.
What are the cultural forces shaping the values, attitudes, and behaviors of students living in today’s world? In this practical and hope-filled seminar, veteran youth culture-analyst Walt Mueller will overview and critique of five of the most powerful cultural realities. Walt will also detail strategies for guiding students through these forces in a manner that will help you help them flourish by living life to the glory of God and realizing their created purpose.
No one disagrees that we want teens to follow Jesus and that most of their peers are not doing this. If we want students to follow for a lifetime, then we need to know what doesn’t work and identify the goal. We’ll talk practically about implementing a theology and praxis that moves us toward developing teens who primarily identify themselves as followers of Jesus.
This practical session will help youth workers and parents develop a plan for presenting positive, value-centered sex education, focus on the prevention of drug and alcohol use and abuse, and get a handle on the rapidly changing media and technology, including how to create a media-safe home environment.
In this practical seminar, Marv will help you think through ways to make sure that students are safe relationally, spiritually, physically, and emotionally. We’ll look at ways to:
• Make your church as a whole a safe and inviting place for young people to belong
• Make your youth group (and small groups) a welcoming and hospitable environment for everyone
• Equip leaders to engage in rich relationships with young people without compromising their safety and well-being.
The young people to whom we minister find themselves confronting distinct and sometime opposed ideologies, world views, and practices, including the church’s ideas of faith and their school’s teaching and commitment to science. Are faith and science are in deadly competition? How can things like Genesis and evolution fit together? Hear the findings of the John Templeton Foundation research project, and discuss what is needed to help a conversation between faith and science happen in our youth groups.
Sponsored by: Sparkhouse / InterVarsity Press / Youthfront / Nazarene Theological Seminary / Fuller + Fuller Youth Institute / Howard Payne University / Gordon College / Luther Seminary / Seattle Pacific University
Where will students be 5, 10, or 20 years from now in their walk with God? Most of us understand that real-world youth ministry is not about how well they start; it's about how well they finish. This seminar looks at the four key components of a youth ministry that stands the test of time.
Perhaps change is in the air? Personnel transitions in ministry can be difficult, in this seminar we'll look at three main categories:
1. Leaders on the move-- leaving well
2. Leading in transition-- volunteers carrying the load
3. Leading a new ministry-- starting well
Success can be a loaded word today, especially in the church. In this seminar we will be looking at the changing cultural tides and how this has affected everything from our students, to our programs, and to our view of what success truly should be. In this highly relevant seminar we will be looking at the latest research and how this is getting played out in the lives of those we are trying to reach. We will also be looking at alternative measurements for success and how this could not only free you but enable you to be better equipped to minister in today’s Post-Christian world.
This seminar is designed for student pastors to know that just because their calling has changed, they still have a place in youth ministry.
Whether you have two "helpers" in your student ministry, or a whole team of different-aged volunteers who shepherd students, every volunteer needs guidance to succeed in the ministry you lead. During this session, we'll address practical elements you can provide for volunteers, and help you think through both the "what" and the "how" for volunteers in your ministry setting. You’ll walk away with a game plan of next steps to move the volunteer training aspect of your ministry forward.
Imaginative prayer involves contemplatively interacting with scripture, listening, looking, and being wholly engaged and present. We make ourselves totally available, body, mind, soul, and spirit, to the Holy Spirit. We listen. We practice patience. We enter into the depths of scripture.
Compline comes from the Latin word meaning “completion.” This peaceful and reflective 15-minute service is the liturgical equivalent of being tucked into bed. We pray, listen to God through scripture and silence, and ask God to watch over us as we sleep. On Saturday, communion will be offered during Compline.
Jared Hall will keep you on the edge of your seat, unable to look away as he makes audience members float, performs a straight-jacket escape, or simply finds your chosen card. He uses illusions and comedy to present the gospel of Jesus Christ in relevant, engaging ways. Traveling extensively across the nation, Jared performs his illusions for conferences, festivals, outreach events, youth camps, and Upward award nights.
Countless students struggle with their faith when confronted with the facts of science. But Diane and Joshua know that you can keep your faith and still study and accept science. Youth pastors are the key to this discussion and to help pastors navigate these important issues, they partnered with the BioLogos Foundation to create a free video series called “The Author of Life.” Their session will include a viewing of some of their videos and an open discussion on the topic.
Yep. You heard that right and it came from the "Dare 2 Share guy." Join Greg Stier for this late night to explore what “evangelism doesn’t work anymore” means. You’ll look at why evangelism has become a dirty word in youth ministry. We’ll answer questions like, “Should we eliminate our quarterly outreach?” and “Do we quit taking the time to train our kids how to share the gospel?” This is sure to be a lively conversation, so get ready to hold on for the ride!
Booking: information@dare2share.org
Do you have an idea that’s been brewing for a while and you’d like to see if there’s a audience beyond your ministry? Whether your interest is curriculum, an article, a blog or a full-blown book, this practical seminar will help you begin to navigate the publishing waters. We’ll talk about creating a strong proposal, understanding the youth ministry publishing world, and what goes into developing your platform.
Start your day by praying the hours as observed by God’s people for thousands of years. Join the sanctuary team in this simple, 15-minute time of scripture, silence, music, and spoken prayer.
This is an invitation to come and recover your life. The truth is, we are loved and accepted as we are. However, most of us live like we still have something to prove. This need to prove ourselves over and over again leaves us feeling exhausted and anxious which leads to being judgmental and irritable. Come to the Sanctuary and spend time with God as the beloved, the already good enough. We will participate in the practice of visio divina as we meditate and reflect together on Rembrandt's painting, “The Return of the Prodigal Son.”
This offering will allow you to turn your “tourist jaunts” into an experiential prayer walk. Leave the convention center and hotel environment behind and enter into a prayerful journey through the neighborhood, labyrinth fashion. We’ll practice opening our eyes and hearts to the presence of Christ through the historical landmarks, public arts, and other sights, sounds, and smells of the city. Meet outside the Sanctuary room.
Together we will focus on the uniqueness of poetry as a form of human expression and explore how to incorporate it into prayer personally and with students. This practice involves reading poetry mindfully as well as praying with poetry and even experimenting with writing poetry.
In Victor Hugo’s classic, Les Misérables, we find the two main characters, Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert, representing law versus grace; the theme clearly comes through in the book as well as various plays, movies, and musicals. We will contemplate Hugo’s life, what drove him to write this novel, and how it affected society when it was written. Through readings of the book and the use of video clips from movies of this war between law and grace, we can relate this to our own journey with God.
This 15-minute service is designed to briefly interrupt us in the middle of our day in order to refocus our attention on God as the center of our lives and worthy of our praise.
This session will provide an introductory overview of group spiritual direction. We will cover the process and guidelines of and discuss how it can be used with your students, adult leaders, and staff.
This session will help you grasp an understanding of the physiology and psychology of what happens when we breathe correctly, and how this can prepare us for prayer/meditation/action. We will practice how to breathe deeply and how to share this with students.
Don’t let discipline problems drive you out of youth ministry! Take the positive approach instead. Learn why teens get rowdy, how to set rules and consequences, and how to praise kids. Get dozens of proven, specific ideas you can use to feel confident when you deal with those particular students who drive you up the wall. You’ll leave this seminar with a new appreciation for all the kids in your youth group!
Five years ago, we learned that students ages 8 to 18 were spending more than 7 and a half hours per day engaged with media. As people called to help students live out their faith in every nook and cranny of their lives, youth workers must equip students and their parents to follow Jesus onto the media landscape by training them to engage thoughtfully, intentionally, critically, and Christianly with media and music. In this seminar, Walt will teach you about the powerful life-shaping role that music and media play in student’s lives, along with a very practical, biblical method to teach students that will develop their ability filter their music and media choices through a Christian world and life view.
This seminar will offer a big picture vision of what it means to build disciples, and offer a practical framework for fleshing out this vision in the context of a youth ministry program.
Bigger isn't always better, and a small youth group doesn't mean small-thinking ministry. Our time together will cover how to be sustainable in reaching critical mass, developing volunteers, and how you can bring the most leadership to the small-church ministry table.
Family-based youth ministry is not a method, but rather a mindset. This session will explore the biblical mandate (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) to help families succeed and help you discover the importance of getting parents involved in the faith development of their kids. You’ll get practical ideas on how to encourage, involve, assist, inform, and make parents your allies in the church. In this fast moving session, you’ll get basic theory on family-based youth ministry, curriculum, and more than 50 practical ideas to help families succeed.
Together, we'll explore the art of Bible Storying, a new (ancient) way of engaging the Scriptures. You'll participate in a Bible Storying experience, rooted in the Hebrew tradition of storytelling, imaginative listening, creative response, and lively dialogue. You'll also gain insights into spiritual formation and learning-centered environments.
The National Study of Youth and Religion and more recent research shows that many students in our own youth groups do not believe that Jesus Christ is the one and only way of salvation. They no longer believe in the historic Christian faith, but rather their “faith” is a smattering of quasi-religious fumes, endured with a hefty back story of tolerance, that rides on the nationality of the metanarrative congruence of all faiths. One can certainly do youth ministry from all three pluralism platforms: historic (Jesus is the only way), modern (Jesus is a good way, but there are other ways), or postmodern (who cares about religious dogma; it’s not important anyway), but the this-world outcomes are very different. This session explores in what respect a historic Christian Christology is vital for actual disciple making youth ministry, as well as for youth flourishing.
Sponsored by: Sparkhouse / InterVarsity Press / Youthfront / Nazarene Theological Seminary / Fuller + Fuller Youth Institute / Howard Payne University / Gordon College / Luther Seminary / Seattle Pacific University
This session is for women who are married to youth workers. It's a time to come together and get ideas and input on some of the issues we all face in our roles in ministry. Come prepared to encourage others, be encouraged, talk with other wives, and learn from their wisdom.
The biblical Daniel lived and led with excellence and he was placed in charge of an entire empire. The four characteristics that made Daniel a great leader can make you one too—learn how to utilize them in this informative session.
Let’s face it: Teaching week-after-week is a very difficult task. Doug has been teaching teenagers every week for more than 30 years and has learned a few things along the way that seem to work. In this breakout session, he’ll share with you some of his “secrets” to being a more effective communicator. Keeping kids awake, teaching effectively, and moving an audience toward life-change requires skill and hard work. Doug’s goal is to help you win—not with a bunch of theory but with tested ideas that will help you be a more effective communicator.
The best youth ministries are unique, and a reflection of their context. But, as culture changes and youth workers experiment with new approaches and priorities, there’s a small patch of common ground. It’s not a common program, or teaching plan, but a set of values that seem to be shared by ministries that are finding their way in our current reality.
Youth workers are wired for relationships, not reviewing budget reports. Yet any strong youth ministry requires that you use your administrative skills as well. Get tips on the basics of ministry management, especially finances, risk management, and scheduling.
Perhaps the most spiritual thing you could do during NYWC is take a nap. Youth workers are not exempt from the sleep-deprived condition of our culture. Sleeping was an essential step back to spiritual and physical health when Elijah encountered God after being overcome by his situation and his futile attempt to flee from his problems. The Sanctuary will provide a peaceful and quiet place for you to learn your limits and take time to rest.
Lectio Divina is the spiritual practice of divine reading. This classic practice of meditating on scripture, historically embraced by all Christians, is being rediscovered as a transformational way to engage with sacred text.
For more than a thousand years, thinkers, creators, and preachers have been describing, defining (and often complaining about) the stage of life known as "adolescentia." And what they described, defined (and often complained about) sounds surprisingly similar to today's rhetoric. What does that mean for us—the generation of youth workers who've been told that we're dealing with a recent, man-made, culturally constructed stage of life?
This seminar will explore the impact of divorce on young people. Usually (both in the church and culture) we have seen divorce as a painful occurence that can nevertheless be overcome if the young person can be taught to think correctly about the divorce of his or her parents ("it isn't your fault"). Yet, such a perspective tends to distract us from larger realities. Divorce at it's core thrusts young people into questioning their very existence, "If I exist because of the relationship of these two people, who am I, and how can I be in the world, if they are no longer together?" This seminar will examine this all to common cultural reality from a phiosophical and theological perspective, seeing what difference this makes for our ministries.
Almost half a century ago, Bob Dylan wrote this famous lyric, “The times, they are a changing.” That statement is true now more then ever. What we are seeing in recent years confirms that the United States is moving closer to a post-Christian world. How is this affecting students and how do we respond as youth workers? Come hear the latest research and some innovative ideas for reaching today's teenager.
According to recent studies, adolescents think of God as distant, impotent, predictable, and utilitarian. And yet this is not the God in which we believe—God as the Holy Spirit is a God who is radically present, and powerful, and unpredictable, and undomesticated. In this seminar, we’ll discuss things we can do in our youth ministries so that students can recover a sense of God as Holy Spirit.
This seminar will focus on a way of sharing the great good news that doesn’t treat the hearer as a project and stimulates their curiosity and imagination about what it might mean for them to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Learn how to implement in your own life and your youth ministry.
In this workshop, we'll discuss youth who many consider violent, useless, or a virus in our communities (with a main focus on youth in gangs, jail, or “on the fringe”). We'll emphasize effective strategies, like mentoring, for impacting these young people. Learn how to help promote hope and a feeling of purpose in life, which can lead to familial and societal change.
If you’re in need of a break and your mind is on overload, this workshop promises no heavy philosophy or theology. See, hear, and play a ton of fast paced, unbelievably innovative games. Explore crowd breakers, indoor and outdoor games, quiet and wild games, and games for large and small youth groups.
After 33 years of teaching Sunday school and youth group, it’s quite shocking that Marko’s best-ever lesson plan is the one that takes the least preparation. This is an interactive seminar. We’ll actually do this thing, so you see it in action.
In the United States, race, racism, and racial construction has and continues to have an indelible impact on the landscape of youth ministry. Regardless of geographical location, denominational affiliation, ethnic background, or economic position, the category of race has shaped the lives of teens and youth workers in many faith communities. Yet, race remains a virtually non-existent category in most professional youth ministries, particularly within evangelicalism. This forum will flesh out some of the recent historical and social realties that have shaped what seems like an impasse in evangelical youth ministry. In particular, we will discuss how the historic lack of racial awareness and the development of tangible incarnational theologies amongst racially diverse populations created today’s current ministerial divorce between persons of color and many white evangelical churches and professional youth workers. We will explore how we might embrace a constructive framework for moving forward through a racialized incarnational theology that engenders concrete practices for youth ministry in the 21st century.
Sponsored by: Sparkhouse / InterVarsity Press / Youthfront / Nazarene Theological Seminary / Fuller + Fuller Youth Institute / Howard Payne University / Gordon College / Luther Seminary / Seattle Pacific University
Businesses around the world use "human-centered design" methods create new products and services that meet the needs of their customers. And these same tools—developing empathy, identifying insights, prototyping solutions, and iterating—work in the church world too! Learn the fundamentals of design thinking and ways to use design to address challenges, problems, and opportunities in your youth ministry.
Learn how to train volunteer youth workers to become confident and effective mentors for students. In this session we'll discuss:
• Overcoming top obstacles that stop volunteers from becoming mentors
• Modeling and training volunteers to live the lifestyle of a mentor
• Eight mentoring lessons to train and equip your volunteer mentors
• A proven guide for fostering spiritual transformation in the lives of students
Why is it that the only glimpse you get of some of your students’ parents is their taillights on their way out of your church parking lot? How come parents say they want resources and training from you but then don’t show up for seminars and don’t even open e-mails you send them? What can you do in every grade of middle school and high school to help families develop faith that lasts? This seminar takes a practical look at Sticky Faith research conducted by the Fuller Youth Institute on students and families just like yours. Thanks to case studies of churches like yours and interviews we’ve conducted with amazing families nationwide, you’ll leave with all sorts of super practical ideas you can use this month to partner with parents and equip them to point their kids to Jesus all week long.
We all experience loss and so do our students. Some loss is “ordinary,” like the loss that comes when we change jobs, move, or marry. Some loss is “extraordinary,” like losing someone we love, or finding out we have cancer. Loss changes us. We can go the way of the world and ignore, minimize, or numb out to the things that hurt us, or we can find ways to grieve honestly, openly, and creatively. Loss can connect us more deeply with God, others, and ourselves. We will explore spiritual practices that allow us to say “yes” to God in all that life brings.
An interactive exploration of how we change and impact the world. We all want to change the world in one way or another, but why and how? Following Jesus is about taking on his life in mind, heart, and soul. We will explore ways to cultivate the same intimate embrace of the world that Jesus revealed to us. Mission is fueled by Christ’s life and love pulsing through us daily.
Compline comes from the Latin word meaning “completion.” This peaceful and reflective 15-minute service is the liturgical equivalent of being tucked into bed. We pray, listen to God through scripture and silence, and ask God to watch over us as we sleep. On Saturday, communion will be offered during Compline.
http://daveandbrian.com/ multiple videos on their site…
Comedians Dave and Brian are a nationally touring musical comedy duo based out of Philadelphia, PA. Their high energy live show consists of hilarious original songs and stand-up comedy. They have been described as “truly phenomenal,” “fresh,” and “cutting edge!”. More than just your average acoustic guitar/glockenspiel duo, Dave and Brian have spent the past 8 years crafting a truly unique comedy experience. In that time they have traveled all over the country performing shows at various comedy clubs, churches, colleges, and conferences. Their music has been featured on NBC’s “The Today Show,” NPR’s “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” show, andFunnyorDie.com.
Propaganda
http://www.humblebeast.com/propaganda
With an uncompromising message intertwined with hot rhythms and beats, LA’s Propaganda puts together lyrically potent, relevant music that reaches across the spectrum of youth and pop culture. Bringing with him years of classroom teaching and community service experience, he is eloquently bold in the message of each song and never shies away from a strong poetic element in his music.
For 6 years, this veteran crew of youth workers (Doug Fields, Josh Griffin, Matt McGill & Katie Edwards] has recorded over 250 episodes of an awarding-winning* podcast. Every show is different... but you can always count on them answering youth worker's questions and having a lot of fun. They've developed a loyal audience (borderline cultic)... who agree with their bi-line: "Just enough youth ministry so you don't feel guilty for listening." If you're a fan, they'll be LIVE at NYWC late-night, if you're curious... come check them out--they always give stuff away. [*true]
Dialogue with seasoned youth leaders in an evening of insight and discovery. Learn best practices for reaching today’s students and ask questions about the challenges you're facing in a post-Christian world. This session will also provide an exclusive first-look at a new youth video series.
Join us for a free screening of three award-winning short videos made entirely by teens. Receive a DVD of each movie, including discussion questions you can use in your ministry, plus, learn how your youth group can create visual stories of faith starring your kids, building your group, teaching valuable skills. Then, enter your best movie into the Christian Youth Film Festival for a chance to win trophies and cash!
In this gritty and dramatic talk, Ted Swartz walks you through his relationship with friend and business partner, Lee Eshleman, who took his own life in 2007. Ted explores the paradox of working with a comedic partner struggling with bipolar disorder, as well as the challenge of writing and performing stories about God while experiencing the absence of God after Lee’s death.
Using multi-media and his twenty years of storytelling experience, Laughter is Sacred Space is honest, funny and vulnerable, and reveals the unique journey of working as a comedic actor under the shadow of a mental illness, and offers hope and humor in a way that only Ted could deliver.
http://vimeo.com/53380760For seven years, the Fuller Youth Institute has blended research and story to engage church communities and families worldwide. At NYWC, FYI is debuting two short films featuring families struggling to shift toward holistic, integrated faith. Part of a new video curriculum series, these films will help you better equip families and your congregation to live out faith together. Join us for an open Q&A discussion with Kara Powell and the film director after the screening. Plus, everyone who attends this premier will receive a free copy of the entire video curriculum!
Countless students struggle with their faith when confronted with the facts of science. But Diane and Joshua know that you can keep your faith and still study and accept science. Youth pastors are the key to this discussion and to help pastors navigate these important issues, they partnered with the BioLogos Foundation to create a free video series called “The Author of Life.” Their session will include a viewing of some of their videos and an open discussion on the topic.
Start your day by praying the hours as observed by God’s people for thousands of years. Join the sanctuary team in this simple, 15-minute time of scripture, silence, music, and spoken prayer.
We all have a rule or rhythm of life, even if it happens to be a lack of rhythm. Find out why anchoring the days of your life in fixed times of prayer is important, and learn the various components of liturgical prayer and the ways in which it can be incorporated into your life and community.
You can't take your students where you haven't gone yourself. In this practical seminar, you'll get tools to deal with your own past, current, and future hurt or pain. You'll also discover how to help your students reveal and heal from their hidden (or unknown) pain.
This workshop examines youth socialization focusing on racism and sexism. Participants will gain insight on developing alternative consciousness and strategizing was to respond that liberate and build the kingdom.
Research shows a majority of Christian youth doubt their faith, but few ever talk about it. In this seminar, we'll consider practical ways to journey alongside youth who have questions about their faith. Grounded in both theology and research, we'll explore various kinds of adolescent doubt while learning to engage questions as a vital part of discipleship.
This session will go over the who, what, and how for mentoring students towards spiritual transformation. We'll discuss:
• How to choose students who are ready to be mentored.
• The high-five guide for mentoring.
• How to teach students a lifestyle of mentoring.
• Eight mentoring tips to teach and model to every student on how to live as a Christ follower.
In this seminar we’ll spend time highlighting key topics associated with parents parenting their emerging adult kids and offering ways to help you, as ministry leaders, help parents take some practical steps. We’ll address the topics parents are asking: How do I help my child pick the right college? Are “gap years” good ideas? Christian or secular college?
Small groups are a proven way to help teenagers connect and feel heard, but effective small groups require good leaders. The this workshop provides 5 basic tools that will help anyone leading a small group (and one of them is duct tape!).
In the world of youth ministry, there are a handful of factors that make a program thrive over the long haul. This seminar will introduce you to these factors and offer a strategic design for instilling these foundational patterns into the fabric of any youth ministry, regardless of its model.
As a ministry leader your life is being watched—you’re a public figure! Beneath the skin of that public persona is a private world that must be healthy for the public ministry to thrive. There’s a constant tension between these two worlds because the teenagers, parents, church staff, and congregants have expectations and those heavy expectations often dismantle the inner world. In this workshop, we’ll talk about how to protect, develop, and strengthen the inner world. Ministry isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon and to run effectively we’ve got to learn to pace ourselves and focus on what’s most important.
Join us as we gather together to interact with and read scripture in a creative way. Participate as a group "playing" the scriptures like a collection of jazz musicians improvising as they go. This communal approach to reading and hearing scripture will breath life into your soul. As your voice finds its place among the many others, you will again be reminded of the beauty of our sacred text and discover afresh how you belong in this story.
We live in a world that moves non-stop, and in a church that keeps up with it. When are you allowed to stop? What about Sabbath? Time set aside for being instead of doing? How would that even work? Come and learn about Sabbath, and imagine how intentionally stopping and resting can be incorporated into your life, family, and even ministry.
Vincent van Gogh lived in the depths of his soul. Vincent's biographically inspired art offers a unique allegory of an interior life. He wanted art to guide the religious life into a life-giving spirituality. To contemplate his art is to contemplate his life. His life, an integration of art and spirituality, is a paradox of the human and divine. He lived and died contemplating his true self. Spend some quality and spacious time beholding his extraordinary art, interacting with van Gogh’s writings, and perhaps awakening a deeper way of praying that opens you to new possibilities.