Understand Compassion Fatigue (track for full time youth workers)
Chris Marchand
As a caregiver, people may trust you with some of their deepest pain, but hearing stories of trauma will have an impact on you. In this seminar we'll look closely at Compassion Fatigue due to secondary traumatic stress and we'll consider the personal, holistic impact of caring. Upon completion of this three hour seminar, participants will be prepared to care wisely for the people they serve, while purposefully engaging in personal self-care.
Space is limited for this workshop. There will be a sign-up sheet at the registration booth the day of the conference.
Ugly Couch Cafe
Beth Fellinger
A recent conversation with a youth leader ended with "I think they are trying to push me out of the way". What if the solution was not being pushed out of they way but rather successfully launching young people into ministry opportunities. This workshop will help you understand realistic ways of mentoring and releasing youth into significant places of leadership within the church and community context. Find out some very creative solutions for helping churches understand youth ministry from a new perspective and help youth leaders understand expectations from church leadership.
Working with Mental Health issues
Barry Fellinger
Mental Health issues and illness are not limited by age or gender. At some point, youth leaders will inevitably encounter young people struggling with serious mental health issues-issues that go beyond the typical struggles most adolescence face. This workshop will assist youth workers to recognize some of the signs that youth may be struggling with issues of serious mental illness as well as provide some information, resources and strategies of how to help.
Living Faithfully in a Media Age
David Balzer
This workshop examines the challenges and opportunities of living in mass-mediated societies. It will investigate aspects of these questions: 1) how do we discern the media messages that shape our views of reality, 2) when and why should we adopt, adapt or reject the use of media technologies, and 3) how can we foster spiritual practices in the midst of an increasingly mass-mediated world.
Basic Counseling Skills for Youth Ministry
Tim Houck
When it comes to helping youth grow spiritually there are two elements that always come to the forefront - getting connected, and working through life. Together we'll filter through the good, the bad and the surprising ins and outs of Basic Counseling with youth, and how small groups can meet some critical needs. We'll have lots of interaction, ideas will flow, and try our hand at a few techniques that will definitely stick.
Suburban Youth Ministry
Greg Junghans
Suburban Youth Ministry seems like an oxymoron. How do you create and run a effective, life changing youth ministry that engages comfortable, mobile and busy teenagers with Gospel of Jesus Christ? If you have the answers to this come and teach it. If you don't have the answers then come and be part of the conversation. We will talk about the philosophy of ministry needed to inspire these teens to surrender their lives to Christ and some practical ways that will make your ministry more effective.
Social Networking in Ministry
Rob Haslam
Young people are going online more than ever before, and many are using social networks. eMarketer, a trend researcher, estimates that in 2009, 15.5 million US Internet users ages 12 to 17, or 75%, will use social networks. In 2013, that number will jump to 17.9 million, or 79% of all online teens. Social Networks will be an ongoing reality for our teens in some capacity. This workshop will identify the key networks being used and the potential for your ministry effectiveness to expand through it.
Poverty by Design
Kent Dueck
"Poverty by Design" will tackle inner city issues head on and will give you a gritty look under the surface of Inner city life to see why things are as they are. You will understand the place of gangs and drug dealing dynamics and have a candid look into the heart of two drug dealers' stories to see how they ended up dealing. Prepare to have your views challenged and your heart changed.
Developing a girls ministry
Malynda Zacharias
Come explore 7 keys to seeing growth in teenage girls! Whether you're new or a veteran to youth ministry, you can leave with something to make your time and effort more effective as you reach out to teen girls (even your guys can benefit!). Session includes discussion on concerns and celebrations of teen girls today and tools to mining your God-story and equipping yourself for authentic, conversational relationship with your students!
Creating safe environments
Raena Peters
What do I say??? - In today's culture, youth are continually bombareded and affected by messages of sexual and relational brokeness. More and more they are exposed to ideas that are beyond their ability to cope. We will look at how to address issues of sexuality and relationships and how to create safe environments for youth who are struggling.
Contemplative Worship
Kara Mandryk
Many young people are now discovering some of ancient Christian practices and enriching their spiritual lives as a result. Yet it is important to understand the biblical and theological foundations of ancient practices as well as the historical content in which they were formed. This workshop will address some of the reasons the discovery of ancient spiritual practices is on the rise, and how we can adopt or adapt contemplative practices to infuse new life and vitality to our own spiritual settings.
Organic Youth Ministry
John Berard
Ok, an admission. Trying to create and develop the next 'best practice' is tiring.
Coming up with the next big-bigger-biggest program is a nerve-racking way to live ... and ironically despite the abundance of programs and resources in youth ministry, sociologist Christian Smith found that even youth who participate in youth programs believe religion to be good but "inconsequential" a "benign whaterverism" he called it.
It seems that the version of Christian faith owned by many youth does not for the most part shape or influence their lives, their relationships or ideas on vocation. Over a hundred years ago social forces manufactured an adolescence that has rarely been questioned and has shaped "youth ministry as program" ever since. This workshop is a dialogue about shaping youth ministry "as a rich organic environment of community and connection" rather than an endless program of entertainment and consumption.
