Training Opportunities

Middle School Focus

Obviously, these seminars are geared towards people working with middle school students. Ideal for paid or volunteer youth workers, you'll get programming ideas and more.

Schedule

Middle School Students Can Change the World: Creating a Ministry That Believes in Students

Corrie Boyle, Steve Carter

Seminar Series #6

Nashville - Nov 24 9:00 AM-10:30 AM

It’s time to stop ignoring the difference that junior high students can make in this world—and it’s time to start calling them to their potential. During our time together, we’ll be talking about orienting your ministry (everything from program, teachings, and volunteers) in such a way that will allow you to help students believe in who God created them to be.

How to Communicate to Middle Schoolers

Scott Rubin

Seminar Series #5

Nashville - Nov 23 3:30 PM-5:00 PM

Some people say there’s not a more challenging group to talk with than a bunch of amped-up (or tuned-out) junior high students! In this session we’ll talk about the vital need for teaching—even to puberty-navigating 13-year-olds. We’ll also discuss some of the best and worst ways to engage middle schoolers and point them toward God’s truths. If you regularly teach junior highers, then consider joining us!

Developing Our Own Curriculum

Mark Oestreicher

Seminar Series #4

Nashville - Nov 23 1:30 PM-3:00 PM

Hello, seminar attendees! Here’s the scoop on this Open Source seminar: My hope is that all of us will leave this 90 minutes with an actual teaching/small group/interactive series of middle school curriculum. I’m thinking something in the realm of three to six sessions. (Although, if we have a good amount of people who are highly involved, we might be able to make it longer. Hey, maybe we should shoot for four sessions per NYWC city, which would give us a 12-week series at the end. Then I could send out the whole batch to everyone who participated. What do you think?) Since it’s Open Source, I’ll need your collaboration on the basic plan now. And then I’ll need it again as we approach the Convention—to pull together potential ideas for the teaching series.

Middle School Ministry From the Ground Up (without Getting Ground Up)

Heather Flies, Scott Rubin

Seminar Series #3 - Super Seminars

Nashville - Nov 22 2:00 PM-4:30 PM

We’re going to attempt to talk about it all! We’ll discuss the big issues, such as the potential (and craziness) of middle schoolers, young teen development, and the social and spiritual landscape of middle school students. We’ll also tackle the nitty-gritty of middle school small groups, teaching, programming, compassion, and community for these high-energy, often-underestimated, not-yet-high-schoolers. And through it all, we’ll share our best practices and biggest screwups as we’ve worked with middle school students. If you’re excited about figuring out middle schoolers, or if you’re still trying to figure out how to do it without losing your mind, then this session could be for you!

How to Effectively Minister to Middle School Parents

Heather Flies

Seminar Series #2

Nashville - Nov 22 8:00 AM-9:30 AM

Newsflash: Middle schoolers come equipped with parents! This truth can add challenge and even heartache to ministry, but when parents are respected and ministered to, they can be your greatest partners! Join in on an honest dialogue of how to inform, involve, & inspire the parents of your middle schoolers.

How to Effectively Minister to Middle School Girls

Heather Flies

Seminar Series #1

Nashville - Nov 21 4:00 PM-5:30 PM

Female feuds. Braces. Body image. Too much makeup. Too little chest. Confidence. Insecurity. Our girls deal with these issues and more every day! How can we help them process it all without the help of a Seventeen magazine quiz? We’ll look at the major issues that middle school girls face and the practical, loving, and effective ways we can minister to them.