Training Opportunities

First Two Years in Youth Ministry Cohort

If you're just starting out in youth ministry, this is the cohort for you. You'll go through four pre-selected seminars and have opportunities to interact with others in small groups and exercises.

Schedule

Effective Youth Ministry Programming: Big Pictures and Blueprints

Duffy Robbins

Seminar Series #5

Sacramento - Oct 12 3:30 PM-5:00 PM

We often get so focused on the weekly pieces of our ministry that we never step back to take a look at the big picture. How do these various tiles of activity come together to make a cohesive program mosaic? Beginning with “why” we do what we do, this seminar will (1) help define a biblical vision for our youth ministries, (2) provide some thought about how we can translate that vision into the kind of practical “big picture” that will motivate and challenge our volunteers, and (3) help us think about how the various pieces of a ministry come together to make that big picture vivid, visible, and viable. • Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry Cohort—Sacramento, Pittsburgh, and Nashville, Sunday, October 12, November 2, and November 23, 3:30pm

Teaching That Transforms Students Lives

Marv Penner

Seminar Series #4

Sacramento - Oct 12 1:30 PM-3:00 PM

One of the greatest privileges of youth ministry is to open God’s Word for students and teach them how it impacts their lives at a practical, day-to-day level. The goal of biblical teaching is to bring about change that will last. Most of us know the frustration of walking into a classroom to exercise our spiritual gift of teaching, while praying God will give some of our students the spiritual gift of learning. This highly interactive seminar will present dozens of ideas to transform the routine, predictable teaching experience (that most kids have become accustomed to) into a dynamic, exciting, and life-changing experience. You’ll try various methods that are designed to spice up not only the learning experience of your students, but also the teaching experience for you. We can’t settle for another “here we go again” experience for our learners There’s too much at stake for most of the kids we work with. Teach with the confidence of knowing that your material is addressing the deeper realities in their lives, yet being presented in a way that is enjoyable and engaging.

From the Ground Up: Developing, Growing, and Building a Healthy Youth Ministry

Brock Morgan

Seminar Series #2

Sacramento - Oct 11 8:00 AM-9:30 AM

Whether you’re a newbie or a veteran with a new opportunity, we welcome you to this season of ministry. This seminar promises a fresh perspective and new approaches that will launch you into health. You’ll learn practical, ready-to-use strategies and out-of-the-box ideas that will help you develop a thriving team, grow students spiritually, and build a foundation for the future. This fun seminar will lay the groundwork and give you step-by-step insights into the coming years.

Starting Right So You Don't End Wrong

Mark Oestreicher

Seminar Series #1

Sacramento - Oct 10 4:00 PM-5:30 PM

It’s so easy to jump into youth ministry with assumptions based on what we’ve seen and how things have been done in the past. The problem is that our past assumptions don’t always make sense in today’s cultural context or for the specific context of our churches and ministries. This seminar will help you look at the values and assumptions of your own ministry, as well as some of the stupid rookie moves that Marko made (and continues to make!).