Workshops
2016 Conference
Mark Howard and Dr. Tiffany Whitworth: Peacemaking
Conflict happens. It can ruin relationships within friendships, families, and churches. But it doesn’t have to. In fact, conflict can lead to stronger, deeper relationships when resolved with wisdom and grace. Drawing upon Ken Sande’s book, Peacemaker, and Gottman’s concept of emotion coaching, this workshop explores practical, biblical ways to resolve conflict and foster a community that actively pursues peace within youth groups and families.
Dan Wilson and Cooper Pinson: Integrating Gospel Sexuality into Student Ministry
This workshop helps listeners to communicate and implement a gospel vision for sexuality in student ministry, and offers practical guidance for large/small groups, one-on-one discipleship, and parental support.
Dave Wright: Growing as a Speaker
How do we improve our communication of the gospel and the truths of God’s word? Effective speaking is about both the content and how we communicate that content. How do we shake off bad speaking habits and develop skills to captivate an audience? How do we make our teaching memorable and immediately applicable? Can we communicate in a way that glorifies God more than drawing attention to ourselves? Applying lessons learned during 30 years of full-time youth ministry (in several very different contexts), this workshop challenges and encourages listeners to become more effective communicators.
Dan Wilson and Cooper Pinson: Sexual Struggles
The Tree: A Model for Understanding Sexual Struggles, Dan Wilson and Cooper Pinson Where does our sexuality come from, and how can we understand our students as sexual creations? This workshop uncovers the complexities of humanity as it pertains to sex and sexuality, how sin mars it, and how Christ restores it.
Ben Shin: How Shame Affects Asian American Youth
The pressures of youth today are enormous, especially if one desires to be a faithful follower of Christ. Add to this the cultural dynamic of shame to Asian American youth, and you have a very toxic combination. In this workshop, Benjamin Shin explains how shame affects Asian American youth, and how Christ became the ultimate shame-bearer through His death on the cross, and by His resurrection for new life.
Mike McGarry: Theology of Fun and Games
Don’t build your ministry on fun and games, but don’t be afraid to utilize them in order to build a gospel-centered community. In the Christian life, there is a time for study, and a time for laughter – and that should be reflected in the rhythm of our ministries to students. Mike McGarry discusses the unintentional ways that fun can become the functional-purpose of our youth group, while recognizing that it is also not the enemy. Instead, we can leverage fun and games to break down walls, tear down cliques, and create a welcoming community where we have cultivated trust by the time our students hear the gospel proclaimed.
James Sutton: Blindspots in Racial Reconciliation
This workshop focuses on four categories of blindspots and how they impede racial reconciliation. James Sutton – pastor at Holy Trinity World Outreach in Birmingham, AL – outlines steps to overcome the blindspots and work towards reconciliation.
Mark Howard: The Gospel in the Muslim World
More Iranians have become Christians in the past two decades than the previous 1,300 years combined. This workshop looks at the powerful way the gospel is at work in the Iran region. It also explores how the story of Iran’s church can inform our ministries here in the United States – particularly in loving those we have been taught to fear and hate.
Kristen Hatton: Helping Teens See Their Identity and Worth in Christ
Driven by our selfie culture, today’s teens spend countless hours consumed with their image and insecure about how they compare to their peers. They want to know they matter, but with Satan’s whispering lies convincing them they aren’t enough, they look to other’s approval, their appearance, or performance for their worth. Trying to secure an identity in anything other than Christ always turns up empty. In this workshop, Kristen Hatton delves into why and how our teens need help coming face to face with the idols ruling their hearts, in order to see clearly their true identity rooted in Christ. Theology matters and the doctrine of justification cannot be any more practical when it comes to the daily need and application of knowing who Christ is for them and who they are in Christ.
Dr. Tiffany Whitworth: Supporting At-Risk Youth
Messy divorce. Cutting. Substance abuse. Trauma. Many youth live with painful realities. In this workshop, clinical child psychologist, Tiffany Whitworth, explains how at-risk behaviors are ill-attempts to satisfy basic human needs. Drawing upon the doctrine of the imago dei and the gospel message, Dr. Whitworth provides principles of behaviorism and emotion coaching to give practical ways to minister to at-risk youth, and help them meet their needs in godly ways.