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NYWC 2016 Cincinnati has ended
Thursday, November 17
 

11:00am EST

Check-In
Thursday November 17, 2016 11:00am - 7:30pm EST
5th St. South Concourse

1:00pm EST

Building a Successful Marriage and Youth Ministry
Marriage isn't easy, and ministry is tough. And when the two are combined, it can make both even more difficult. Doug and Cathy Fields have spent their entire marriage in youth ministry and have lived to tell about it! This intensive will offer practical ideas for how to keep your marriage growing—even during times of ministry stress.

Speakers
avatar for Cathy Fields

Cathy Fields

Cathy Fields has been a volunteer youth worker for more than 25 years. She’s also served in practically every role in youth ministry, from camp speaker to bus driver. She disciples a small group of high school girls and is currently writing a workbook for parents.
avatar for Doug Fields

Doug Fields

Doug Fields is a communicator, author, and consultant. He’s the executive director of HomeWord’s Center for Youth and Family at Azusa Pacific University, the cofounder of Downloadyouthministry.com, and the author of more than 50 books.


Thursday November 17, 2016 1:00pm - 6:00pm EST
Room 201

1:00pm EST

Churches Growing Young
Like most ministry leaders, you’ve probably heard ominous reports of the demise of faith: the disillusionment of young people, the aging of the church, the rise of the “nones”. . . the list goes on. But what if there are bright spots breaking through the clouds and revealing energized churches brimming with young people? The good news is that those bright-spot churches exist. The Fuller Youth Institute team spent the past three years studying congregations who were effectively capturing the imaginations and hearts of young people ages 15 to 29. Through this landmark investigation of more than 250 diverse congregations, FYI uncovered six core commitments that the most effective churches held in common. This intensive seminar will plumb the depths of those findings. You’ll leave with a host of doable ideas to help your church right now. Don’t give in to growing old—come discover new ways to grow young!

Speakers
avatar for Brad Griffin

Brad Griffin

Brad M. Griffin is the associate director of the Fuller Youth Institute, where he develops research-based training for youth workers and parents. A speaker, blogger (fulleryouthinstitute.org), and volunteer youth pastor, Brad is also the coauthor of Growing Young, Sticky Faith, Right... Read More →
avatar for Kara Powell

Kara Powell

Kara Powell, PhD, is the executive director of the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI) and a faculty member at Fuller Theological Seminary (fulleryouthinstitute.org). Named by Christianity Today as one of “50 Women to Watch,” Kara serves as a youth and family strategist for Orange and... Read More →


Thursday November 17, 2016 1:00pm - 6:00pm EST
Room 203

1:00pm EST

Ministry to LGBT Youth: A Map for Practical Support and Discipleship
Many youth minsters feel lost in the landscape of sexual identities and emerging gender identities. In this seminar we’ll map the terrain of both sexual and gender-identity development among LGBT youth, and we’ll also equip youth ministers to be compassionate sojourners who can cast a positive vision for LGBT youth. You’ll hear the latest research and gain new insight into how to help these students flourish. You’ll be better equipped to create a youth ministry where LGBT youth feel understood and deeply loved.

Speakers
avatar for Julie Rodgers

Julie Rodgers

Julie Rodgers is a writer, speaker, and advocate for LGBTQ people in the church.
avatar for Mark Yarhouse

Mark Yarhouse

Dr. Mark A. Yarhouse is the Hughes Endowed Chair and professor of psychology at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Dr. Yarhouse promotes dialogue between people who view the topic of sexual identity differently. He's currently the chair of the task force on LGBT issues... Read More →


Thursday November 17, 2016 1:00pm - 6:00pm EST
Room 236

1:00pm EST

The Racial Reconciliation Experience

The Racial Reconciliation Experience:

The Racial Reconciliation Experience is an intentional cross-racial track threading throughout Youth Specialties’ National Youth Workers Convention. Youth leaders who have a desire to help the church and their students engage in racial reconciliation efforts are encouraged to apply for this pilot interactive experience.

This Experience includes:

  • A NYWC Intensive Seminar on Thursday November 17 where participants will learn not only about race and justice issues, but also explore their own role as reconcilers for their students, churches, and communities.
  • A city excursion to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati. 
  • 1-2 hour guided group discussions each day during NYWC.
  • A final celebration gathering on Sunday morning. 

To Apply:

If you’re interested in participating in this pilot experience, or have questions about the experience, send an email to Jacob.Eckeberger@youthspecialties.com. Although not all who apply will be accepted, those who are accepted will have their NYWC registration paid, including the cost of the intensive and the city excursion.


Speakers
avatar for Jacob Eckeberger

Jacob Eckeberger

Jacob Eckeberger is the content manager for YS. He’s a longtime volunteer youth worker, the spouse of a church planter, and an itinerant worship leader. Jacob’s passion is to spark healing and progress in the church. This is manifested in his work within YS as he serves youth... Read More →
avatar for Latasha Morrison

Latasha Morrison

Latasha Morrison is a bridge builder, reconciler, and abolitionist. She has served as a children’s director and a NextGen director, and she has a passion for social justice issues around the globe. Tasha uses her compelling voice to encourage racial reconciliation among all ethnicities... Read More →
avatar for Fred Oduyoye

Fred Oduyoye

Fred Oduyoye began in full-tim youth ministry 18 years ago, and his experiences led him to become the national training director for Urban Youth Workers Institute. Today, Fred is the Director of Networking for Youth Specialties and oversees the YS UnConference. Fred helps manage relationships... Read More →


Thursday November 17, 2016 1:00pm - 6:00pm EST
TBA

1:00pm EST

When Faith and Life Rub: Equipping Teenagers to Navigate the Complexities
Social networking. Bullying. Leadership standards. Climate change. Religious conflict. Terror attacks. Body image. Racial tensions. Identity. Branding. Church. How are we helping teenagers navigate the complexities? This intensive session will teach a method of theological reflection—a way for teenagers to work through the maze of voices and discern how to faithfully follow Jesus in their corner of the world. Provide your teenagers with needed resources and skills for navigating faith and life. 

Speakers
avatar for Sharon Ketcham

Sharon Ketcham

Sharon Galgay Ketcham is associate professor of theology and Christian ministries at Gordon College in Massachusetts. She earned her PhD in theology and education from Boston College. Sharon’s two decades of experience in ministry include serving in full-time ministry, researching... Read More →


Thursday November 17, 2016 1:00pm - 6:00pm EST
Room 237

1:00pm EST

YS Team Training: Helping Teens and Youth Workers Make Wise Decisions
We all know teens need wisdom. Teenagers enjoy greater privileges and freedoms than before, and they also experience greater consequences. Their decisions will shape their habits, relationships, and personal identities for years to come. And we need wisdom, too. We can—and should—be saying to our students, I’m with you in this, because wisdom is never fully attained. We must continue to seek wisdom and grow in it every day. In this seminar we’ll talk about the various sources of wisdom available to teens today, and we’ll unpack the power of godly wisdom. All of the ideas, materials, theological truths, and resources—which have been tested, tried, and proven to be transformational for both teens and adults—can easily be used in both large- and small-group ministries as well as in your own devotional life.

Speakers
avatar for Brian Berry

Brian Berry

Brian Berry is a youth ministry veteran who spent the last 22 years pastoring teens and overseeing a children’s ministry staff. He’s recently moved into an executive pastor role and now offers oversight and direction to the larger church. He and his wife, Shannon, are parenting... Read More →
avatar for Crystal Kirgiss

Crystal Kirgiss

Crystal Kirgiss, PhD, has worked with students for 30 years. She writes for YouthWalk magazine, has written for many specialty Bible editions, and is the author or coauthor of many books, including In Search of Adolescence: A New Look at an Old Idea. Crystal lectures at Purdue University... Read More →


Thursday November 17, 2016 1:00pm - 6:00pm EST
Room 202

6:15pm EST

Scripture Like Jazz
Join us as we gather to interact with Scripture in a creative way. As a group, we’ll "play" the Scriptures in the way of jazz musicians, improvising as we go. This communal approach to reading and hearing Scripture will breathe life into your soul. As your voice finds its place among many others, you will be reminded of the beauty of our sacred text and discover afresh how you belong in this story.

Speakers
avatar for Jamie Roach

Jamie Roach

Jamie Roach has served on the staff of Youthfront for 30 years, working with students, parents, and youth workers. His passion is seeing people formed into the image of Jesus Christ. Jamie is an author, communicator, and spiritual director as well as the pastor of Redemption Table... Read More →


Thursday November 17, 2016 6:15pm - 7:15pm EST
Sanctuary Room 212

7:30pm EST

Big Room
Speakers
avatar for Mark Matlock

Mark Matlock

Mark Matlock has been working with youth pastors, students, and parents for more than two decades. He’s currently the president of WisdomWorks, a consulting firm dedicated to helping individuals, churches, and faith-centered organizations leverage the transforming power of wisdom... Read More →

Artists
avatar for Bobbito the Chef

Bobbito the Chef

DJ Bobbito is one of the most active Deejays in Los Angeles, CA. Having deejayed for over 14 years, touring nationally and internationally with PAX217, you can find him in any environment from corporate events, private parties, and national conferences. He can also be found helping... Read More →
avatar for Brandon Grissom Band

Brandon Grissom Band

Brandon Grissom is a singer/songwriter from Denver, Colorado. Although he was raised in the dusty backwoods of Oklahoma, he spent more than a decade leading worship at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. Brandon now regularly plays at Cherry Hills Church in Denver as well as... Read More →
avatar for Sharon Irving

Sharon Irving

“I take a deep breath and step out on faith.” Those words have been a mantra for Sharon Irving—songstress, songwriter, spoken-word artist, worship leader, and actress. Sharon has been a part of the worship team at Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Illinois, for several... Read More →


Thursday November 17, 2016 7:30pm - 9:30pm EST
Hall A

9:00pm EST

Exhibit Hall Grand Opening
Artists
avatar for Bobbito the Chef

Bobbito the Chef

DJ Bobbito is one of the most active Deejays in Los Angeles, CA. Having deejayed for over 14 years, touring nationally and internationally with PAX217, you can find him in any environment from corporate events, private parties, and national conferences. He can also be found helping... Read More →


Thursday November 17, 2016 9:00pm - 11:00pm EST
Halls B/C

9:30pm EST

Compline (evening prayer)
Compline comes from a Latin word that means “completion.” This peaceful and beautiful 20-minute service is the liturgical equivalent of being tucked into bed. During this time, we’ll confess, 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 for those who desire to partake in the holy feast.

Speakers
avatar for Micah Thomas

Micah Thomas

Micah Thomas has worked for Youthfront in Kansas City for nine years. He helped to form LaCygne, an intentional community centered on prayer, service, and the recognition of Christ's presence in all areas of life. He serves as a worship leader at Jacob's Well Church in Kansas City... Read More →


Thursday November 17, 2016 9:30pm - 9:50pm EST
Sanctuary Room 212
 
Friday, November 18
 

7:45am EST

Lauds (morning prayer)
Lauds is a prayer practice that can be traced back to apostolic times. During this time of prayer, we offer praise to God for the break of a new day, and we celebrate the reality that our Lord has indeed risen from the dead. This 15-minute service is a simple liturgy of Scripture, silence, and spoken prayer.  

Speakers
avatar for Micah Thomas

Micah Thomas

Micah Thomas has worked for Youthfront in Kansas City for nine years. He helped to form LaCygne, an intentional community centered on prayer, service, and the recognition of Christ's presence in all areas of life. He serves as a worship leader at Jacob's Well Church in Kansas City... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 7:45am - 8:00am EST
Sanctuary Room 212

8:00am EST

Morning Bible Study
Speakers
avatar for Tic Long

Tic Long

After 34 years of leadership at Youth Specialties, Tic Long is now the executive pastor at Journey Community Church in La Mesa, California. He's a proud grandpa of two awesome grandsons, and his sessions will be sponsored by the Hair Club for Men.


Friday November 18, 2016 8:00am - 8:45am EST
Room Junior Ballroom B

8:10am EST

Singing Scripture as Prayer
Our brains connect content with sounds, and our minds mull over words and melodies even when we’re unaware. Come learn about the practice of singing Scripture as a way to connect with the Lord and internalize God's Word. Learn about faith communities that do this regularly, and maybe even become inspired to create your own. No musical expertise is required.

Speakers
avatar for Micah Thomas

Micah Thomas

Micah Thomas has worked for Youthfront in Kansas City for nine years. He helped to form LaCygne, an intentional community centered on prayer, service, and the recognition of Christ's presence in all areas of life. He serves as a worship leader at Jacob's Well Church in Kansas City... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 8:10am - 8:50am EST
Sanctuary Room 212

8:15am EST

Idea Lab: Encouragments for Bi-vocational Youth Leaders
Speakers
avatar for Chase Snyder

Chase Snyder

Pastor, Blogger, MinistryBubble
YS Blogger


Friday November 18, 2016 8:15am - 8:30am EST
Halls B/C

8:30am EST

Idea Lab: Teaching Jesus
Speakers
avatar for Jen Bradbury

Jen Bradbury

Jen Bradbury is the director of youth ministry at Faith Lutheran Church in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. A veteran youth worker, Jen holds an MA in Youth Ministry Leadership from Huntington University. She’s the author of The Jesus Gap: What Teens Actually Believe About Jesus, The Real... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 8:30am - 8:45am EST
Halls B/C

9:00am EST

Big Room
Speakers
avatar for Albert Tate

Albert Tate

Albert Tate is the founder and lead pastor of Fellowship Monrovia, a gospel-centered, multiethnic, intergenerational church. Albert is a dynamic communicator passionate about sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. He serves on the Board of Trustees at Azusa Pacific University and Fuller... Read More →

Artists
avatar for Bobbito the Chef

Bobbito the Chef

DJ Bobbito is one of the most active Deejays in Los Angeles, CA. Having deejayed for over 14 years, touring nationally and internationally with PAX217, you can find him in any environment from corporate events, private parties, and national conferences. He can also be found helping... Read More →
avatar for Brandon Grissom Band

Brandon Grissom Band

Brandon Grissom is a singer/songwriter from Denver, Colorado. Although he was raised in the dusty backwoods of Oklahoma, he spent more than a decade leading worship at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. Brandon now regularly plays at Cherry Hills Church in Denver as well as... Read More →
avatar for Michael Garza

Michael Garza

Michael Garza is a poet, husband, and son from Cicero, Illinois, who is obsessed with all the places that faith and art intersect. A Louder than a Bomb and TrueVoices Chicago product who reads Chesterton alongside Dean Young, you can often find him in a church or bar, sharing poe... Read More →
avatar for Sharon Irving

Sharon Irving

“I take a deep breath and step out on faith.” Those words have been a mantra for Sharon Irving—songstress, songwriter, spoken-word artist, worship leader, and actress. Sharon has been a part of the worship team at Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Illinois, for several... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 9:00am - 10:30am EST
Hall A

10:30am EST

Imaginative Prayer
Imaginative prayer is the process of contemplatively interacting with Scripture through listening, looking, and being engaged and present with our entire beings. We’ll make ourselves totally available to the Holy Spirit in body, mind, soul, and spirit. We’ll listen. We’ll practice patience. We’ll enter into the depths of Scripture.

Speakers
avatar for Beth Slevcove

Beth Slevcove

Beth Slevcove has served as a spiritual director since 1998, primarily working with people in ministry. She served as the director of spiritual formation for Youth Specialties and holds advanced degrees in theology and education. She's an oblate at a Benedictine monastery and runs... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 10:30am - 11:00am EST
Sanctuary Room 212

10:30am EST

Exhibit Hall Open
Friday November 18, 2016 10:30am - 12:30pm EST
Halls B/C

11:15am EST

Idea Lab: The Atmosphere of Tradition vs Events
Speakers
avatar for Abel Lopez

Abel Lopez

Abel López is the president and founder of Clay Student Leadership, a dynamic, six-year leadership curriculum focused on reaching students in the public schools. He holds a master’s degree in leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University, and he was a youth pastor for 18 years. Abel... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 11:15am - 11:30am EST
Halls B/C

11:30am EST

Idea Lab: Discipleship and Caring for LGBT Youth: Question and Response
Speakers
avatar for Julie Rodgers

Julie Rodgers

Julie Rodgers is a writer, speaker, and advocate for LGBTQ people in the church.
avatar for Mark Yarhouse

Mark Yarhouse

Dr. Mark A. Yarhouse is the Hughes Endowed Chair and professor of psychology at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Dr. Yarhouse promotes dialogue between people who view the topic of sexual identity differently. He's currently the chair of the task force on LGBT issues... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 11:30am - 12:00pm EST
Halls B/C

11:45am EST

Midday (prayer at midday)

This 15-minute service is designed to briefly interrupt us in the middle of our day in order that we might refocus our attention on God as the center of our lives and worthy of our praise.


Speakers
avatar for Micah Thomas

Micah Thomas

Micah Thomas has worked for Youthfront in Kansas City for nine years. He helped to form LaCygne, an intentional community centered on prayer, service, and the recognition of Christ's presence in all areas of life. He serves as a worship leader at Jacob's Well Church in Kansas City... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 11:45am - 12:00pm EST
Sanctuary Room 212

12:00pm EST

Idea Lab: The Power of Engagement, Encouragement, & Empowerment in Youth Ministry
Speakers
avatar for Aqueelah Ligonde

Aqueelah Ligonde

Aqueelah Lidgonde is an enthusiastic speaker, preacher, and leader with a passion for today’s youth and young adult women. She’s currently serving as the staff consultant with Ministry Architects, the site coordinator for the Young Adult Volunteer Program of New York City (Presbyterian... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 12:00pm - 12:15pm EST
Halls B/C

12:30pm EST

Big Room: YS Explores (Schools)
Speakers
avatar for Jeremy DelRio

Jeremy DelRio

Jeremy R. Del Rio, Esq., cofounded and leads Thrive Collective, a nonprofit that empowers students and schools by mobilizing students, families, and community groups to partner with schools for sustainable change. He also teaches youth and community development at Alliance and Fuller... Read More →
avatar for Nichole Fulgham

Nichole Fulgham

Nicole Fulgham received her doctorate in education from UCLA with a focus on urban education policy and teacher preparation. She joined the national staff of Teach for America (TFA) and held several key leadership roles before starting the Expectations Project. Nicole is the author... Read More →
avatar for Chuck Klein

Chuck Klein

Chuck Klein gives national leadership to the Campus Alliance, a coalition of 60 organizations and church denominations that share the vision of seeing a ministry to every middle school and high school student and campus in America. The Campus Alliance sponsors everyschool.com, where... Read More →
avatar for Nate Landis

Nate Landis

Dr. Nate Landis is founder and president of Urban Youth Collaborative (UYC), a coalition of 45 churches that support student-led faith clubs at 76 middle and high school campuses in San Diego County. UYC has developed effective strategies for churches interested in building holistic... Read More →
avatar for Ricky Lewis

Ricky Lewis

Ricky Lewis, MAC, is the executive director of Teen Lifeline, Inc., where he created curriculum that seeks to help teenagers find direction and make better choices. Before starting with Teen Lifeline in 2009, Ricky worked as a youth minister at the Hills Church.
avatar for Abel Lopez

Abel Lopez

Abel López is the president and founder of Clay Student Leadership, a dynamic, six-year leadership curriculum focused on reaching students in the public schools. He holds a master’s degree in leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University, and he was a youth pastor for 18 years. Abel... Read More →
avatar for Chris Robey

Chris Robey

Chris Robey serves as the program director for Teen Lifeline, Inc. He’s a trainer, group facilitator, program developer, speaker, and a cohost of the Stay Calm . . . Don’t Panic! podcast.


Friday November 18, 2016 12:30pm - 2:00pm EST
Hall A

2:15pm EST

Creating Art as Prayer
We were created in the imago dei, the “image of God.” We were designed to create and to be imaginative people who cooperate with God, the source of beauty and creativity. To celebrate that, we’ll create art in response to Scripture readings.

Speakers
avatar for Lilly Lewin

Lilly Lewin

Lilly Lewin is worship curator of ThinplaceNashville and freerangeworship.com. She takes worship outside the box and beyond singing through multisensory prayer, experiential worship, and art. Lilly leads workshops and creates sacred-space experiences in the US and abroad. She’s... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 2:15pm - 3:15pm EST
Sanctuary Room 212

2:15pm EST

How Your Church Can Grow Young
We’re surrounded by discouraging reports about the aging and decline of churches today. But what if that’s only part of the story? What if there are energized churches brimming with young people and growing young? The good news is that those bright-spot churches exist. The Fuller Youth Institute team spent the past three years studying congregations that love and are loved by people between the ages of 15-29. Through this landmark investigation of more than 250 diverse congregations, FYI uncovered six core commitments that are key to reaching and retaining young people. This seminar explores those findings as well as stories of real-life churches that are thriving. You’ll leave with a host of doable ideas to help your church right now. Your church doesn’t have to grow old—come discover new ways to grow young!

Speakers
avatar for Kara Powell

Kara Powell

Kara Powell, PhD, is the executive director of the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI) and a faculty member at Fuller Theological Seminary (fulleryouthinstitute.org). Named by Christianity Today as one of “50 Women to Watch,” Kara serves as a youth and family strategist for Orange and... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 2:15pm - 3:45pm EST
Room 202

2:15pm EST

Mapping Out Ministry to LGBT Youth
Join us as together we develop a map for effective ministry to LGBT youth. We’ll connect research on sexual development and gender-identity development to your ministry setting as we think about how to cast a positive vision for LGBT youth.

Speakers
avatar for Julie Rodgers

Julie Rodgers

Julie Rodgers is a writer, speaker, and advocate for LGBTQ people in the church.
avatar for Mark Yarhouse

Mark Yarhouse

Dr. Mark A. Yarhouse is the Hughes Endowed Chair and professor of psychology at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Dr. Yarhouse promotes dialogue between people who view the topic of sexual identity differently. He's currently the chair of the task force on LGBT issues... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 2:15pm - 3:45pm EST
Room 232

2:15pm EST

When Your Kid Walks Away from the Faith
It’s heartbreaking when young people who were committed Christians turn away from God. What are some of the reasons this happens, and how should we respond? What can be done to bring these young people back into the household of faith?

Speakers
avatar for Tony Campolo

Tony Campolo

Tony Campolo is professor of Sociology at Eastern University. For 40 years he led the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education, an organization that created and supported programs to serve needy communities across the world. More recently, Dr. Campolo has provided leadership... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 2:15pm - 3:45pm EST
Room 233

2:15pm EST

Reaching, Ministering and Mentoring High-Risk Youth
The US government estimates that one in four young people are at risk of not entering healthy adulthood without significant adult intervention. All youth are considered at-risk, but there’s a subset of these youth with more risk factors to contend with. This workshop will share the ten common risk factors among high-risk youth and practical, creative ways to connect with and minister to these youth.

Speakers
avatar for Amy Williams

Amy Williams

Amy “Hope Dealer” Williams is a 21-year youth ministry veteran and a gang intervention specialist who ministers to teens involved in gangs, youth on probation/parole, and those lost in the criminal justice system. Amy is involved in the movements to end mass incarceration and... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 2:15pm - 3:45pm EST
Room 230

2:15pm EST

A Structured Approach That Leads to Transformation of Students and Families in the Public Schools
This seminar will provide the tools you need to impact students grades three through eight and their families, creating an opportunity for your church volunteers to impact the schools in your community. CLAY Student Leadership’s mission of Caring Loving All Youth has helped decrease maladaptive behaviors of at-risk students and increase the effectiveness of at-promise students. Through CLAY Student Leadership, students and families find hope and purpose as each student learns to dream and gains practical tools to achieve those dreams. CLAY’s curriculum engages students through music, journaling, and consistent mentorship—this provides an interactive experience that allows students to absorb and apply simple truths and helps instill leadership values. In addition, family team building and intentional leadership seminars equip parents to take an active role in the lives of their children.

Speakers
avatar for Abel Lopez

Abel Lopez

Abel López is the president and founder of Clay Student Leadership, a dynamic, six-year leadership curriculum focused on reaching students in the public schools. He holds a master’s degree in leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University, and he was a youth pastor for 18 years. Abel... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 2:15pm - 3:45pm EST
Room 203

2:15pm EST

In the Beginning, Create: 7 Steps to Thriving School Partnerships
Scripture begins with the Great Artist creating and inviting humanity to do the same. Yet school budget cuts often eliminate the visual and performing arts experiences that awaken students’ creative imago Dei. Explore how youth ministries can reintroduce students to their Creator and add real value to neighborhood schools.

Speakers
avatar for Jeremy DelRio

Jeremy DelRio

Jeremy R. Del Rio, Esq., cofounded and leads Thrive Collective, a nonprofit that empowers students and schools by mobilizing students, families, and community groups to partner with schools for sustainable change. He also teaches youth and community development at Alliance and Fuller... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 2:15pm - 3:45pm EST
Room 263

2:15pm EST

More Than Lunch: an In-Depth Look at Serving Your Local School
A common narrative within youth pastor circles is that public schools are off-limits to the local church. Many believe there’s no place for the faith community to engage with students in the public setting. Is this true? After years of working with local public schools, Chris Robey and the staff at Teen Lifeline discovered that there are places to serve in public schools and that schools need and want local churches to be involved. You have a role to play in your local school—if you’re willing to take some time to examine your motives and ask the right questions. Come see what work is waiting for you in the public schools!

Speakers
avatar for Ricky Lewis

Ricky Lewis

Ricky Lewis, MAC, is the executive director of Teen Lifeline, Inc., where he created curriculum that seeks to help teenagers find direction and make better choices. Before starting with Teen Lifeline in 2009, Ricky worked as a youth minister at the Hills Church.
avatar for Chris Robey

Chris Robey

Chris Robey serves as the program director for Teen Lifeline, Inc. He’s a trainer, group facilitator, program developer, speaker, and a cohost of the Stay Calm . . . Don’t Panic! podcast.


Friday November 18, 2016 2:15pm - 3:45pm EST
Room 262

2:15pm EST

Every Seven Minutes: Keeping Students Engaged during Your Talk
Keeping your students’ attention during youth group can be a challenge for even the most experienced communicators. We’ll talk about how to break up your talk into seven-minute sections with occasional commercial breaks—this structure will keep students learning the whole time. You’ll also learn more than 20 creative ways to keep students engaged.

Speakers
avatar for Josh Griffin

Josh Griffin

With more than 20 years of experience, Josh Griffin is one of the leading voices in youth ministry. Most recently, he served as the high school pastor at Saddleback Church. He's the cofounder of DownloadYouthMinistry.com, and he hosts a weekly youth ministry podcast with Doug Fields... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 2:15pm - 3:45pm EST
Room Junior Ballroom B

2:15pm EST

Speaking Truth to Life: Teaching That Sticks
Most of us know the frustration of walking into a room full of teenagers thinking you have the gift of teaching and walking out an hour later wondering why God didn’t give any of your students the gift of listening. This seminar will explore some of the basic principles of effective and creative teaching. You’ll hear some great ideas to stimulate you with new strategies for communicating the Word of God.

Speakers
avatar for Duffy Robbins

Duffy Robbins

Dr. Duffy Robbins, professor of youth ministry at Eastern University, is a youth ministry veteran with more than 40 years of experience. He speaks around the world to teenagers and people who care about teenagers. Duffy serves as a teaching pastor at Faithbridge Church, and his conversational... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 2:15pm - 3:45pm EST
Room 204

2:15pm EST

Empowering Students to Impact Their Schools
Whether or not you have access to the halls of your local schools, you can still make a difference. This session will focus on how to create a culture outside of school for and with your Christian students so that they can have an incredible impact inside their schools.

Speakers
avatar for Ben Woodman

Ben Woodman

Ben Woodman is the cohost of the Alpha Youth Film Series, an interactive evangelistic youth resource used all over the world. He and his wife, Melissa, live in Vancouver, Canada, where he served as a youth pastor for 10 years before he joined the team at Alpha. He’s a huge fan of... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 2:15pm - 3:45pm EST
Room 200

2:15pm EST

Theology of Vocation: Serving God in the World beyond School.
What is a theology of vocation? How do youth leaders talk about work? Is there a theological discussion to have about “being educated” and about “getting a job”? How do youth group leaders nurture the student who wants to be in a secular profession along with the one who wants to be a pastor or missionary? Schools have an embedded goal of helping students get jobs, but do we in youth ministry know how to teach youth about vocation? If a student doesn’t want to go into ministry, would he or she feel equally valued by a youth leader who intentionally or unintentionally elevates mission trips and ministry as the highest form of work?

Speakers
avatar for Mark Cannister

Mark Cannister

Mark Cannister is professor of Christian ministries at Gordon College, executive administrator for the Association of Youth Ministry Educators, and former senior editor of the Journal of Youth Ministry. Mark’s four decades of experience in ministry include serving as youth minister... Read More →
avatar for Jim Hampton

Jim Hampton

Dr. Jim Hampton serves as professor of youth ministry and co-director of mentored ministry at Asbury Theological Seminary. He was also the co-founder of Barefoot Ministries, a youth ministry publishing company. He earned his PhD from the University of Kansas and his MDiv from Nazarene... Read More →
avatar for Terry Linhart

Terry Linhart

Terry Linhart is an educator and strategist who helps others be more effective in their Christian ministry leadership. He’s professor of Christian Ministries at Bethel College and directs the YS Academic Support Network. Terry has produced seven books, including the recent Teaching... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 2:15pm - 3:45pm EST
Room 207

2:15pm EST

How To Get Away With Networking
In today’s society, where many people seem to be trying to get away with murder, most youth leaders are just trying to get away from isolation. Learning how to network will help you to stay on the front lines. Networking is valuable, because it helps leaders resource each other without leaving their communities. Come learn about the importance of networking and some simple steps to make it happen.

Speakers
avatar for Fred Oduyoye

Fred Oduyoye

Fred Oduyoye began in full-tim youth ministry 18 years ago, and his experiences led him to become the national training director for Urban Youth Workers Institute. Today, Fred is the Director of Networking for Youth Specialties and oversees the YS UnConference. Fred helps manage relationships... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 2:15pm - 3:45pm EST
Room 250

2:15pm EST

How to Read the Bible So the Bible Reads You
Six proven strategies for digging deep into Scripture and connecting with God’s word in meaningful ways.

Speakers
avatar for Crystal Kirgiss

Crystal Kirgiss

Crystal Kirgiss, PhD, has worked with students for 30 years. She writes for YouthWalk magazine, has written for many specialty Bible editions, and is the author or coauthor of many books, including In Search of Adolescence: A New Look at an Old Idea. Crystal lectures at Purdue University... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 2:15pm - 3:45pm EST
Room 236

2:15pm EST

THE BIG PICTURE: Developing a Year-Long Coordinated Teaching and Events Calendar
Ministry can be all about the tyranny of the urgent. Due to the immediacy of needs
 and short-term demands, the result is this is limited creativity, high stress, and
 low volunteer involvement. This seminar is all about changing that by helping you develop a teaching and events calendar that will help you get ahead and get others involved. We’ll show you 
how to create a visual calendar you can use to stay ahead, we’ll
 discuss ways to develop group ownership, and we’ll talk
 about practical ways to make a calendar year that creates momentum instead of a constant drain on you, your ministry, and your family.

Speakers
avatar for Brian Berry

Brian Berry

Brian Berry is a youth ministry veteran who spent the last 22 years pastoring teens and overseeing a children’s ministry staff. He’s recently moved into an executive pastor role and now offers oversight and direction to the larger church. He and his wife, Shannon, are parenting... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 2:15pm - 3:45pm EST
Room 201

2:15pm EST

Your First Two Years of Youth Ministry

Taught by 30-year youth ministry veteran Doug Fields, this seminar is designed to help both veteran and newbie youth workers be effective leaders. Doug will share his own successes and failures, and he’ll teach you how to think about your teenage audience and their families. He’ll talk about how to develop a healthy youth ministry that's built on more than fun and games; recruit, develop, and empower volunteers; lead students towards spiritual maturity; and balance your professional and personal life.


Speakers
avatar for Doug Fields

Doug Fields

Doug Fields is a communicator, author, and consultant. He’s the executive director of HomeWord’s Center for Youth and Family at Azusa Pacific University, the cofounder of Downloadyouthministry.com, and the author of more than 50 books.


Friday November 18, 2016 2:15pm - 3:45pm EST
Room Junior Ballroom A

3:30pm EST

Exhibit Hall Open
Friday November 18, 2016 3:30pm - 7:30pm EST
Halls B/C

4:00pm EST

Stations of the Cross
Learn 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 we commemorate the death of our Savior through art that depicts the final hours of Jesus Christ. 

Speakers
avatar for Lilly Lewin

Lilly Lewin

Lilly Lewin is worship curator of ThinplaceNashville and freerangeworship.com. She takes worship outside the box and beyond singing through multisensory prayer, experiential worship, and art. Lilly leads workshops and creates sacred-space experiences in the US and abroad. She’s... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 4:00pm - 5:00pm EST
Sanctuary Room 212

4:00pm EST

Positive Discipline: Working with Rude, Obnoxious, and Apathetic Teens
Don't let discipline problems drive you out of youth ministry! Take a positive approach instead. Learn why teens get rowdy, how to set rules and consequences, and how to praise teens. 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 teens in your ministry.

Speakers
avatar for Les Christie

Les Christie

Les Christie has been in paid youth ministry for 50 years. He chairs the youth ministry department at William Jessup University and has spoken at each YS National Youth Workers Convention for 37 years. He’s the author of seventeen books, including Best-Ever Games for Youth Ministry... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room Junior Ballroom A

4:00pm EST

When Life Sucks: Ministering to Kids in Life’s Darkest Moments
How do we help student think theologically and practically about the suffering, loss, and pain they experience in life? How do we demonstrate that Christianity works when the ache of their hearts is bigger than anything they’ve faced before? Where is the hope of the gospel in the face of great pain? It takes more than Bible verses and bumper-sticker answers to deeply care for teens in the midst of suffering. This seminar offers practical ways to walk with teens and their families through dark days when God seems far away.

Speakers
avatar for Kerry Loescher

Kerry Loescher

Kerry Loescher has more than 20 years of professional youth ministry experience and currently serves as an instructor at Oral Roberts University, teaching youth ministry, outreach, and leadership. Kerry’s passion is equipping leaders to help kids and families connect the dots between... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 203

4:00pm EST

The Challenge of "Church Kids"
They’ve been there—they’ve done that. Not only do they know the right answers, they also could run the show. Perhaps one of the greatest challenges we face as youth workers is to stimulate spiritual growth in kids who are too familiar with the gospel. Some are callused, some are bored, many are living with the secondhand faith of their parents, and most are tired of the pat answers they’ve been hearing. Marv will help you understand what’s going on in the hearts of churched kids. We’ll explore strategies for helping parents help their kids. Along with providing some proven apathy busters, Marv will give you a new perspective on how your relationships with these church-basement veterans can be exciting again.

Speakers
avatar for Marv Penner

Marv Penner

Marv Penner is an internationally known author, professor, speaker, and youth ministry veteran who has spent more than 40 years working with students and families. He’s the author of six books on youth ministry, including The Youth Worker’s Guide to Parent Ministry, Hope and Healing... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 233

4:00pm EST

Educational Excellence for All of God’s Children?
What will it take to see a nation where all of God’s children have the opportunity to go an excellent school? Is it realistic to expect that every child, regardless of race, class, or family background, can achieve at high levels? What role should Christians play in helping to bring about this change? These are just a few of the big questions we’ll tackle in this seminar. Participants will engage in rich, meaningful discussions and walk away with concrete things they can do to involve their congregations in educational change.

Speakers
avatar for Nichole Fulgham

Nichole Fulgham

Nicole Fulgham received her doctorate in education from UCLA with a focus on urban education policy and teacher preparation. She joined the national staff of Teach for America (TFA) and held several key leadership roles before starting the Expectations Project. Nicole is the author... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 264

4:00pm EST

I Followed the Lamb to School One Day . . . and Discovered America's Biggest Mission Field
Join campus ministry practitioners for honest conversations about how churches can effectively reach hurting kids at public schools. Discover the power of collaboration, holistic ministry ideas, and practical models that work. Hear real-life stories of the kind of transformation that happens when God links churches to campuses. Today, 76 schools in San Diego and thousands of young people are being ministered to every week. Be inspired and equipped to change lives! Don’t miss this chance to engage our country’s largest unreached people group: public-school students.

Speakers
avatar for Nate Landis

Nate Landis

Dr. Nate Landis is founder and president of Urban Youth Collaborative (UYC), a coalition of 45 churches that support student-led faith clubs at 76 middle and high school campuses in San Diego County. UYC has developed effective strategies for churches interested in building holistic... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 236

4:00pm EST

Ministering to Middle Schoolers with Gender in Mind
Many youth ministers are overwhelmed when they look out at a room filled with middle school girls and guys. How do you keep the guys engaged without frustrating the girls? How do you talk about feelings without the guys resorting to armpit noises? How in the world do you honor both genders when they’re so different? Drawing from 19 years of experience with middle school students, Heather will offer practical ideas on middle school programming, teaching, activities, and relationships.

Speakers
avatar for Heather Flies

Heather Flies

Heather Flies has been the junior high pastor at Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie for 24 years. She frequently speaks at junior high schools on abstinence, self-esteem, and other current issues. She also encourages women, trains youth workers, and helps parents understand how to love... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 201

4:00pm EST

Drive-By Missions—You’re Killin’ Us!
For 500 years our Indian people have been saturated with the gospel, yet less than 3% of us claim to be followers of The Jesus Way. What should have been the good news of Yeshua has been bad news, because what's been shared with us is a replacement-oriented theology that claims that everything we are as Indian people must be replaced with the culture and ways of the missionary. In this seminar, Corey and Coby carefully deconstruct Western missiology and replace it with something that indigenous people can hear and accept with honor and dignity. You’ll see missions and mission trips through the eyes of an indigenous person from the reservation, where he and his people have been on the receiving end of Western missional practices for far too long. Come listen, learn, and be part of the conversation.

Speakers
avatar for Coby Cagle

Coby Cagle

Raised in Houston, Texas, Coby Cagle is the assistant pastor of youth and college ministry at Quest Church in Seattle, Washington. Coby is a 13-year youth ministry veteran with degrees from Rhodes College and George Fox Evangelical Seminary. When he isn’t challenging seventh graders... Read More →
avatar for Corey Greaves

Corey Greaves

Corey Greaves is Blackfeet, Klickitat, and Irish and lives on the Yakama Reservation in Washington State. He’s the president and cofounder of Mending Wings, a Native American, nonprofit youth organization. Corey desires to see Native youth and families restored to wholeness by the... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 262

4:00pm EST

Surviving as a Youth Worker and a Parent
It's difficult to be a great parent and a great youth worker. Bible study prep often wins over helping with homework, and family meals can get lost amidst church dinners. What do you do when you’re a jerk to your family and you have to teach a Bible study in three hours? What do you do when you plan a lock-in but your own kid doesn’t want to attend? How do manage your kid when he or she refuses to interact with other teens in youth group? What do you do if you realize you have deeper conversations with teens in your church than you do with your own children? There are certainly no easy answers, but this seminar will offer real-life ideas and strategies for sorting out the issues we face when we’re youth workers and our own kids attend our youth ministries.

Speakers
avatar for Tim Baker

Tim Baker

Tim Baker has been a youth worker for nearly 30 years. He’s the editor of YouthWorker Journal and the author of more than twenty books for teens and youth workers. Tim’s the parish administrator and a youth worker at Trinity Episcopal Church in Longview, Texas. He’s the father... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 237

4:00pm EST

The Easiest and Most Awesome Interactive Lesson Plan Ever
After 35 years of teaching in 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 can see it in action.

Speakers
avatar for Mark Oestricher

Mark Oestricher

Mark “Marko” Oestreicher is a veteran youth worker and founding partner in The Youth Cartel, providing resources, training, and coaching for church youth workers. The author of dozens of books, including Youth Ministry 3.0 and Hopecasting: Finding, Keeping and Sharing the Things... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 232

4:00pm EST

What Is Salvation?
Each year we want to more closely examine a core concept for youth ministry. Youth groups talk about salvation, but what is required when we teach it? What are the various views of salvation today, and how do they affect ministry practice? Are there non-negotiables for youth ministry leaders about what it means to be saved? Salvation is a theological topic we assume we know, but in reality, our concept of it may be underdeveloped. Using a fishbowl conversation as a jump-start, we’ll dig in and discuss this important topic. We’ll examine how we talk about salvation, how it shapes our communities, and how our ministries might change as we enrich our theological understanding of it.

Speakers
avatar for Jen Bradbury

Jen Bradbury

Jen Bradbury is the director of youth ministry at Faith Lutheran Church in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. A veteran youth worker, Jen holds an MA in Youth Ministry Leadership from Huntington University. She’s the author of The Jesus Gap: What Teens Actually Believe About Jesus, The Real... Read More →
avatar for Chris Curtis

Chris Curtis

Chris Curtis has been working with young people in the UK for more than three decades. He’s chief executive of Youthscape, a growing UK organization focused on innovation in youth ministry. He writes and speaks widely on faith, young people, and youth culture. In his spare... Read More →
avatar for Mike Langford

Mike Langford

Mike Langford is a teacher, thinker, writer, and speaker who desires to help the church bring rich theology, good ministry, and deep spirituality into discipleship living. He’s the associate professor of Theology, Discipleship, and Ministry at Seattle Pacific University and the... Read More →
avatar for Terry Linhart

Terry Linhart

Terry Linhart is an educator and strategist who helps others be more effective in their Christian ministry leadership. He’s professor of Christian Ministries at Bethel College and directs the YS Academic Support Network. Terry has produced seven books, including the recent Teaching... Read More →
avatar for Mike Severe

Mike Severe

Mike Severe is the associate professor and program director of Christian Ministries at Taylor University. He served as a pastor to teens and families for more than 13 years and now trains people for effective ministry and discipleship. He’s written articles for YouthWorker, the... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 207

4:00pm EST

Balancing Ministry, Marriage, and Family
Let’s face it—juggling marriage, family, and ministry isn’t always easy. When you combine these, you’ll likely experience the frustrating challenge of keeping your marriage intimate, and you’ll have to deal with the implications of your kids being raised in a ministry environment. In this seminar Jim Burns will share insights from what he and Cathy call their high-maintenance marriage, and they’ll also talk about what it was like to raise three strong-willed children who didn’t always love church. Jim will talk about the danger of being overcommitted and under-connected, how to energize your family’s spiritual life, how to communicate well in the midst of conflict, and other issues specific to ministry, marriage, and family. You’ll receive several outstanding communication resources and have plenty of time to talk about issues close to your heart. 

Speakers
avatar for Jim Burns

Jim Burns

Jim Burns is the president of HomeWord and the executive director of the HomeWord Center for Youth and Family at Azusa Pacific University. Jim speaks to people around the world about how to have strong marriages, be confident parents, raise empowered kids, and become healthy leaders... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 204

4:00pm EST

Healthy Youth Worker: The Balancing Act
Off-balance. Out of tune. Off-key. Empty. Have you ever felt this way? This workshop is about helping leaders learn ways to lead balanced, healthy, and happy personal/spiritual and ministry lives. Everyone is different, but we all need time to gauge where we are and assess whether or not we’re allowing God to speak into our lives. We’ll use tips and techniques from spiritual disciplines as well as practical methods to recognize and address burnout.

Speakers
avatar for Aqueelah Ligonde

Aqueelah Ligonde

Aqueelah Lidgonde is an enthusiastic speaker, preacher, and leader with a passion for today’s youth and young adult women. She’s currently serving as the staff consultant with Ministry Architects, the site coordinator for the Young Adult Volunteer Program of New York City (Presbyterian... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 230

4:00pm EST

Leading in Transition
Leadership change is inevitable. Whether you're the pastor coming or going or you're the volunteer carrying the load through the transition, it's imperative that change is carried out wisely. Questions that will get answered in this session include How do I know it's time to leave, and how do I do this well? How do I start strong in a new ministry? In the midst of change, how do we keep the focus on students?

Speakers
avatar for Brian Aaby

Brian Aaby

Brian Aaby is the director of YS Search and YS Coaching at Youth Specialties, where he assists churches with personnel placement and provides coaching guidance for youth leaders. He served for 17 years as a youth pastor before founding Youthmark in 2008.Brian speaks nationally at... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 263

4:00pm EST

Building Strong Volunteer Teams
Ask any youth ministry veteran how to excel in ministry for the long haul and they’ll all say the same thing: you’ve got to have a great team! In this interactive workshop we’ll discuss recruiting, training, and engaging leaders—specifically where to find them, how to help them grow, and how to unleash them in ministry!

Speakers
avatar for Sean Meade

Sean Meade

Sean is an 18-year student ministry veteran and the founder and president of Stuck in the Middle, an organization that hosts events for middle school students and provides resources and consulting for middle school ministries. Sean also serves as the middle school pastor at Calvary... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 205

5:00pm EST

Praying with Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh wanted art to guide religious life into a life-giving spirituality, and his biographically inspired art offers a unique allegory of an interior 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. Reflect on his extraordinary art, interact with his writing, and learn about a way of praying that might open you to new possibilities.

Speakers
avatar for Archie Honrado

Archie Honrado

Archie Honrado is a missionary, youth worker, spiritual director, retreat guide, prayer-space curator/architect, and worship leader. He serves with Urban Youth Workers Institute, Youth Specialties, Youth For Christ, American Baptist Churches of Los Angeles, and DeVos Urban Youth Leadership... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 5:00pm - 6:00pm EST
Sanctuary Room 212

6:15pm EST

Idea Lab: Operation Christmas Child
Speakers

Friday November 18, 2016 6:15pm - 6:30pm EST
Halls B/C

6:30pm EST

Idea Lab: Middle School Ministry Tips + Tricks
Speakers
avatar for Sean Meade

Sean Meade

Sean is an 18-year student ministry veteran and the founder and president of Stuck in the Middle, an organization that hosts events for middle school students and provides resources and consulting for middle school ministries. Sean also serves as the middle school pastor at Calvary... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 6:30pm - 6:45pm EST
Halls B/C

6:45pm EST

Idea Lab: Mentoring and Ministering to High Risk Youth
Speakers
avatar for Amy Williams

Amy Williams

Amy “Hope Dealer” Williams is a 21-year youth ministry veteran and a gang intervention specialist who ministers to teens involved in gangs, youth on probation/parole, and those lost in the criminal justice system. Amy is involved in the movements to end mass incarceration and... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 6:45pm - 7:00pm EST
Halls B/C

7:00pm EST

Idea Lab: Preparing Students to Spiritually Thrive After Your Youth Group
Speakers
avatar for David Boyd

David Boyd

Dr. G. David Boyd is a forward thinker, a collector of Marvel Comics, an avid gamer, a radical follower of Jesus Christ, a father of three boys, and a husband. David is the managing director of EA Resources, a faith-based non-profit organization dedicated to equipping parents and... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 7:00pm - 7:15pm EST
Halls B/C

7:30pm EST

Big Room
Speakers
avatar for Eugene Cho

Eugene Cho

Eugene Cho is the founder and lead pastor of Quest Church, an urban, multicultural, and multigenerational church in Seattle, Washington. He’s also the founder of One Day’s Wages (ODW), “a grassroots movement of people, stories, and actions to alleviate extreme global poverty... Read More →

Artists
avatar for Bobbito the Chef

Bobbito the Chef

DJ Bobbito is one of the most active Deejays in Los Angeles, CA. Having deejayed for over 14 years, touring nationally and internationally with PAX217, you can find him in any environment from corporate events, private parties, and national conferences. He can also be found helping... Read More →
avatar for Brandon Grissom Band

Brandon Grissom Band

Brandon Grissom is a singer/songwriter from Denver, Colorado. Although he was raised in the dusty backwoods of Oklahoma, he spent more than a decade leading worship at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. Brandon now regularly plays at Cherry Hills Church in Denver as well as... Read More →
avatar for Michael Garza

Michael Garza

Michael Garza is a poet, husband, and son from Cicero, Illinois, who is obsessed with all the places that faith and art intersect. A Louder than a Bomb and TrueVoices Chicago product who reads Chesterton alongside Dean Young, you can often find him in a church or bar, sharing poe... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 7:30pm - 9:30pm EST
Hall A

9:30pm EST

Exhibit Hall Open
Friday November 18, 2016 9:30pm - 10:30pm EST
Halls B/C

10:00pm EST

Compline (evening prayer)
Compline comes from a Latin word that means “completion.” This peaceful and beautiful 20-minute service is the liturgical equivalent of being tucked into bed. During this time, we’ll confess, 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 for those who desire to partake in the holy feast.

Speakers
avatar for Micah Thomas

Micah Thomas

Micah Thomas has worked for Youthfront in Kansas City for nine years. He helped to form LaCygne, an intentional community centered on prayer, service, and the recognition of Christ's presence in all areas of life. He serves as a worship leader at Jacob's Well Church in Kansas City... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 10:00pm - 10:20pm EST
Sanctuary Room 212

10:30pm EST

Late Night
Artists
avatar for Jared Hall

Jared Hall

Jared Hall uses illusions and comedy to present the gospel of Jesus Christ in relevant and engaging ways. Over the last decade he has been blessed to perform at more than 1,500 events and outreach opportunities. The illusions Jared performs don’t just entertain—they’re also... Read More →
avatar for Joe Castillo

Joe Castillo

Joe Castillo is an artist, speaker, and storyteller with a passion for promoting the visual arts as a way of touching the heart. He’s also an expert in helping leaders, corporations, and individuals successfully navigate change. After 20 years in advertising and public speaking... Read More →


Friday November 18, 2016 10:30pm - 11:30pm EST
Junior Ballroom C
 
Saturday, November 19
 

7:45am EST

Lauds (morning prayer)
Lauds is a prayer practice that can be traced back to apostolic times. During this time of prayer, we offer praise to God for the break of a new day, and we celebrate the reality that our Lord has indeed risen from the dead. This 15-minute service is a simple liturgy of Scripture, silence, and spoken prayer.  

Speakers
avatar for Micah Thomas

Micah Thomas

Micah Thomas has worked for Youthfront in Kansas City for nine years. He helped to form LaCygne, an intentional community centered on prayer, service, and the recognition of Christ's presence in all areas of life. He serves as a worship leader at Jacob's Well Church in Kansas City... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 7:45am - 8:00am EST
Sanctuary Room 212

8:00am EST

Morning Bible Study
Speakers
avatar for Tic Long

Tic Long

After 34 years of leadership at Youth Specialties, Tic Long is now the executive pastor at Journey Community Church in La Mesa, California. He's a proud grandpa of two awesome grandsons, and his sessions will be sponsored by the Hair Club for Men.


Saturday November 19, 2016 8:00am - 8:45am EST
Room Junior Ballroom B

8:00am EST

Praying with Your Body
Our bodies are a very important part of prayer. Through our body language we communicate to God. Even if we’re not cognizant of what our bodies are saying about how we feel about God, they still speak volumes. All through Scripture we see examples of people using their bodies to communicate to God. We’ll learn the practice of fully engaging our bodies in prayer to God through our hands, feet, bodily postures, the Orant, and the sign of the cross.

Speakers
avatar for Mike King

Mike King

Mike King has been in youth ministry for 42 years. He currently serves as President/CEO of Youthfront, which provides youth ministry programs, services, resources, and training. Mike is an adjunct professor at Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City and a senior advisor for Museum... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 8:00am - 8:45am EST
Sanctuary Room 212

8:00am EST

Guided City Prayer Walk

Turn your tourist jaunts into experiential prayer walks. Leave the convention center and your hotel 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.


Speakers
avatar for Archie Honrado

Archie Honrado

Archie Honrado is a missionary, youth worker, spiritual director, retreat guide, prayer-space curator/architect, and worship leader. He serves with Urban Youth Workers Institute, Youth Specialties, Youth For Christ, American Baptist Churches of Los Angeles, and DeVos Urban Youth Leadership... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 8:00am - 10:00am EST
Sanctuary Room 212

8:30am EST

Idea Lab: Tips for Discipleship
Speakers
DG

David Grant

YS Coach


Saturday November 19, 2016 8:30am - 8:45am EST
Halls B/C

9:00am EST

Big Room: YS Explores (Service)
Speakers
avatar for Shane Claiborne

Shane Claiborne

Shane Claiborne is a bestselling author, renowned activist, sought-after speaker, and self-proclaimed recovering sinner. Shane writes and speaks around the world about peacemaking, social justice, and Jesus and is the author of numerous books, including The Irresistible Revolution... Read More →
avatar for Corey Greaves

Corey Greaves

Corey Greaves is Blackfeet, Klickitat, and Irish and lives on the Yakama Reservation in Washington State. He’s the president and cofounder of Mending Wings, a Native American, nonprofit youth organization. Corey desires to see Native youth and families restored to wholeness by the... Read More →
avatar for Kara Powell

Kara Powell

Kara Powell, PhD, is the executive director of the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI) and a faculty member at Fuller Theological Seminary (fulleryouthinstitute.org). Named by Christianity Today as one of “50 Women to Watch,” Kara serves as a youth and family strategist for Orange and... Read More →
avatar for Erica Schimelpfenig

Erica Schimelpfenig

Erica Shimelpfenig began at YouthWorks in 2000 as summer site staff. Since then, she’s worked there in a variety of roles, including recruiting associate, regional director, and director of recruiting. She’s currently the director of missions for YouthWorks. Erica and her husband... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 9:00am - 10:30am EST
Hall A

10:30am EST

Becoming the Beloved
We’re all loved and accepted exactly as we are, yet most of us live like we still have something to prove. This need to prove ourselves over and over again leaves us exhausted and anxious, which leads to judgmental attitudes and irritability. Come to the Sanctuary and spend time with God—you are beloved. We’ll participate in the practice of visio divina as we meditate and reflect on Rembrandt's The Return of the Prodigal Son. We invite you to come and recover your life.

Speakers
avatar for Jamie Roach

Jamie Roach

Jamie Roach has served on the staff of Youthfront for 30 years, working with students, parents, and youth workers. His passion is seeing people formed into the image of Jesus Christ. Jamie is an author, communicator, and spiritual director as well as the pastor of Redemption Table... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 10:30am - 11:10am EST
Sanctuary Room 212

10:30am EST

Exhibit Hall
Saturday November 19, 2016 10:30am - 1:45pm EST
Halls B/C

10:45am EST

Helping Parents Navigate Their Kids’ Digital Worlds
Whether they consider themselves digital natives, immigrants, or lost in transit, the parents of teenagers in your ministry are desperate for direction when it comes to their kids’ online worlds. Parents’ questions about technology will allow you to help them win, and your ministry will benefit in the process. Come explore ways to help parents practically apply grounded and faithful principles to the daily realities of Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, and whatever platforms your students encounter next.

Speakers
avatar for Brad Griffin

Brad Griffin

Brad M. Griffin is the associate director of the Fuller Youth Institute, where he develops research-based training for youth workers and parents. A speaker, blogger (fulleryouthinstitute.org), and volunteer youth pastor, Brad is also the coauthor of Growing Young, Sticky Faith, Right... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EST
Room 264

10:45am EST

Hurt 2.0: Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers
In 2004, Hurt: Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers detailed the results of a comprehensive nationwide study of high school kids. In Hurt 2.0 Chap Clark and research team have expanded their efforts to get into the lives and hearts of adolescents. In this seminar, Chap will present the latest contemporary research on how life is experienced by kids today. You’ll hear words and stories from students who range from middle schoolers through emerging adults well into their twenties, and you’ll come away with a deeper understanding of the students you’re called to love. You’ll also learn about an effective template for training volunteers and parents as well as the five keys to responding to today’s young people.

Speakers
avatar for Chap Clark

Chap Clark

Chap Clark, PhD, is professor of Youth, Family, and Culture at Fuller Seminary and president of ParenTeen, Inc. Chap has authored or coauthored several books, including the award-winning Hurt 2.0: Inside the World of Today's Teenagers, Sticky Faith, and Adoptive Youth Ministry: Integrating... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EST
Room 204

10:45am EST

Layers: Recognizing the Systemic Conditions of At-Risk Youth.
Ever work with an at-risk teen and wonder where to begin? Ever wonder why a student just can’t seem to get it together and escape an obvious cycle of destruction? In this seminar we’ll take a deeper look at the effects of an at-risk youth environment and discover practical solutions from Scripture and the community that can bring stability and structure into the lives of students.

Speakers
avatar for Fred Lynch

Fred Lynch

Fred Lynch is a dynamic communicator who takes the expressions of this generation and uses them to glorify God through relevant, relatable, and radical truth. He speaks in schools for Rachel’s Challenge, inspiring students to resist bullying and live a life of care and compassion... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EST
Room 236

10:45am EST

Post-Election Recovery: How to Minister Beyond the Election
Paul wrote in Romans 12, “As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone," but he didn't live through the surrealism of the 2016 presidential campaign. Whether your candidate won or lost, you surely are experiencing a myriad of thoughts and emotions. In this seminar, we’ll discuss how to strategically lead students and leaders through this season and into the future, while avoiding division and fear. Participants will learn how to help students—even those who are cynical and apathetic—think critically about the current state of politics.

Speakers
avatar for Jeremy DelRio

Jeremy DelRio

Jeremy R. Del Rio, Esq., cofounded and leads Thrive Collective, a nonprofit that empowers students and schools by mobilizing students, families, and community groups to partner with schools for sustainable change. He also teaches youth and community development at Alliance and Fuller... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EST
Room 263

10:45am EST

Rough Around the Edges: Dealing with Challenging Students
In youth ministry, we frequently come into contact with kids who have challenging backgrounds and face major challenges in life. In this seminar you’ll learn practical ways to connect with, build trust, and lead students from rough backgrounds. We’ll explore how to create an environment that attracts diverse students and develops a ministry as diverse as heaven is.

Speakers
avatar for Paco Pancham

Paco Pancham

Paco Pancham is the director of student ministry at Crossroads. In 2012, after traveling the US and producing live events for teenagers, he moved with his wife, Leslie, to Cincinnati, Ohio. He had a vision to build something for students that would excite them and move them toward... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EST
Room 251

10:45am EST

The Beauty of Diversity: Creating a Community Where Every Student Feels Wanted
Too many minority youth do not find a home when they walk through our ministry doors. Whether because of the color of their skin, sexual orientation, gender, or disability, many feel as if they don't belong. In response to this, they assimilate and lose their sense of self, or they stick around until graduation and then leave and never look back. How can we structure our organizations so all young people have role models they can identify with? How do we help these students imagine a future story in which they're honest about who they are and are also deeply connected to the church? In this workshop, we’ll explore practical changes we as leaders can make to create places where every student feels seen and celebrated as people made in the image of God with gifts to nourish the community.

Speakers
avatar for Julie Rodgers

Julie Rodgers

Julie Rodgers is a writer, speaker, and advocate for LGBTQ people in the church.


Saturday November 19, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EST
Room 230

10:45am EST

Beyond Doubting Alone: Guiding Youth Through a Dangerous Grace
Research shows that most Christian youth question their faith, but we rarely talk about it, so teenagers are left to navigate this doubt on their own. In this seminar we'll consider practical ways to journey alongside youth who doubt. Through the lens of both theology and research, we'll explore various kinds of adolescent doubt, and we’ll learn how to engage their uncertainties and questions as a “dangerous grace” that can lead to a more robust faith if youth are guided well.

Speakers
avatar for Andrew Zirschky

Andrew Zirschky

Andrew Zirschky, PhD, serves as academic director at the Center for Youth Ministry Training and is the assistant professor of Practical Theology and Youth Ministry at Memphis Theological Seminary. Andrew is the author of Beyond the Screen: Youth Ministry for the Connected but Alone... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EST
Room 262

10:45am EST

Growing Students Who Love and Shape Their World
Why is it that so few of our students seem deeply impacted by short-term missions and service? How can service be a catalyst that brings life not only to your youth ministry but also to your whole church? Based on brand-new Growing Young research as well as the Sticky Faith experiences of youth ministries nationwide, this seminar will help you rethink short-term missions and service in your ministry. You’ll hear stories and examples from churches like yours, and you’ll leave with ideas you can implement right away to help students love and shape their world well.

Speakers
avatar for Kara Powell

Kara Powell

Kara Powell, PhD, is the executive director of the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI) and a faculty member at Fuller Theological Seminary (fulleryouthinstitute.org). Named by Christianity Today as one of “50 Women to Watch,” Kara serves as a youth and family strategist for Orange and... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EST
Room 232

10:45am EST

Red-Letter Christianity: What if Jesus Really Meant the Stuff He Said?
A lot of old Bibles have the words of Jesus highlighted in red: “Love your enemies.” “Sell what you have and give it to the poor.” Have you ever wondered how the world might look if we lived as if we believed that Jesus really meant the stuff he said? Gandhi once said that he loved Jesus and just wished Christians took him more seriously. Too often, Christians don’t look very much like Christ. When we lose the centrality of Jesus, we end up talking about things Jesus didn't say much about, and we don't talk about the things Jesus talked a whole lot about. Imagine if every Christian were more committed to Jesus than to their favorite candidate or political party. This session is for those who want to see a Christianity that looks more like Jesus.

Speakers
avatar for Shane Claiborne

Shane Claiborne

Shane Claiborne is a bestselling author, renowned activist, sought-after speaker, and self-proclaimed recovering sinner. Shane writes and speaks around the world about peacemaking, social justice, and Jesus and is the author of numerous books, including The Irresistible Revolution... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EST
Room 206

10:45am EST

What Your Students Need to Hear About Service (and How You Can Help Them Hear It)
If you had 30 minutes to help teenagers think more deeply about the service opportunities they’re about to step into, what would you say? What would you do? And how will students remember? Mission trips are popular, and service experiences can be meaningful, but students can easily misunderstand their roles in these opportunities. How will you help your youth avoid an I-don’t-care apathy and also escape an I-will-save-you paternalism? How will your mission trip remain meaningful six months later? Come participate in this interactive workshop—you’ll get creative ideas and ready-made tools for delivering better messaging around mission trips. Gain access to some of our favorite resources for helping students think more deeply about service before, during, and after the experience.

Speakers
avatar for Erica Schimelpfenig

Erica Schimelpfenig

Erica Shimelpfenig began at YouthWorks in 2000 as summer site staff. Since then, she’s worked there in a variety of roles, including recruiting associate, regional director, and director of recruiting. She’s currently the director of missions for YouthWorks. Erica and her husband... Read More →
avatar for Sam Townsend

Sam Townsend

Sam Townsend is the program and brand manager for YouthWorks, where he has helped shape mission trip experiences and curriculum for more than 10 years. He also serves his church as the interim director of senior high ministry. Sam loves people, good writing, and bad puns. Sam lives... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EST
Room 252

10:45am EST

YS Explores Further: Servie
Speakers
avatar for Shane Claiborne

Shane Claiborne

Shane Claiborne is a bestselling author, renowned activist, sought-after speaker, and self-proclaimed recovering sinner. Shane writes and speaks around the world about peacemaking, social justice, and Jesus and is the author of numerous books, including The Irresistible Revolution... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EST
Room 206

10:45am EST

Middle School Messages That Move
Creating and crafting messages that effectively communicate to middle school students: They aren’t sitting still, so why make them? Learn how to tap into active learning and brain-based strategies to make the most of your messages to middle school students.

Speakers
avatar for Gina Abbas

Gina Abbas

Gina Abbas, the author of A Woman in Youth Ministry, has been hanging out with middle schoolers since the year Mulan hit movie theaters. Gina recently joined the pastoral staff of the Meeting House in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. When she’s not leading small groups, she can be found... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EST
Room 203

10:45am EST

Dragons and Doctrine: Weaving Literary Greats into Youth Ministry Foundations
Great news for bibliophiles: Besides being influential and beloved authors, C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Dorothy Sayers, G. K. Chesterton, Madeleine L’Engle, and many others have important things to teach us about youth ministry foundations. Their books have been around for decades and are regarded as classics because of nine basic principles. By adapting and following these same principles (including “embrace doctrine” and “expect dragons”), your youth ministry can be long-lasting and firmly grounded. You may not win any literary awards, but you’ll most certainly impact the one kingdom that really matters. Come talk about books, Narnia, Middle Earth, the Hundred Acre Wood, tesseracts, adolescents, faith, and Jesus.

Speakers
avatar for Crystal Kirgiss

Crystal Kirgiss

Crystal Kirgiss, PhD, has worked with students for 30 years. She writes for YouthWalk magazine, has written for many specialty Bible editions, and is the author or coauthor of many books, including In Search of Adolescence: A New Look at an Old Idea. Crystal lectures at Purdue University... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EST
Room 262

10:45am EST

Preaching Jesus in Society
How do youth groups balance justice and the gospel, and should there be a balance? Are there competing theologies at work? Sharon Ketcham will work from Rauschenbusch’s vision for the social gospel movement (historical theology approach).

Speakers
avatar for Jim Hampton

Jim Hampton

Dr. Jim Hampton serves as professor of youth ministry and co-director of mentored ministry at Asbury Theological Seminary. He was also the co-founder of Barefoot Ministries, a youth ministry publishing company. He earned his PhD from the University of Kansas and his MDiv from Nazarene... Read More →
avatar for Sharon Ketcham

Sharon Ketcham

Sharon Galgay Ketcham is associate professor of theology and Christian ministries at Gordon College in Massachusetts. She earned her PhD in theology and education from Boston College. Sharon’s two decades of experience in ministry include serving in full-time ministry, researching... Read More →
avatar for Terry Linhart

Terry Linhart

Terry Linhart is an educator and strategist who helps others be more effective in their Christian ministry leadership. He’s professor of Christian Ministries at Bethel College and directs the YS Academic Support Network. Terry has produced seven books, including the recent Teaching... Read More →
avatar for Kerry Loescher

Kerry Loescher

Kerry Loescher has more than 20 years of professional youth ministry experience and currently serves as an instructor at Oral Roberts University, teaching youth ministry, outreach, and leadership. Kerry’s passion is equipping leaders to help kids and families connect the dots between... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EST
Room 207

10:45am EST

Lead Yourself First
Every youth leader should know this vital truth: leadership starts with you. Learn the fundamental priorities for how to maximize your leadership potential. In this seminar you'll receive seven key principles for personal growth in the rapidly changing environment of youth ministry.

Speakers
avatar for Virgina Ward

Virgina Ward

Virginia Ward integrates leadership and motivational skills with knowledge of multi-generational urban youth ministry to inspire, enlighten, and help individuals and organizations equip the next generation of leaders. Virginia is the Director of Leadership/Mentored Ministry Initiatives... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EST
Room 250

10:45am EST

Leading without Power
Coercive power is modeled all around us, but it sure wasn’t Jesus’s way. Let’s explore a variety of alternative ways you can provide effective leadership with parents, your church staff, your leaders, and with teenagers. You’ll leave with a vision for one or two metaphorical job titles you can step into and some practical action steps for implementation.

Speakers
avatar for Mark Oestricher

Mark Oestricher

Mark “Marko” Oestreicher is a veteran youth worker and founding partner in The Youth Cartel, providing resources, training, and coaching for church youth workers. The author of dozens of books, including Youth Ministry 3.0 and Hopecasting: Finding, Keeping and Sharing the Things... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EST
Room 205

10:45am EST

What Does It Mean to Be Faithful This Far in Your Journey
This is an opportunity fo an older Christian who has spent his life in church work to reflect on the experiences that have helped and hindered him during years of ministry. Special attention will be given to how he handled tensions he experienced from other Christians and how he handles situations wherein maintaining integrity proved difficult.

Speakers
avatar for Tony Campolo

Tony Campolo

Tony Campolo is professor of Sociology at Eastern University. For 40 years he led the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education, an organization that created and supported programs to serve needy communities across the world. More recently, Dr. Campolo has provided leadership... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EST
Room 201

10:45am EST

Ages and Stages
Research shows that a human being changes the most between the infant and toddler stages . . . and the second biggest set of changes takes place in early adolescence! If we want to minister effectively, we must acknowledge and learn about the developmental changes that take place as a person transforms from pre-teen to teen to young adult. In this seminar we’ll look at brain research, discuss behaviors and patterns we see in youth ministry, and dive in to practical applications as we explore how to honor the ages and stages of teenage ministry.

Speakers
avatar for Heather Flies

Heather Flies

Heather Flies has been the junior high pastor at Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie for 24 years. She frequently speaks at junior high schools on abstinence, self-esteem, and other current issues. She also encourages women, trains youth workers, and helps parents understand how to love... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EST
Room 233

11:15am EST

Praying with Victor Hugo and Les Miserables
In Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, we can see Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert as representations of law versus grace. We’ll contemplate Hugo’s life, discuss what drove him to write this novel, and learn about how this book affected society when it was written. We’ll read from the book and watch clips from various film representations. As we reflect on this war between law and grace, we’ll learn how it relates to our own journeys with God.

Speakers
avatar for Mickey Cox

Mickey Cox

Mickey Cox is a spiritual director in Denver, Colorado, and is on the Spiritual Direction Colorado Board. He’s also a member of St. Dunstan’s Benedictine Community and an ordained youth minister in the Church of the Nazarene. He’s written several articles for leaders and students... Read More →
avatar for Archie Honrado

Archie Honrado

Archie Honrado is a missionary, youth worker, spiritual director, retreat guide, prayer-space curator/architect, and worship leader. He serves with Urban Youth Workers Institute, Youth Specialties, Youth For Christ, American Baptist Churches of Los Angeles, and DeVos Urban Youth Leadership... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 11:15am - 12:00pm EST
Sanctuary Room 212

12:00pm EST

Midday (prayer at midday)

This 15-minute service is designed to briefly interrupt us in the middle of our day in order that we might refocus our attention on God as the center of our lives and worthy of our praise.


Speakers
avatar for Micah Thomas

Micah Thomas

Micah Thomas has worked for Youthfront in Kansas City for nine years. He helped to form LaCygne, an intentional community centered on prayer, service, and the recognition of Christ's presence in all areas of life. He serves as a worship leader at Jacob's Well Church in Kansas City... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 12:00pm - 12:15pm EST
Sanctuary Room 212

12:30pm EST

Centering Prayer

With roots dating back to the fourth century, centering prayer invites us to cultivate interior silence. Learn about the history and practice of centering prayer, and try it out for yourself in this guided session.


Speakers
avatar for Beth Slevcove

Beth Slevcove

Beth Slevcove has served as a spiritual director since 1998, primarily working with people in ministry. She served as the director of spiritual formation for Youth Specialties and holds advanced degrees in theology and education. She's an oblate at a Benedictine monastery and runs... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 12:30pm - 1:15pm EST
Sanctuary Room 212

1:00pm EST

Idea Lab: Worship and Youth Ministry
Artists
avatar for Rend Collective

Rend Collective

Rend Collective has never lacked imagination. From the bewildering array of children’s toys and handmade oddities they call instruments, to the wonderfully impractical scheme of recording a live album on the beach around a campfire, to the safety-defying audacity of shooting a music... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 1:00pm - 1:15pm EST
Halls B/C

1:15pm EST

Idea Lab: Ministering to Fringe Kids
Speakers
JB

John Barnard

YS Blogger


Saturday November 19, 2016 1:15pm - 1:30pm EST
Halls B/C

1:15pm EST

The Spirituality of Napping
Perhaps the most spiritual thing you could do during the NYWC is take a nap. Youth workers are not exempt from the sleep-deprived condition of our culture. We read in Scripture that sleeping was an essential step back to spiritual and physical health for Elijah when he became overwhelmed and asked God to take his life. Rest is important, so the Sanctuary will provide a peaceful place for you to nap.

Speakers
avatar for Micah Thomas

Micah Thomas

Micah Thomas has worked for Youthfront in Kansas City for nine years. He helped to form LaCygne, an intentional community centered on prayer, service, and the recognition of Christ's presence in all areas of life. He serves as a worship leader at Jacob's Well Church in Kansas City... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 1:15pm - 2:00pm EST
Sanctuary Room 212

1:45pm EST

Building Bridges toward Racial Solidarity
In this interactive workshop, we will offer frameworks, guided visualization, and small group discussions in order to allow participants to imagine how we can shift our perspective on racial injustice and move toward racial solidarity through intercultural relationship building. We’ll create a space for youth leaders to engage in meaningful conversations around racial justice.

Speakers
avatar for Latasha Morrison

Latasha Morrison

Latasha Morrison is a bridge builder, reconciler, and abolitionist. She has served as a children’s director and a NextGen director, and she has a passion for social justice issues around the globe. Tasha uses her compelling voice to encourage racial reconciliation among all ethnicities... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 1:45pm - 3:15pm EST
Room 264

1:45pm EST

Executing Grace
Based on the exploration of justice, retribution, and redemption he details in his book Executing Grace, Shane Claiborne offers a powerful and persuasive appeal for the abolition of the death penalty. Shane tells stories of horrific pain and heroic grace. He recounts interviews with victims of violent crimes, survivors of death row, lawyers, experts, and even an executioner. Shane explores the contrast between punitive justice and restorative justice, questioning our notions of fairness, revenge, and absolution. These stories raise many questions: Should we kill those who kill to show that it's wrong to kill? Is anyone beyond redemption? What does it look like when grace gets the last word?

Speakers
avatar for Shane Claiborne

Shane Claiborne

Shane Claiborne is a bestselling author, renowned activist, sought-after speaker, and self-proclaimed recovering sinner. Shane writes and speaks around the world about peacemaking, social justice, and Jesus and is the author of numerous books, including The Irresistible Revolution... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 1:45pm - 3:15pm EST
Room 232

1:45pm EST

Feeding Father Hunger: Understanding And Ministering To The Fatherless Generation
The absence of a father can have lifelong effects in the life of a child. The emotional response of the fatherless can be linked to poverty, high school dropout rates, crime, drug use, and teenage pregnancy. The fatherless often attempt to fill the empty space a father should inhabit with outbursts and pseudo-comforting behaviors. This seminar will provide you with insights to help youth discover their identities, help you pinpoint side effects that are inhibiting their personal growth, and teach you practical mentoring approaches to free their souls.

Speakers
avatar for Amy Williams

Amy Williams

Amy “Hope Dealer” Williams is a 21-year youth ministry veteran and a gang intervention specialist who ministers to teens involved in gangs, youth on probation/parole, and those lost in the criminal justice system. Amy is involved in the movements to end mass incarceration and... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 1:45pm - 3:15pm EST
Room 230

1:45pm EST

Building Morals and Values for Teenagers
One of the greatest gifts you can give young people is a strong sense of personal values. Helping them develop values such as honesty, self-discipline, long-lasting faith, sexual integrity, and compassion is an important part of every parent and youth worker’s job description. Youth workers and parents today often struggle with passing on a heritage of values because many of them weren’t taught values by their own parents. The values you teach your students are possibly their best protection against the influences of peer pressure and the temptations of a value-neutral culture. This session is filled with loads of practical ideas on how to help kids make lifelong positive decisions from an unashamedly Christian viewpoint. 

Speakers
avatar for Jim Burns

Jim Burns

Jim Burns is the president of HomeWord and the executive director of the HomeWord Center for Youth and Family at Azusa Pacific University. Jim speaks to people around the world about how to have strong marriages, be confident parents, raise empowered kids, and become healthy leaders... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 1:45pm - 3:15pm EST
Room 204

1:45pm EST

Gospelize Your Youth Ministry
A truly gospelized youth ministry grows both numerically and spiritually. Learn how to infuse gospel urgency, fluency, philosophy, and strategy into your current ministry model in order to maximize your kingdom impact. Through a combination of a massive youth ministry research project, a coast-to-coast listening tour with seasoned youth leaders, and a back-to-basics study of the New Testament, Greg Stier has discovered the essential elements in building and sustaining a gospel-advancing ministry. As you apply the principles you learn during this session in your youth ministry context, your teenagers will experience accelerated spiritual growth, your youth group will begin to grow with new believers, and you will be reminded about why you got into youth ministry to begin with!

Speakers
avatar for Greg Steir

Greg Steir

Greg Stier founded Dare 2 Share Ministries in 1991 with one mission: to equip teenagers to relationally and relentlessly share the gospel of Christ with their generation. Through true-life stories and humor, Greg has impacted hundreds of thousands of teenagers. His ministry is also... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 1:45pm - 3:15pm EST
Room 236

1:45pm EST

What Your Students Need to Hear About Service (and How You Can Help Them Hear It)
If you had 30 minutes to help teenagers think more deeply about the service opportunities they’re about to step into, what would you say? What would you do? And how will students remember? Mission trips are popular, and service experiences can be meaningful, but students can easily misunderstand their roles in these opportunities. How will you help your youth avoid an I-don’t-care apathy and also escape an I-will-save-you paternalism? How will your mission trip remain meaningful six months later? Come participate in this interactive workshop—you’ll get creative ideas and ready-made tools for delivering better messaging around mission trips. Gain access to some of our favorite resources for helping students think more deeply about service before, during, and after the experience.

Speakers
avatar for Erica Schimelpfenig

Erica Schimelpfenig

Erica Shimelpfenig began at YouthWorks in 2000 as summer site staff. Since then, she’s worked there in a variety of roles, including recruiting associate, regional director, and director of recruiting. She’s currently the director of missions for YouthWorks. Erica and her husband... Read More →
avatar for Sam Townsend

Sam Townsend

Sam Townsend is the program and brand manager for YouthWorks, where he has helped shape mission trip experiences and curriculum for more than 10 years. He also serves his church as the interim director of senior high ministry. Sam loves people, good writing, and bad puns. Sam lives... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 1:45pm - 3:15pm EST
Room 203

1:45pm EST

Middle School Ministry
Whether you're brand-new in middle school ministry or a seasoned veteran, it's easy to see that middle school ministry doesn't work quite like other ministries in the church. Together we'll look at how the minds of young teens work, and we’ll discuss the keys to building an incredible middle school ministry.

Speakers
avatar for Sean Meade

Sean Meade

Sean is an 18-year student ministry veteran and the founder and president of Stuck in the Middle, an organization that hosts events for middle school students and provides resources and consulting for middle school ministries. Sean also serves as the middle school pastor at Calvary... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 1:45pm - 3:15pm EST
Room 205

1:45pm EST

Where Does the Holy Spirit Fit in Youth Ministry?
Great youth groups include fun, friendships, and a bit of silliness—but we hope for more than that. We want to see students personally encounter God and experience his love and power. This session will teach you how to create spaces (that aren't unnecessarily weird) for students to encounter the Holy Spirit, engage in prayer, and be transformed by God's love.

Speakers
avatar for Ben Woodman

Ben Woodman

Ben Woodman is the cohost of the Alpha Youth Film Series, an interactive evangelistic youth resource used all over the world. He and his wife, Melissa, live in Vancouver, Canada, where he served as a youth pastor for 10 years before he joined the team at Alpha. He’s a huge fan of... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 1:45pm - 3:15pm EST
Room 200

1:45pm EST

Why Serve Neighbors?
Short-term missions remain a popular practice for youth groups, but immigration is bringing the world to our front door. The biblical concept of hospitality pushes a missional focus into our everyday choices, and it interrupts our lives. We speak of justice or outreach, but there are limits to what that looks like when they inconvenience or invade our own personal goals and desires. What are the theological challenges to how we do missions and justice in our youth ministries? What are some best practices to overcome those challenges?

Speakers
avatar for Jen Bradbury

Jen Bradbury

Jen Bradbury is the director of youth ministry at Faith Lutheran Church in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. A veteran youth worker, Jen holds an MA in Youth Ministry Leadership from Huntington University. She’s the author of The Jesus Gap: What Teens Actually Believe About Jesus, The Real... Read More →
avatar for Sharon Ketcham

Sharon Ketcham

Sharon Galgay Ketcham is associate professor of theology and Christian ministries at Gordon College in Massachusetts. She earned her PhD in theology and education from Boston College. Sharon’s two decades of experience in ministry include serving in full-time ministry, researching... Read More →
avatar for Terry Linhart

Terry Linhart

Terry Linhart is an educator and strategist who helps others be more effective in their Christian ministry leadership. He’s professor of Christian Ministries at Bethel College and directs the YS Academic Support Network. Terry has produced seven books, including the recent Teaching... Read More →
avatar for Bob Whittet

Bob Whittet

Bob Whittet is a professor of Christian ministries and the director of church relations at Gordon College, in Wenham, Massachusetts. An ordained pastor, Bob has four decades of ministry experience. His passion for helping students discover their leadership potential led him to found... Read More →
avatar for Andrew Zirschky

Andrew Zirschky

Andrew Zirschky, PhD, serves as academic director at the Center for Youth Ministry Training and is the assistant professor of Practical Theology and Youth Ministry at Memphis Theological Seminary. Andrew is the author of Beyond the Screen: Youth Ministry for the Connected but Alone... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 1:45pm - 3:15pm EST
Room 207

1:45pm EST

Masterpiece in the Making
We’ve each been given unique gifts and passions that make us who we are. We’re masterpieces, created with intention and purpose. The power of our ministries is depleted when we fail to find our unique voices in ministry. But when we flourish, we’re able to help those around us experience the fullness of life. Discover the life God is calling you into by exploring the gifts and passions he’s equipped you with.

Speakers
avatar for Cesar Castillejos

Cesar Castillejos

Cesar Castillejos is currently serving students and families in Richfield, Minnesota, through collaboration with Young Life and Hope Church. He serves as the Young Life area director and lead teaching pastor of The Well, a faith community that started in a nightclub. Cesar is also... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 1:45pm - 3:15pm EST
Room 202

1:45pm EST

Practical Tips to Improve Your Speaking Chops

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 he’s learned a few things along the way that seem to work. In this breakout session, he’ll share with you some of his secrets for how to be 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. This workshop will not be recorded and is unavailable for purchase.


Speakers
avatar for Doug Fields

Doug Fields

Doug Fields is a communicator, author, and consultant. He’s the executive director of HomeWord’s Center for Youth and Family at Azusa Pacific University, the cofounder of Downloadyouthministry.com, and the author of more than 50 books.


Saturday November 19, 2016 1:45pm - 3:15pm EST
Room Junior Ballroom A

1:45pm EST

Building a Youth Ministry That Builds Disciples
Where to start, where to go, and how to get there: This seminar will offer a big picture vision of what it means biblically to build disciples, and offer a practical framework for fleshing out that vision in the context of a youth ministry program. This seminar will give you more than ideas. It will offer you a blueprint for building disciples in your particular youth ministry context. AND, it will give you practical ideas for building a youth ministry that builds disciples.

Speakers
avatar for Duffy Robbins

Duffy Robbins

Dr. Duffy Robbins, professor of youth ministry at Eastern University, is a youth ministry veteran with more than 40 years of experience. He speaks around the world to teenagers and people who care about teenagers. Duffy serves as a teaching pastor at Faithbridge Church, and his conversational... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 1:45pm - 3:15pm EST
Room 233

1:45pm EST

2:00pm EST

Classic Prayer Through Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina is the spiritual practice of divine reading. This classic practice of meditating on Scripture was historically embraced by all Christians and is being rediscovered as a transformational way to engage with sacred text.

Speakers
avatar for Maggie Robbins

Maggie Robbins

Maggie Robbins earned her certification as a spiritual director through the Kairos School of Spiritual Formation. She's still active within the Kairos community as a member of the faculty. She's the coauthor of Enjoy the Silence, and she has provided spiritual direction and facilitated... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST
Sanctuary Room 212

3:00pm EST

Exhibit Hall
Saturday November 19, 2016 3:00pm - 5:00pm EST
Halls B/C

3:15pm EST

Broken Hallelujahs: Opening Our Journeys of Grief and Loss to God
We all experience loss and so do our students. Loss comes in many ways, such as a job change, graduation, a move, marriage, the death of someone we love, or when our health, finances, or relationships fail. 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 harden us, or it can connect us more deeply with God, others, and even with ourselves. We’ll explore spiritual practices that will help us trust God in all that life brings. 

Speakers
avatar for Beth Slevcove

Beth Slevcove

Beth Slevcove has served as a spiritual director since 1998, primarily working with people in ministry. She served as the director of spiritual formation for Youth Specialties and holds advanced degrees in theology and education. She's an oblate at a Benedictine monastery and runs... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 3:15pm - 4:15pm EST
Sanctuary Room 212

4:00pm EST

Beyond the Screen: Relational Youth Ministry in an Age of Networks
According to sociologists, networked individualism is a new social operating system that drives teenagers’ love/hate obsession with social media and undergirds the kind of thin relationality all of us increasingly pursue. In this seminar we’ll explore the implications of networked individualism for youth ministry and consider ways that youth workers can foster relationships beyond mere connection.

Speakers
avatar for Andrew Zirschky

Andrew Zirschky

Andrew Zirschky, PhD, serves as academic director at the Center for Youth Ministry Training and is the assistant professor of Practical Theology and Youth Ministry at Memphis Theological Seminary. Andrew is the author of Beyond the Screen: Youth Ministry for the Connected but Alone... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 202

4:00pm EST

5 Youth Culture Megatrends Every Youth Worker Must Recognize
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 five of the most powerful cultural realities. Walt will also detail strategies for guiding students through these forces in a way that will allow them to realize their created purpose and live life to the glory of God.

Speakers
avatar for Walt Mueller

Walt Mueller

Dr. Walt Mueller has been working with young people and families for more than 35 years. He’s the founder and president of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding, a non-profit organization that serves schools, churches, and community organizations worldwide. He writes on youth... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 232

4:00pm EST

Adoptive Youth Ministry: Integrating Emerging Generations into the Family of Faith
For decades youth ministry has been primarily focused on programs and events: we are hired or recruited to do youth ministry. As necessary and sometimes as effective as our strategies and programs are, it is easy to wonder what the ultimate goal of our work is. Where are we taking students as we love, listen, care, disciple and empower for ministry and leadership? This seminar will help you to understand the biblical call to youth ministry by grounding our work in the family life of the church. We will not focus on theory, but the practice and structure of leading students, from middle school through emerging adults, into a life of faithful discipleship and community. For volunteers and ministry leaders, this session will give you a practical and context-friendly tool to implement Adoptive Youth Ministry the day you get home.

Speakers
avatar for Chap Clark

Chap Clark

Chap Clark, PhD, is professor of Youth, Family, and Culture at Fuller Seminary and president of ParenTeen, Inc. Chap has authored or coauthored several books, including the award-winning Hurt 2.0: Inside the World of Today's Teenagers, Sticky Faith, and Adoptive Youth Ministry: Integrating... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 204

4:00pm EST

Coolianity versus Christianity: Deciphering Hardcore Christianity in a World of Trend and Change
From corporate America to the church, everyone has seized the tool of cool to draw the attention and allegiance of teenagers. Are we selling our teens a bill of goods when we fail to show the full requirements of a meaningful life in Christ? How do we develop teens beyond who they are and what they want toward a lifestyle of joyful service and resolute, gritty discipleship? This workshop will give you practical steps and specific ideas to impart hardcore Christianity in a world of constant trend and change.

Speakers
avatar for Fred Lynch

Fred Lynch

Fred Lynch is a dynamic communicator who takes the expressions of this generation and uses them to glorify God through relevant, relatable, and radical truth. He speaks in schools for Rachel’s Challenge, inspiring students to resist bullying and live a life of care and compassion... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 236

4:00pm EST

The Jesus Gap
Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith. But what do students actually believe about Jesus? Do students believe Jesus is God? That Jesus sinned? Do students believe you can be a Christian and not believe in Jesus? In this seminar we’ll look at the findings from a national, year-long research study about what high school students believe about Jesus. We’ll wrestle with the implications of these findings and talk about strategies for how to strengthen the Christologies of students in your ministry.

Speakers
avatar for Jen Bradbury

Jen Bradbury

Jen Bradbury is the director of youth ministry at Faith Lutheran Church in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. A veteran youth worker, Jen holds an MA in Youth Ministry Leadership from Huntington University. She’s the author of The Jesus Gap: What Teens Actually Believe About Jesus, The Real... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 203

4:00pm EST

Fun and Games
And you'll have fun, fun, fun until Les Christie ends this seminar in prayer. If your mind is on overload and you need an exciting break, this seminar promises no heavy theology or philosophy. See, hear, and play a bunch of fast-paced, unbelievably fun games. Explore crowd breakers, indoor and outdoor games, quiet and wild games, and games for large and small groups.

Speakers
avatar for Les Christie

Les Christie

Les Christie has been in paid youth ministry for 50 years. He chairs the youth ministry department at William Jessup University and has spoken at each YS National Youth Workers Convention for 37 years. He’s the author of seventeen books, including Best-Ever Games for Youth Ministry... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room Junior Ballroom A

4:00pm EST

Innovation and Your Youth Ministry
If youth ministry is going to keep up with a rapidly changing culture, then we’ve got to embrace creative innovation like never before. The English youth organization Youthscape has reshaped its whole approach around a five-stage innovation process, and in this seminar their Deputy CEO, Martin Saunders, will explain how this process works and how it can be applied on any scale. If you’d love to get more creative, develop new youth ministry resources, or address some youth work problems you’ve never been able to solve, this seminar is for you.

Speakers
avatar for Martin Saunders

Martin Saunders

Martin Saunders helps lead Youthscape, one of Europe's most influential and creative youth ministry organizations. He’s been involved in youth ministry for the past 15 years, and he spent more than half of that time as the editor of Youthwork magazine. His books include Youth Work... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 238

4:00pm EST

Storytelling and Spiritual Formation: A New Kind of Parable
One of the best ways to connect with people and share a message is through story. If it’s told with intention and heart, a good story can convict, change, celebrate, and capture all at the same time. In this workshop we’ll explore the value of using storytelling in our ministry to students. We’ll look at storytelling not only as a way to share the gospel with students but also as a way to help our students share their own faith stories. The parables of Jesus and other amazing Bible stories will be our blueprint for how to effectively use story in the spiritual formation of our students.

Speakers
avatar for Aqueelah Ligonde

Aqueelah Ligonde

Aqueelah Lidgonde is an enthusiastic speaker, preacher, and leader with a passion for today’s youth and young adult women. She’s currently serving as the staff consultant with Ministry Architects, the site coordinator for the Young Adult Volunteer Program of New York City (Presbyterian... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 202

4:00pm EST

Thank Heaven for 10 or 11—Making Your Small Youth Group a Great Youth Group
Don’t you hate it when the instructions say to divide your group into teams of twelve! This seminar is a celebration of the small youth group. It will help you find ways to take advantage of your compact group and accomplish things in kids’ lives that could never happen in a larger group. Hey, we understand that you’re doing all you can, that you can’t bring in Third Day for the weekend, and that your church doesn’t have a recreation center with hot tubs and tennis courts . . . and we also know you love your kids. This seminar will give you practical tips on teaching, building community, worshiping, and doing service projects with a small youth group. 

Speakers
avatar for Marv Penner

Marv Penner

Marv Penner is an internationally known author, professor, speaker, and youth ministry veteran who has spent more than 40 years working with students and families. He’s the author of six books on youth ministry, including The Youth Worker’s Guide to Parent Ministry, Hope and Healing... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 205

4:00pm EST

Discipleship beyond High School: The Spiritual Development of Emerging Adults
Emerging adulthood (ages 18-25) is often referred to as the new fulcrum of human development. It’s a time during which decisions are made and beliefs are established. In this seminar we’ll discuss the factors affecting the spiritual development of emerging adults and how they affect our mission to make disciples. I hope to challenge your thinking about millennials and their role within the church while equipping you to confidently minister to them.

Speakers
avatar for David Boyd

David Boyd

Dr. G. David Boyd is a forward thinker, a collector of Marvel Comics, an avid gamer, a radical follower of Jesus Christ, a father of three boys, and a husband. David is the managing director of EA Resources, a faith-based non-profit organization dedicated to equipping parents and... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 240

4:00pm EST

How to Win with Administration
There’s a long-held myth that youth workers are bad administrators. We’re known for our last-minute planning and our ability to shoot from the hip. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Successful administration begins by addressing our inner struggle to find peace and then addressing our outer struggle to create order and rhythm. In this seminar we’ll talk about inner order and organization, and then we’ll talk about rhythms for workflow, big-picture planning, and weekly schedules that make sense for who we are and where we work. We’ll also look at loads of practical ideas we can put into practice to get more organized and stay ahead of the curve.

Speakers
avatar for Tim Baker

Tim Baker

Tim Baker has been a youth worker for nearly 30 years. He’s the editor of YouthWorker Journal and the author of more than twenty books for teens and youth workers. Tim’s the parish administrator and a youth worker at Trinity Episcopal Church in Longview, Texas. He’s the father... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 231

4:00pm EST

Navigating Criticism and That Voice of Angst in your Own Head
Regardless of who you are or how well you do youth ministry, it’s impossible to please everyone. So how do you listen to and follow God while you navigate the voices of those who are less than pleased with you? How do you stop playing the comparison game? This is not an optional skill for a few of us—it’s a mandatory navigational tool we all must master, and it’s vital that the teens we work with learn it, too. This seminar will offer practical insights to help you and your teens win this battle.

Speakers
avatar for Brian Berry

Brian Berry

Brian Berry is a youth ministry veteran who spent the last 22 years pastoring teens and overseeing a children’s ministry staff. He’s recently moved into an executive pastor role and now offers oversight and direction to the larger church. He and his wife, Shannon, are parenting... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 201

4:00pm EST

Transforming Conversations—Using Research from Barna’s State of Youth Ministry Report

Want a closer look at many of the key findings from Barna's State Of Youth Ministry Report? Mark Matlock will share insights into this data, and show you how to have transforming conversations around it with pastors, staff and parents. These research insights will help you work more effectively and enhance your church's youth ministry. 


Speakers
avatar for Mark Matlock

Mark Matlock

Mark Matlock has been working with youth pastors, students, and parents for more than two decades. He’s currently the president of WisdomWorks, a consulting firm dedicated to helping individuals, churches, and faith-centered organizations leverage the transforming power of wisdom... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 200

4:00pm EST

Developing Effective Talks & Teaching
You’ve been asked to give the message or facilitate the study, but are you equipped to do so? In this seminar you’ll learn some quick tips and tactics for effective teaching. Spoiler alert: We won’t parse verbs, but we will share time-tested ideas that work for applicable and inspiring talks and teaching.

Speakers
avatar for Brian Aaby

Brian Aaby

Brian Aaby is the director of YS Search and YS Coaching at Youth Specialties, where he assists churches with personnel placement and provides coaching guidance for youth leaders. He served for 17 years as a youth pastor before founding Youthmark in 2008.Brian speaks nationally at... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Room 233

4:15pm EST

Prayer Ropes
After a brief overview of the history of the development, use, and variations of prayer ropes, we’ll be able to create our own prayer ropes. We’ll learn how to use these as tools that will help enrich our prayer time.

Speakers
avatar for Mike King

Mike King

Mike King has been in youth ministry for 42 years. He currently serves as President/CEO of Youthfront, which provides youth ministry programs, services, resources, and training. Mike is an adjunct professor at Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City and a senior advisor for Museum... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 4:15pm - 5:15pm EST
Sanctuary Room 212

5:15pm EST

Monastic Spirituality
Many Christians are adopting monastic practices as meaningful guides in their journeys with Jesus. How do these old traditions—praying the hours, the grand silence, hospitality—speak to our lives? Can vows of obedience, stability, poverty, and chastity be meaningful to those of us who live outside of monastery walls? We’ll explore these questions and others with Beth Slevcove and Libbie Patterson, who are Benedictine Oblates.

Speakers
avatar for Libbie Patterson

Libbie Patterson

LIbbie Patterson has served for many years as a spiritual director for NYWC and as a member of the Soulshapers advisory group for Youth Specialties. Her background is as a faculty member and administrator in theological education at Fuller Seminary, where she taught in the spiritual... Read More →
avatar for Beth Slevcove

Beth Slevcove

Beth Slevcove has served as a spiritual director since 1998, primarily working with people in ministry. She served as the director of spiritual formation for Youth Specialties and holds advanced degrees in theology and education. She's an oblate at a Benedictine monastery and runs... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 5:15pm - 6:15pm EST
Sanctuary Room 212

6:15pm EST

Idea Lab: The Porn Addiction
Speakers
avatar for Chris Schaffner

Chris Schaffner

Founder/Speaker/Author, Conversations on the Fringe
Chris is a certified counselor, founder of Conversations on the Fringe, and a veteran youth worker. He’s been working with hurting children, teens, and adults for over 20 years.


Saturday November 19, 2016 6:15pm - 6:30pm EST
Halls B/C

6:15pm EST

Leading a Youth Ministry Without Losing Your Heart—

Do you ever feel as if you have to choose between nurturing relationships or leading programs? Come explore what it looks like to lead programs out of the relationships you’re nurturing. We’ll explore how to integrate spiritual formation with leadership development. Learn how to listen to God, connect with others, and lead your ministry from the overflow of your heart.


Speakers
avatar for Jamie Roach

Jamie Roach

Jamie Roach has served on the staff of Youthfront for 30 years, working with students, parents, and youth workers. His passion is seeing people formed into the image of Jesus Christ. Jamie is an author, communicator, and spiritual director as well as the pastor of Redemption Table... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 6:15pm - 7:15pm EST
Sanctuary Room 212

6:30pm EST

Idea Lab: 5 Spiritual Dangers of Mission Trips
Speakers
avatar for Sam Townsend

Sam Townsend

Sam Townsend is the program and brand manager for YouthWorks, where he has helped shape mission trip experiences and curriculum for more than 10 years. He also serves his church as the interim director of senior high ministry. Sam loves people, good writing, and bad puns. Sam lives... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 6:30pm - 6:45pm EST
Halls B/C

6:45pm EST

7:00pm EST

Idea Lab: YS 101
Speakers
avatar for Brian Aaby

Brian Aaby

Brian Aaby is the director of YS Search and YS Coaching at Youth Specialties, where he assists churches with personnel placement and provides coaching guidance for youth leaders. He served for 17 years as a youth pastor before founding Youthmark in 2008.Brian speaks nationally at... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 7:00pm - 7:15pm EST
Halls B/C

7:30pm EST

Big Room
Artists
avatar for Bobbito the Chef

Bobbito the Chef

DJ Bobbito is one of the most active Deejays in Los Angeles, CA. Having deejayed for over 14 years, touring nationally and internationally with PAX217, you can find him in any environment from corporate events, private parties, and national conferences. He can also be found helping... Read More →
avatar for Rend Collective

Rend Collective

Rend Collective has never lacked imagination. From the bewildering array of children’s toys and handmade oddities they call instruments, to the wonderfully impractical scheme of recording a live album on the beach around a campfire, to the safety-defying audacity of shooting a music... Read More →
avatar for Sharon Irving

Sharon Irving

“I take a deep breath and step out on faith.” Those words have been a mantra for Sharon Irving—songstress, songwriter, spoken-word artist, worship leader, and actress. Sharon has been a part of the worship team at Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Illinois, for several... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 7:30pm - 9:30pm EST
Hall A

10:00pm EST

Compline (evening prayer)

Compline comes from a Latin word that means “completion.” This peaceful and beautiful 20-minute service is the liturgical equivalent of being tucked into bed. During this time, we’ll confess, 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 for those who desire to partake in the holy feast.


Speakers
avatar for Micah Thomas

Micah Thomas

Micah Thomas has worked for Youthfront in Kansas City for nine years. He helped to form LaCygne, an intentional community centered on prayer, service, and the recognition of Christ's presence in all areas of life. He serves as a worship leader at Jacob's Well Church in Kansas City... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 10:00pm - 10:20pm EST
Sanctuary Room 212

10:00pm EST

Late Night
Artists
avatar for The Skit Guys

The Skit Guys

Tommy Woodard and Eddie James are The Skit Guys. They have been best friends since high school. Think of them as the wise guys in class who had everyone laughing and managed to make a career out of it. They've been teaching God's word using comedy, drama and whatever category talking... Read More →


Saturday November 19, 2016 10:00pm - 11:00pm EST
Junior Ballroom C
 
Sunday, November 20
 

8:00am EST

Lauds (morning prayer)
Lauds is a prayer practice that can be traced back to apostolic times. During this time of prayer, we offer praise to God for the break of a new day, and we celebrate the reality that our Lord has indeed risen from the dead. This 15-minute service is a simple liturgy of Scripture, silence, and spoken prayer.  

Speakers
avatar for Micah Thomas

Micah Thomas

Micah Thomas has worked for Youthfront in Kansas City for nine years. He helped to form LaCygne, an intentional community centered on prayer, service, and the recognition of Christ's presence in all areas of life. He serves as a worship leader at Jacob's Well Church in Kansas City... Read More →


Sunday November 20, 2016 8:00am - 8:15am EST
Sanctuary Room 212

8:30am EST

Praying the Hours
We all have a rule or rhythm of life—even if our rhythms happen to be out of step. 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 how it can be incorporated into your life and community.

Speakers
avatar for Micah Thomas

Micah Thomas

Micah Thomas has worked for Youthfront in Kansas City for nine years. He helped to form LaCygne, an intentional community centered on prayer, service, and the recognition of Christ's presence in all areas of life. He serves as a worship leader at Jacob's Well Church in Kansas City... Read More →


Sunday November 20, 2016 8:30am - 9:15am EST
Sanctuary Room 212

9:00am EST

Hope and Healing for Kids Who Self-Injure
Self-injury is no longer a rare psychological oddity touching a few fringe kids in someone else’s youth group. It’s an all-too-common expression of the intense emotions some students feel, and most of us don’t know what to do when we encounter it. This will not be a feel-good session with a neat and tidy solution. The topic is graphic, the images messy, and the details unsettling—but we must acknowledge the issue. We’ll hear the stories of students who use cutting, carving, burning, and other self-injurious behaviors to cope with what’s going on inside. We’ll learn what drives their unusual behaviors, and we’ll explore some of the practical dos and don’ts to keep in mind when students share their struggles with us.

Speakers
avatar for Marv Penner

Marv Penner

Marv Penner is an internationally known author, professor, speaker, and youth ministry veteran who has spent more than 40 years working with students and families. He’s the author of six books on youth ministry, including The Youth Worker’s Guide to Parent Ministry, Hope and Healing... Read More →


Sunday November 20, 2016 9:00am - 10:30am EST
Room 233

9:00am EST

Loving Beyond the Boundaries
Throughout the Gospels Jesus steps out-of-bounds to spend time with cultural outsiders. In this seminar, we’ll examine biblical stories to see the importance of loving beyond boundaries. As a group, we’ll examine the boundaries of the culture we live in and see how we can be drawn to the uncomfortable fringes of ministry for the sake of the students we serve.

Speakers
avatar for Cesar Castillejos

Cesar Castillejos

Cesar Castillejos is currently serving students and families in Richfield, Minnesota, through collaboration with Young Life and Hope Church. He serves as the Young Life area director and lead teaching pastor of The Well, a faith community that started in a nightclub. Cesar is also... Read More →


Sunday November 20, 2016 9:00am - 10:30am EST
Room 230

9:00am EST

Navigating Healthy Relationships
This workshop is designed to give you tools to help your students navigate the relationships, romantic attachments, challenges, obstacles, and temptations they’ll face in adolescence. You’ll learn some engaging activities that will show your students what real love looks like and teach them the skills to find it. You’ll find ways to captivate their hearts so you can teach them about healthy relationship development, partner selection, and healthy family formation.

Speakers
avatar for Josh Sosa

Josh Sosa

Josh Sosa is part of the team at The Center for Relationship Education, and he helped create the REAL Essentials curriculum. He has reached more than 100,000 students with his presentations. Although Josh’s passion is healthy relationships, he also mentors and trains individuals... Read More →


Sunday November 20, 2016 9:00am - 10:30am EST
Room 252

9:00am EST

Pervasive Pornography and Youth Ministry: Pushing Back in the Lives of Kids . . . and Ourselves.
Gone are the days when a boy would have to work to find pornography. New technologies have combined with our brokenness to create a world in which even the youngest of kids will be found by pornography long before they might go looking for it themselves. Like us, they might keep looking. Pornography is no respecter of persons, and often youth workers are not only addressing pornography’s grip on kids, they’re also addressing their own pornography addictions. In this seminar Walt Mueller looks at how the pervasive presence of pornography is misshaping God’s glorious gift of sexuality, youth culture, our kids, and our youth ministry selves. We’ll look beyond the facts to discover the influence pornography has on our lives, and we’ll also look at practical, hope-filled strategies for equipping kids and ourselves to live godly sexual lives in the midst of a culture where pornography has been normalized.

Speakers
avatar for Walt Mueller

Walt Mueller

Dr. Walt Mueller has been working with young people and families for more than 35 years. He’s the founder and president of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding, a non-profit organization that serves schools, churches, and community organizations worldwide. He writes on youth... Read More →


Sunday November 20, 2016 9:00am - 10:30am EST
Room 205

9:00am EST

Gospelize Your Youth Ministry
A truly gospelized youth ministry grows both numerically and spiritually. Learn how to infuse gospel urgency, fluency, philosophy, and strategy into your current ministry model in order to maximize your kingdom impact. Through a combination of a massive youth ministry research project, a coast-to-coast listening tour with seasoned youth leaders, and a back-to-basics study of the New Testament, Greg Stier has discovered the essential elements in building and sustaining a gospel-advancing ministry. As you apply the principles you learn during this session in your youth ministry context, your teenagers will experience accelerated spiritual growth, your youth group will begin to grow with new believers, and you will be reminded about why you got into youth ministry to begin with!

Speakers
avatar for Greg Steir

Greg Steir

Greg Stier founded Dare 2 Share Ministries in 1991 with one mission: to equip teenagers to relationally and relentlessly share the gospel of Christ with their generation. Through true-life stories and humor, Greg has impacted hundreds of thousands of teenagers. His ministry is also... Read More →


Sunday November 20, 2016 9:00am - 10:30am EST
Room 264

9:00am EST

Unleashing the Hidden Potential of Your Student Leaders
You've probably heard the term student leader. Maybe you've even wanted to develop student leaders in your ministry. But how do you go about doing so? In this seminar we'll explore a theological philosophy for student leadership. We’ll also investigate practical strategies for developing student leaders, including how to choose and disciple student leaders, what roles they might have in your ministry, and how to help student leaders transition into leadership roles in the broader church.

Speakers
avatar for Jen Bradbury

Jen Bradbury

Jen Bradbury is the director of youth ministry at Faith Lutheran Church in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. A veteran youth worker, Jen holds an MA in Youth Ministry Leadership from Huntington University. She’s the author of The Jesus Gap: What Teens Actually Believe About Jesus, The Real... Read More →


Sunday November 20, 2016 9:00am - 10:30am EST
Room 262

9:00am EST

Dealing with Parents when their Kid is a Mess
Broken hearts. Broken dreams. Anger and disappointment and pain at levels that moms and dads never dreamed possible. How do we help parents love and lead their kid when their kid is making choices that have far-reaching and dangerous consequences? How do we help a family grow in faith when it seems as if everything is falling apart and will never be the same again? How do we help parents stay on the same team when the choices of their child are so devastating and the pressure on their relationship is so intense it’s hard to breathe? Come discover practical tools for helping parents not just survive but truly make it through the crisis.

Speakers
avatar for Kerry Loescher

Kerry Loescher

Kerry Loescher has more than 20 years of professional youth ministry experience and currently serves as an instructor at Oral Roberts University, teaching youth ministry, outreach, and leadership. Kerry’s passion is equipping leaders to help kids and families connect the dots between... Read More →


Sunday November 20, 2016 9:00am - 10:30am EST
Room 263

9:00am EST

Creative Programming for Middle School Ministry
In this seminar we’ll examine the overall scope and sequence for middle school ministry. From there we’ll look at creative teaching series, events, camps, service opportunities, and ways to tie it all together. We'll also stretch our creative muscles as we look at ways to give your middle school ministry a wow factor that will engage students in a powerful way. Come ready to hear lots of great ideas, and be ready to share your best ideas with the group! 

Speakers
avatar for Sean Meade

Sean Meade

Sean is an 18-year student ministry veteran and the founder and president of Stuck in the Middle, an organization that hosts events for middle school students and provides resources and consulting for middle school ministries. Sean also serves as the middle school pastor at Calvary... Read More →


Sunday November 20, 2016 9:00am - 10:30am EST
Room 201

9:00am EST

You Got Served: Incorporating Service-Learning Into Youth Ministry
What breaks your heart in the world? Do you and your youth desire to have a positive impact on the human condition? Youth ministries often encourage missions or some form of community service. What would it look like to not merely serve, but also to allow youth to brainstorm about issues in their community and around the world? What if they created, designed, implemented, and documented their own missions projects? What if they had a chance to learn the history and background of the conditions they seek to change? This seminar will explore the concept of service-learning and will take a look at how youth ministry can do church differently. We’ll offer resources and tips on how to transform the traditional missions mindset into a youth ministry filled with “service entrepreneurs."

Speakers
avatar for Tolton Pace

Tolton Pace

Tolton  R. Pace is on staff with Young Life and also serves on the board of the Ivy Prep Academies in Atlanta, GA. Tolton previously served as the Project G.R.A.D. College Access & Scholarship Coordinator at South Atlanta High School, Assistant Producer of the nationally syndicated... Read More →


Sunday November 20, 2016 9:00am - 10:30am EST
Room 250

9:00am EST

Directions to Adulthood—Addressing the Delayed Development of Adolescents
Why does it seem that adolescents are taking longer to grow up? Are millennials selfish, delusional unicorns? Or are there other factors affecting their development? The church can no longer afford to ignore the delayed development of adolescents. This seminar will explore the causes and proposed solutions of delayed development while providing an understanding of emerging adulthood (ages 18-25). We’ll examine the biblical concept of adulthood and how parents, teachers, and pastors can help adolescents successfully move forward. This seminar will help you develop empathy for emerging adults and will equip you to successfully minister to them and to their parents.

Speakers
avatar for David Boyd

David Boyd

Dr. G. David Boyd is a forward thinker, a collector of Marvel Comics, an avid gamer, a radical follower of Jesus Christ, a father of three boys, and a husband. David is the managing director of EA Resources, a faith-based non-profit organization dedicated to equipping parents and... Read More →


Sunday November 20, 2016 9:00am - 10:30am EST
Room 231

9:00am EST

Creating Collaborations that Count
We all feel the tension of too much to do and not enough time, energy or resources. What would happen if we were able to effectively connect with other like-minded leaders, churches, and organizations? How could we have a greater impact in the lives of the youth and families we serve while staying in the center of our gifts and passions? None of us posses all the gifts and skills, but together we have everything we need. We are better together! In this workshop, you’ll learn to how to bring people together in an effective way, identify potential barriers and solutions to collaborative efforts, explore ideas and opportunities where everyone can win, and gain an understanding of how to successfully navigate the stages of community-building.

Speakers
avatar for Micah Espinoza

Micah Espinoza

For more than 18 years, Micah has inspired, challenged, and led adults, youth, and youth leaders. For years the Lord impressed on Micah's heart to start a pastoring-the-pastor effort, which eventually led to the development of the Denver Leadership Initiative. He identifies and develops... Read More →


Sunday November 20, 2016 9:00am - 10:30am EST
Room 238

9:00am EST

Managing Me: Ideas and Inspiration for Work-Life Balance
When you need to take a sick day to catch up on laundry or when brewing a K­Cup is too much of a time commitment, you might need some me time. How do you manage ministry around your real life? How do you give youth ministry your all without letting it take over your whole life? You’ll walk away from this seminar with strategies and ideas for balancing your work, ministry, and family life. Learn to take care of yourself so you can more fully step into all God calls you to. Learn how to lead with confidence, love your calling, and manage your life.

Speakers
avatar for Gina Abbas

Gina Abbas

Gina Abbas, the author of A Woman in Youth Ministry, has been hanging out with middle schoolers since the year Mulan hit movie theaters. Gina recently joined the pastoral staff of the Meeting House in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. When she’s not leading small groups, she can be found... Read More →


Sunday November 20, 2016 9:00am - 10:30am EST
Room 202

9:00am EST

Fun and Games in Youth Ministry
Having fun is essential in youth ministry. Laughter opens doors and hearts for conversations and allows God’s Spirit and truth to enter. This session will be a blast! We’ll play games, talk about ways to appropriately use humor, and recognize the power of fun!

Speakers
avatar for Josh Griffin

Josh Griffin

With more than 20 years of experience, Josh Griffin is one of the leading voices in youth ministry. Most recently, he served as the high school pastor at Saddleback Church. He's the cofounder of DownloadYouthMinistry.com, and he hosts a weekly youth ministry podcast with Doug Fields... Read More →


Sunday November 20, 2016 9:00am - 10:30am EST
Room Junior Ballroom A

9:30am EST

Lifestyle of a Youth Worker Contemplative
Inspired by Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables and Thomas Merton, and distilled for today’s spirituality. The contemplative life is not just for the monastics—it’s for ordinary people, such as Victor Hugo’s Jean Valjean, whose encounter with the bishop furthered his spiritual formation journey. We’ll explore ways to reduce our need for pleasure, comfort, prestige, and success in order to pursue union with Christ as Merton suggested in The Inner Experience.

Speakers
avatar for Mickey Cox

Mickey Cox

Mickey Cox is a spiritual director in Denver, Colorado, and is on the Spiritual Direction Colorado Board. He’s also a member of St. Dunstan’s Benedictine Community and an ordained youth minister in the Church of the Nazarene. He’s written several articles for leaders and students... Read More →
avatar for Archie Honrado

Archie Honrado

Archie Honrado is a missionary, youth worker, spiritual director, retreat guide, prayer-space curator/architect, and worship leader. He serves with Urban Youth Workers Institute, Youth Specialties, Youth For Christ, American Baptist Churches of Los Angeles, and DeVos Urban Youth Leadership... Read More →


Sunday November 20, 2016 9:30am - 10:00am EST
Sanctuary Room 212

10:00am EST

The Gift of Sabbath
We live in a world that moves nonstop and in a church that keeps up with it. When are you allowed to stop? What about Sabbath? Can you set aside time for being instead of doing? How would that even work? We’ll learn about Sabbath and imagine how intentionally stopping and resting can be incorporated into our lives, families, and ministries.

Speakers
avatar for Kara Root

Kara Root

Kara Root is the pastor of Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis, a Christian community where life is shaped around worship, hospitality, and Sabbath rest. She’s also a trained spiritual director, a certified Christian educator, the mom of two clever kids and a spoiled... Read More →


Sunday November 20, 2016 10:00am - 11:00am EST
Sanctuary Room 212

10:15am EST

Idea Lab: Transforming Ministry Constraints Into Advantages
Speakers
avatar for Jacob Eckeberger

Jacob Eckeberger

Jacob Eckeberger is the content manager for YS. He’s a longtime volunteer youth worker, the spouse of a church planter, and an itinerant worship leader. Jacob’s passion is to spark healing and progress in the church. This is manifested in his work within YS as he serves youth... Read More →


Sunday November 20, 2016 10:15am - 10:30am EST
Halls B/C

10:30am EST

Idea Lab: Beyond the Screen: Youth Ministry for the Connected but Alone Generation
Speakers
avatar for Andrew Zirschky

Andrew Zirschky

Andrew Zirschky, PhD, serves as academic director at the Center for Youth Ministry Training and is the assistant professor of Practical Theology and Youth Ministry at Memphis Theological Seminary. Andrew is the author of Beyond the Screen: Youth Ministry for the Connected but Alone... Read More →


Sunday November 20, 2016 10:30am - 10:45am EST
Halls B/C

11:00am EST

Big Room
Speakers
avatar for Heather Flies

Heather Flies

Heather Flies has been the junior high pastor at Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie for 24 years. She frequently speaks at junior high schools on abstinence, self-esteem, and other current issues. She also encourages women, trains youth workers, and helps parents understand how to love... Read More →

Artists
avatar for Bobbito the Chef

Bobbito the Chef

DJ Bobbito is one of the most active Deejays in Los Angeles, CA. Having deejayed for over 14 years, touring nationally and internationally with PAX217, you can find him in any environment from corporate events, private parties, and national conferences. He can also be found helping... Read More →
avatar for Brandon Grissom Band

Brandon Grissom Band

Brandon Grissom is a singer/songwriter from Denver, Colorado. Although he was raised in the dusty backwoods of Oklahoma, he spent more than a decade leading worship at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. Brandon now regularly plays at Cherry Hills Church in Denver as well as... Read More →


Sunday November 20, 2016 11:00am - 12:30pm EST
Hall A
 
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