NYWC 2016 Cincinnati

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.

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!

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.

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.

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. 

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.