Students have more options for what they believe about the world than ever before. Social media is constantly barraging our students with opposing worldviews and critiques of Christianity. In this workshop we will cover why Apologetics is necessary for your youth ministry, and how to easily incorporate it into your weekly youth ministry gathering. This workshop will provide easy and accessible ways to make apologetics part of what you do in your youth ministry.

Children’s access to technology is more than just a safety issue: it is a social justice matter. Today’s children are vulnerable to a variety of powers that exploit them through technology. This workshop will give parents a framework and pathway for how to lead children in the area of technology from elementary school through high school, leaning on both theology and developmental psychology. It will also provide youth pastors with a conceptual framework that they can use at their church to equip parents to protect their kids.

The Bible has gotten a bad rap lately when it comes to its teachings on sexuality. Many students think God hates gay people, or that the Bible’s teachings on sexuality are outdated and harmful, or that Christians think sex is bad. How do we communicate that there’s so much more to the story? We’ll look at six foundations for a gospel-shaped view of sexuality and discuss how we can communicate these truths in a way that points to the bigger story of redemption and displays God’s instructions not as just rules an limits but as a path to real freedom and joy.

Why does it matter what pronouns someone uses? What’s the big deal with porn? Is God really against gay marriage? Students are asking lots of important and complex questions around sexuality, and these topics present us with an important but sometimes tough opportunity to show how the gospel shapes every area of life. How can we respond to their tough questions with the truth of Scripture and the grace of Jesus—and equip them, in turn, to answer the questions their friends may be asking of them.

How do you write a sermon or Bible study? So much more is involved than doing your exegetical homework. How do you actually craft it into an outline or manuscript that engages students and prompts conversation? This workshop will take you from the brainstorming process through biblical exegesis and to a useful outline or manuscript. The process of developing an expository message for youth might look somewhat different for each of us, but it will include common mile markers along the way.

Interestingly, many of today’s most controversial topics (gender, sexuality, marriage, racism, abortion, disability, and mental health to name a few) find their resolution in what it means that men and women are created in the image of God. So, what does the Bible say about the image of God and how can we teach this important doctrine to the students in our homes and churches?

Parents can be the most powerful spiritual influence in the lives of their children. But parents cannot pass on what they do not have. This workshop will present practical ways youth leaders can take parents new places in their spiritual lives. And that includes youth leaders half the ages of the parents. Parents who come alive spiritually can mean a youth group that comes alive spiritually.

Our lives are bombarded with messages about gender and identity, and we might find ourselves thinking, “How do I even begin a conversation around these issues?”. In this breakout session, we’ll seek to understand the modern identity formation process, the current landscape of gender identity issues, and how to help parents and ministry leaders navigate these challenges with truth and wisdom.

As our kids grow, so does their exposure to the news and politics. And, well… that’s terrifying. Today’s news cycle is constant, divisive, and often depressing. It unashamedly encourages anger and hatred towards political opponents and elevates political ideologies as our only source of hope. We want the next generation of Christians to be discerning about what really matters, find peace in Christ when things go wrong, love everyone even when it’s hard, and respond quickly with loving action. Thankfully, there are simple Biblical habits and boundaries to set that make these outcomes much more likely.

The majority of Gen Z (and an increasing percentage of older generations) get their news from social media, specifically TikTok. This means instead of a few major media outlets with well-established reputations, we have millions of unaffiliated part-time “reporters.” Who can we trust? Where does God fit in? How do we talk about this with our teens? Learn how to consume and discuss the news with wisdom and discernment in the TikTok era.

Parents often feel as anxious as our teens. We fear we haven’t done enough and are failing as parents. We worry about our kids’ choices, their environments, values, faith, their safety, happiness, future, our relationship with them and so much more. It can be all-consuming and never-ending. And while there are no formulas to calm our fears and guarantee an outcome, there are things we can do—starting with our own hearts and minds. In this workshop empty nester mom and counselor Kristen Hatton will draw upon her book, Parenting Ahead, to encourage and equip parents toward a foundation and family culture rooted in Jesus.

Youth ministers with kids have to be “all-in” as a family. But how can you be fully committed to the ministry God has called you to while also caring for and guarding your family? Drawing on feedback from his four adult children and his wife, and with 25 years of youth ministry successes and failures behind him, Syler Thomas will unpack a path for how to honor and incorporate your family into your ministry while also protecting them— including what to do (and not do) when your own kids join youth group.

Step into a transformative journey led by Dr. Justin Wong, a veteran youth ministry leader, as we uncover the profound impact and personal challenges of longevity in local church youth ministry. Together, we’ll explore strategies for maintaining a steadfast gospel-centered focus amidst shifting cultural currents, cultivating authentic connections, and fostering lasting spiritual growth.

Every youth minister wants kids to feel welcome in their youth ministry, but what does a hospitable youth ministry actually look like? And what do young people most need from their churches? Vince will unpack the paradigm of Gospel + Safety + Time as a guiding principle of developing a gospel culture in youth ministry, and differentiate between what this looks like for kids in middle school vs. kids in high school.

For many young people, the greatest hurt they experience comes from the closest relationships they have–family. Relationships between parents and kids can be complicated and hard, with or without issues like abuse or alcoholism. The pain felt by students navigating challenging home lives isn’t always visible, leaving many to suffer in silence. How can we minister to students when their home life is challenging? What constitutes a challenging home life? This workshop explores the profound impact of these environments and offers practical, Gospel-centered ways to create a culture of vulnerability and build trusting relationships.

A sense of calling toward the work of ministry? Check. A zeal for the gospel and passion to minister to the next generation? Double check. The buy-in and support of your church’s leadership? Not so much. This workshop aims to help you better communicate the value of family ministry to leaders in your church without overwhelming yourself, your leadership, or your church.

Youth parents often receive students into their ministries with very poor biblical literacy and who are not ready to study full books of the Bible. How can churches work to build stronger biblical literacy with our elementary age children? This workshop will feature children’s ministry Tara Davis and include family pastor Cameron Cole. Tara will discuss how to plan children’s curriculum that increases biblical literacy and knowledge of the narrative of scripture. She will also provide practical direction on how to empower parents to labor alongside the church to enhance biblical literacy. Cameron will show how children’s ministers, parents, youth pastors, and familymninisters  can collaborate in this effort.

Students in our youth ministry are not immune to the fall out or hurt that happens when churches experience trauma and brokenness. In our time together during this break out session, we will talk through what it looks like to walk students through difficult times within a church community, recognizing that they are a valued member of this community.

How do we disciple our students to stand firm in the faith, even as exiles? How do we teach them keep their eyes focused on present hope, and the promise that is to come? What does it look like to grow in faith when others seek to destroy it?

As we step into a year of certain political change, bringing much uncertainty, God has preserved for us a story which so directive for both our students and ourselves. The Book of Daniel not only offers our students hope as exiles amidst political unrest and heightened religious persecution, but this book offers a deep vision for the unshakable hope we have in the promised one of God, Jesus — and it all begins with a teenager.

In this workshop, we will discuss practical methods for teaching the book of Daniel to students, while also offering tools to serve any teacher walking through narrative and/or apocalyptic genres with students.