You've invested your time and resources to attend SYMC, let us help you make the most of your time here! Whether you're here alone, with your spouse, or with your team, join us for this quick and casual session to learn how to understand and navigate the schedule without getting worn out! We'll also explain the innovative happenings like Connect Groups (formerly known as Affinity Groups), Peer Panels, the Shelter Ministry, and more!
Media can be a great tool to communicate with students. With so many resources at our fingertips, it's important to not use an element just because it's funny or hip, but to know when and why it's best for our program. We will breakdown the core elements of our weekly programs, and brainstorm with each other to discover the art of using video, sound, lighting, music, atmosphere, and other media elements to enhance, but not distract from our message.
You've invested your time and resources to attend SYMC, let us help you make the most of your time here! Whether you're here alone, with your spouse, or with your team, join us for this quick and casual session to learn how to understand and navigate the schedule without getting worn out! We'll also explain the innovative happenings like Connect Groups (formerly known as Affinity Groups), Peer Panels, the Shelter Ministry, and more!
Let's be honest…as youth workers we're not always the best detail-people. We all want our mission trips to be amazing and life-changing, yet the way to make that a reality is through excellent planning and preparation. BUT, you can make the most of your next short-term missions trip by learning how to "Work the Plan.” We'll take 30-plus years of short-term missions experience and show you how to chart a course that takes care of all the details of your trip.
And you'll have fun, fun, fun until Les Christie ends this workshop in prayer. If your mind is on overload and you're tired of coming away from workshops feeling guilty for what you are not doing, then this seminar is for you. This workshop promises no heavy philosophy or theology. See, hear, and play more than 20 unbelievably innovative games, and learn some gaming tricks you can use immediately. You'll go away encouraged and ready to lead your kids next week.
The past decade has brought tremendous technological changes to our ministries. What forms of media should you use, and how? Where do we begin with all the software? What about accomplishing the basics on a tight budget? There will be prizes worth hundreds of dollars and secrets on the best FREE resources. Whether you need interactive video elements, tips for enhancing current media uses, or help with the basics
You've invested your time and resources to attend SYMC, let us help you make the most of your time here! Whether you're here alone, with your spouse, or with your team, join us for this quick and casual session to learn how to understand and navigate the schedule without getting worn out! We'll also explain the innovative happenings like Connect Groups (formerly known as Affinity Groups), Peer Panels, the Shelter Ministry, and more!
In a world that is moving quickly from the laptop to the mobile phone, how do you leverage the message of the Gospel and the power of community to transform your outreach and discipleship? In this seminar we will discuss the importance of utilizing one of the few tools that people take with them everywhere they. As well as how to effectively empower people to use smart phone technology to spread the Gospel.
Expectations. We feel them from every direction. What do the church, my spouse, the students, and God want from me? Do you ever think you are not made to fit the perfect youth minister's spouse role? Does being a youth minister's spouse mean we lose ourselves for their ministry? We'll talk about surviving the expectations of youth ministers' spouses by being ourselves and using the gifts God has given us.
Leading others can be a very challenging task. There’s a lot of talk, theories, and philosophies about leadership out there; so much so, it’s very easy to feel overwhelmed by it all. This session will get down to the nitty-gritty details of being a leader. Drawing on more than 30 years of leadership experience, Tic will explore the essential tasks and the most common temptations of effective leadership. You’ll leave with a better understanding of what it takes to become–or remain–an effective healthy leader, the kind of leader people want to come alongside.
We will be discussing how and why developing a brand (identity, logo, marketing, etc.) for your student ministry is important in order to consistently communicate to your church and community. Let's learn from each other how to create an effective identity for your ministry that people trust.
Who doesn't love a freebie? This session will give you 10 free resources to enhance your youth ministry programs.
There was a time when there existed a definitive "other side of the tracks.” However, a new era has dawned where boundaries of city and suburbs are blurred. Urban culture and city "issues” now seem to be showing up in many venues. This workshop will discuss these issues along with practical ways to effectively minister to and with the city community. This workshop would also be appropriate for those in the city working alongside those in the suburbs.
In this class we'll look at the art of storytelling and how you can use creative and inexpensive technology to enhance your ministry. We'll look into the creative process and inspiration sources for motion graphics, videos and live service elements and take a look at some case studies and practical applications.
This workshop will explore MediaShout from both practical/instructional and philosophical viewpoints. We'll walk through the basics of using MediaShout software, and exploring how to use these tools as a visual worship leader and creative artist in ministry settings.
Sometimes we can get so busy working we really don't get anything done. Does this sound like you? I think it must be part of the youth worker DNA. I must confess I've tried so many different ideas, plans and software that was suppose to help me "get things done,” but usually they failed miserably. However though my trail and error I've learned a few things and come across some tools and ideas that actually work in the real work. In this session we'll talk about "Getting Things Done (GTD)” for youth workers and share some tools and ideas that might help.
Everything about the age that we live in is saturated with sex. Teenagers are looking at sexual images on their cell phones through the midnight hours in the comfort of their bedroom. The opportunity to see or engage in sex is just like flicking an on/off switch. In this culture of casual sex it can be difficult for our youth to understand what purity is; why purity is a good idea; and how to be pure. This workshop will equip youth workers with practical tools, scriptures and activities that can be used to teach teenagers how to protect their body, mind and soul.
So secretly, deep inside, you wish you could make fun videos for your ministry; but then your run up against all those nagging doubts and excuses: "It takes too much time!” "It's too expensive!” "I couldn't film my way out of a paper bag!” This seminar is all about drop-kicking those excuses out the window and giving you tips, tricks, and shortcuts for making great videos for your ministry. It'll cover the basics of equient and software; and then dive into the process of creating the video from concept to YouTube.
Come learn how to get the most out of the LIVE curriculum. We'll cover everything from getting started to tips and tricks for the advanced user. Plus we'll have time for you to ask your questions.
That awful, aching, "being fried” feeling is familiar to many youth workers. Here we'll look at the main reason identified by youth workers in both the U.S. and Europe as to what sends ‘em down toward burnout-land. More importantly, we'll consider positive proactives to help keep ourselves (and those around us) fresh and renewed in ministry.
It's hard to have a healthy ministry without a healthy marriage, but the demands of ministry time and boundaries can often take a toll. Jim Burns wants every couple to experience a thriving marriage filled with A.W.E.: affection, warmth, and encouragement. In this workshop he shows husbands and wives how to make their marriage their priority as they discover ways to repair the past, communicate and resolve conflict, refresh their marriage spiritually, and more.
Sometimes parents are aware and come to you for help, and at other times you're the one faced with breaking the bad news to them. In this workshop you'll learn Biblically-based, practical principles for coming alongside parents and helping them respond to the ‘big stuff' (sexual abuse, addictions, gender identity issues, death/suicide; divorce, bullying) and the ‘not so big stuff' their kids are facing.
Leaders can't function without a healthy team surrounding them. If the first thing Jesus did when he started his ministry was build a team, then maybe as leaders we should also be focused on building a healthy team to serve with. This workshop will focus on the elements needed to build a healthy team dynamic and give you tools to effectively sustain these teams.
Creating and maintaining a website that connects with your students, their friends and parents, and the community around you can seem overwhelming without the right tools. We'll learn from each other what works and what doesn't when it comes to ministry websites. Plus we'll take a look at some simple tools that will allow you to have an effective website that won't consume too much of your limited time or finances.
You're excited about the chance to serve with teens on a mission trip. You're energized to see how God challenges and changes people through the experience. You're signed up and ready to go. Yet somehow you still don't feel ready. In our time together, we'll unlock the secrets to a successful mission experience, preparing you for the journey through the sometimes rough but always rewarding waters of a short-term mission trip.
"Why do I feel so overwhelmed, depleted, and ineffective at balancing family, life, and ministry?” Your call to youth ministry was never meant to be at the expense of your own spirit, soul, heart, health and family! We all feel the pressure of leading at the intersection of these converging worlds. There is hope! Come learn practical insights and gain proven tools for leading beyond fumes and being FULLY ALIVE in the process.
Three artists noodling in Photoshop everyday are bound to come up with a few tips and tricks that might help you in the visually creative side of your ministry. If you're a Photoshop or Photoshop Elements user, come and spend a little time gathering some ideas, solutions, and even a few freebies. We'll be giving away some Photoshop brushes and other fun stuff.
Why in the world would anyone cut, burn, scratch, hit, bite, bang, brand, or carve his or her body? Are more kids today involved in self-injury, or are we just more aware of it happening? How do volunteer or professionally trained youth workers provide hope and healing for young people addicted to cutting or self-injurious behaviors? These and many other questions will be addressed in this fast-paced, informative, and intensely practical workshop.
Our problems with volunteer leaders don't start with recruitment and develoent; they start with flawed thinking about youth ministry. This track will help you think differently and better about finding and keeping volunteers. You'll walk away understand the essentials of successfully recruiting volunteer leaders and the best ways to keep them around for the long-haul.
So many commentaries, so little time, so much confusion, so what? This workshop will give you a big-picture look at the task of biblical interpretation: Why is it important? Why would it make a difference in the way we teach our kids? How can I do it without a load of time and a library of books? For anyone who wants to do a better job of faithfully digging into the Word, this will be a practical, helpful session.
Knowing the heart of a City Church is key no matter where you live. In this workshop we will discuss the actual pieces of a city church, learn what makes a city church, and why its important.
