2024 Breakout Sessions

As churches grow and communities become more diverse, the challenge of effectively reaching and connecting with every generation becomes increasingly important. This workshop is designed to equip church leaders, volunteers, and ministry teams with the strategies and tools needed to expand outreach efforts, ensuring that every age group and cultural background feels welcomed and engaged.

Join in to discuss the things every new, next generation needs and how we can effectively lead others to make disciples no matter the audience.

In this breakout session, Frank Trimble will lay out the practical rationale and applicable strategies related to working well together as a next-gen department. Kids, youth, and family ministry are all on the same team even when church programming may not reflect that reality. When these departments intentionally and sacrificially collaborate, the potential for Kingdom impact goes through the roof!

Evangelism doesn’t have to be intimidating or difficult, but in a growing culture of doubt, it must be effective. This is the role of apologetics in evangelism. Taken from his new book, The Lazy Approach to Evangelism: A Simple Guide for Conversing with Nonbelievers, this session will provide you with the relevant tools for navigating better, more fruitful conversations with those you encounter.

The dos and don’ts: tools to help encourage healthy grieving and provide support to those who have lost a loved one or friend.

Recent findings in neuroscience can provide valuable insight into many of the questions being asked about today's children. Why are so many children experiencing anxiety, feeling lonely, showing lack of attention, and inability to regulate behavior? This session will point to how aspects of neuroscience point to God and His design of the brain and body and how the experiences and relationships in everyday life influence the development of a child's mind and spirit.

Preteens are bored; they want to engage, but they don’t know how. We need to move from classroom management to mentoring while at the same time move them from the silly activities to the ones that require them to be strategic. Join Doug Franklin as he guides us through the structure, programming, and essentials for preteen discipleship.

Enlisting volunteers for children's ministry can be challenging. One resource, that is already available in your church, are volunteers from your youth ministry. In this session, we will discuss ways in which you can recruit and train middle schoolers and high schoolers to serve in your ministry.

As experts highlight the struggles with anxiety and other mental health issues that the next generation is facing, we, as ministry leaders, will need to lean in and develop skills we haven't required in recent years. Join us as we explore practical ways to support and minister to the children and students in our care. We'll discuss how to recognize signs of struggle, provide spiritual encouragement, and train our volunteers. Additionally, we'll address when it is appropriate to recommend professional counseling.

With everything going on in our culture today, we are desperate for a biblical response to current trends and temptations. Rather than conforming to culture, merely complaining about culture, or canceling culture, we must equip our families to stand firm in the midst of today's cultural currents as they shine as light to the darkness. This session will provide practical ways to prepare parents to shepherd and send their children.

Managing your youth group’s social media account isn’t easy – what is easy is dropping the ball and not having a single post for a week, or two … or now a couple of years and needing to resurrect it from the dead. If we only had a millennial summer intern. Sigh. But there is hope! Learn some really killer tips and tricks to turn things around AND score some freebies from Josh and Download Youth Ministry, naturally. #cometothisworkshop

This is how it goes right? You have prepared your best and most Gospel message ever...The Good News For YOU! Interrupting "Mr. Jack..." Zac: *sigh" Yes Landon." Landon: "will you look up the correct region for gigantmax Pokemon? Zeke says they don't exist" Zac: "Sure bud, just give me 5 minutes" With 19 years of youth ministry Zac is here to help you embrace the awkward, share the flashes of depth, and encourage you to find your voice amidst the challenges and sometimes overwhelming pressures of middle school audiences.

Regardless of the size of our group, it is essential that we understand our role as shepherds. Leading ministry to college students and college-aged young adults presents the additional challenge of these groups changing continuously. Let’s make sure no one gets left behind on the path to becoming mature disciple-makers. Together, we will explore what it means to be a shepherd and the practical tools for doing it well.

Join an engaging seminar designed to inspire and guide leaders to make meaningful transformations. Despite knowing the right actions, many leaders face frustration and setbacks when implementing change. Dr. Hunter, who has dedicated a lifetime to studying change dynamics, will share common mistakes and proven principles to effectively influence and sustain change. Learn from proven business strategies and scriptural principles to successfully navigate and lead through profound cultural shifts, not just behavioral changes.

What is your ministry doing to fulfill the Great Commission and reach out to the NextGen families from different cultures? This workshop will equip leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to foster community and fellowship with NextGen and Families from different cultures and nations. We will prepare leaders to understand and appreciate cultural differences, communicate better and develop cultural intelligence in their ministries.

Breaking down the differences between sadness and depression, and how to distinguish between different types of suicidal thoughts.

Evangelism doesn’t have to be intimidating or difficult, but in a growing culture of doubt, it must be effective. This is the role of apologetics in evangelism. Taken from his new book, The Lazy Approach to Evangelism: A Simple Guide for Conversing with Nonbelievers, this session will provide you with the relevant tools for navigating better, more fruitful conversations with those you encounter.

Recent findings in neuroscience can provide valuable insight into many of the questions being asked about today's children. Why are so many children experiencing anxiety, feeling lonely, showing lack of attention, and inability to regulate behavior? This session will point to how aspects of neuroscience point to God and His design of the brain and body and how the experiences and relationships in everyday life influence the development of a child's mind and spirit.

How do you equip your teachers to have a successful year? Do they have the skills and knowledge needed to make a difference in the lives of children? During this session, we'll discuss essentials teachers need for effective teaching.

The next generation seeks to be seen and heard. Relational discipleship that's radically focused on Jesus can ensure that every student feels included and loved by God. These sessions will lean in to 7 key emphases that we believe every leader needs to make faith matter more to students while building lasting relationships with Christ and adult leaders.

Looking for ideas on recruiting more volunteers? Want simple ways to empower tired and overworked volunteers? Then, join Doug Franklin as he guides you through recruitment, training, and encouraging volunteers.

With the majority of teenagers reporting that they have zero boundaries, restrictions, guidelines, or discipleship from their parents when it comes to technology, our ministries must be on the front lines of equipping parents to enter into this conversation with their children. This session will expose five heart issues at stake for this generation of digital natives as we then respond with five discipleship conversations parents must engage their children with in the home.

Come learn how to meet the needs of girls in your community in an ongoing, strategic, and systematic way that takes into consideration the nuanced challenges they face. Don’t worry! Your girls ministry doesn’t have to be elaborate, expensive, or super time-consuming to be effective. It just needs to be intentional!

This breakout will answer the question everyone is asking. Well, maybe not all the questions that everyone is asking, but definitely a question a lot of people are asking.

Do you have students in your ministry who struggle to understand salvation and wrestle with whether they are truly saved? In this breakout, we will learn how important it is to help students fully understand the process of salvation. We will also learn how to easily articulate salvation to students and teach the biblical principles in a way they can remember.

Whether leading from the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th chair, leading from a position of support to our senior leadership is part of what we do as NextGen leaders. This breakout session is designed for those ministering to the next generation, and will explore the unique role of supporting senior leadership while trying to have impactful influence. Join us as we navigate the nuances, challenges, and successes of leading from the second chair, and equip ourselves with invaluable strategies for effective leadership and influence.

Learn & share from other college ministry leaders. Bring your best questions and ideas to share – doing college ministry with another role, integrating students into the whole ministry of the church, best outreach & fun event ideas, and more.

Way too many congregations are now among the casualties of the culture wars. Effectively shepherding our people, especially during an election year, requires a very specific focus and a skillset which seminary probably did not provide. Come and learn about being a non-anxious presence radically focused on Christ even in the midst of a divisive culture.

Explore the ethical dimensions of using A.I. in the church while discovering practical ways it can empower ministry leaders. This session will provide insights and tools to thoughtfully integrate A.I. into your ministry, ensuring it serves your mission without compromising your values.

We become our habits, and our children become us. Which means that the habits of the household are probably the most important parts of our children’s spiritual formation. This session will break down the neurology and the theology of why habits matter so much to our discipleship to Jesus, and how we can practically think about rhythms in the home. We’ll see that while all of us feel overwhelmed, the good news of the gospel is that Jesus’ yoke is easy, and his burden is light. So moving towards spiritual rhythms is one of the most freeing things we can do. After all, habits don’t change God’s love for us, but God’s love for us should change our habits.

Nearly 1 billion people around the world live with disabilities. Many of these individuals and their families live in poverty, pain, and despair. Our mission at Joni&Friends is to mobilize the church to evangelize, disciple, and serve people living with disability. Through this workshop we'll walk through the need for disability ministry in the church and the tools we use to help the church evaluate it's accessibility.

When people are wounded by family or by someone in whom they have confided (like church family), the pain is uncommonly deep, and the journey out of that pain is complicated. Statistically speaking, your ministry is filled with those very people...and maybe you are one yourself. In this session, we will have an honest discussion about creating a ministry environment conducive to reconciliation, recommitment and reengaging with God’s people.

Ministry can sometimes feel all-consuming and often, our marriage takes a backseat, leaving our spouse to feel less of a priority and more like they are on the outside of our ministry looking in. In this breakout, we will help you remember how to make your marriage great again. We hope you will be challenged and inspired to cultivate a healthy marriage that will in turn fuel a healthy ministry.

Discussing simple & practical ways you can strengthen your personal finances and retirement planning. You CAN do this! Let's talk about how to do it better. Q&A time provided.

Partnering with parents in our ministry can sometimes be an incredible joy, but it can also present significant challenges. In this session, we will explore the intriguing neuroscience of the "parent brain," uncovering the significant changes that occur when individuals step into parenthood. We'll explore how parents manage emotions, stress, and decision-making, and how these processes influence their thoughts and behaviors. We'll also examine the latest findings on different parenting styles and discuss practical strategies for clear, effective communication with parents. The goal is to foster strong, collaborative partnerships, essential for long-term growth and discipleship.

Creating graphics for social media, sermons, announcements and more doesn’t have to be difficult. You no longer have to spend hours in Paint or Publisher creating a single flyer. You don’t even have to know much about technology to make something that will appeal to people of all ages. Come learn how Canva, a free resource, can be used to gain interest and build excitement across your ministry.

If you are a leader in preschool, children, preteen or youth ministry, you know that a critical part of your role is age-appropriate discipleship planning. Having a wise plan in place anchors everything else in your ministry and sets up families to partner with you in a successful church and home model. Join Jana to learn how to set a plan in place that works for every age and every stage in your ministry.

Camps and Vacation Bible School often provide opportunities for children to respond to the gospel. What happens next for the children who make the decision to follow Christ? This session will address best practices in sharing the gospel with children and focus on the need for a discipleship plan.

When starting in Kids Ministry, it's common to feel that you know everything. It doesn't take long before you realize you don't. During this session, we'll discuss 10 (+1) tips to help navigate your first few years in ministry.

By a host of metrics, boys are falling behind in our culture. This is true for faith, as well. But it doesn't have to be. We can build youth ministries where all students thrive, including our guys. But it takes intentionality. This interactive workshop will explore why boys are lagging in their faith and how to address it.

As college ministers we find ourselves on the front lines of the Mental Health crisis facing young adults today. Our role in the midst of that crisis can be overwhelming and often confusing. Come learn how you can identify when you are equipped to help a student vs. when you should refer them to a mental health professional, along with how you can effectively connect students with Mental Health care.

Leadership development is essential for any organization to thrive and succeed. However, when we view ministry leadership through the holistic health lens, we are reminded of the importance of caring for the whole person – spiritual, physical, mental/emotional, financial, and relational. This talk will explore how developing strong holistic leadership skills can benefit the church and its community while promoting overall well-being and health among team members. We will discuss how effective leadership can create a supportive and nurturing environment where individuals can thrive both personally and professionally. Join us as we delve into the intersection of leadership development and pastoral holistic health.

Explore the ethical dimensions of using A.I. in the church while discovering practical ways it can empower ministry leaders. This session will provide insights and tools to thoughtfully integrate A.I. into your ministry, ensuring it serves your mission without compromising your values.

Family Night just got interesting! Race against the clock in this interactive mission escape experience while learning how to empower moms & dads to teach missions and the Gospel. This is the mission trip that comes home with you. Training the family in missions has never been more exciting!

So often what we see is not what entirely representative of all that is lying beneath the surface, and this especially true when it comes to the behaviors of our children and teens. Difficult behaviors, resistance to being vulnerable, and emotional reactivity are often the result of attachment wounds, which occur throughout the lifespan of children and adolescents. In this breakout, we will seek to understand what attachment and attachment wounds are, how they affect the brain, what Scripture says about emotional and relational safety, and we will identify different coping strategies to help both children and adolescents as well as the caring adults in their lives (you!) manage the symptoms of these painful wounds.

If you dislike how 64% of our kids and teens walk away from church, their faith, and Christ then come discover proven principles that dramatically reduce the negative trends. We will lay a biblical foundation to map the way and share easy ways to intentionally make a difference at church and in the home.

Hiding in plain sight?? Single parents have potential that the church often leaves untapped. Join the conversation as we discuss what the church gets right, what single parents wished the church knew, and what single parents need the most.

Families impacted by disability often face barriers when it comes to accessing the local church. In this breakout we'll discuss practical tools for mobilizing and training volunteers, resourcing your Sunday School classes, and caring for individuals and families impacted by disability.

Discover the science behind out-of-control behaviors and learn practical strategies for bringing a little bit of order back into your classroom. Get ready to learn how you can rise to the challenge rather than feeling beat down and burned out.

Lead families to cultivate Biblical hospitality as they encounter family, neighbors, and others in daily life. Explore hospitality as a critical practice of our faith, and discover that it is much more than just hosting others. Provide ways for families to make hospitality a core belief and teach kids to show hospitality to all people.

Camps and Vacation Bible School often provide opportunities for children to respond to the gospel. What happens next for the children who make the decision to follow Christ? This session will address best practices in sharing the gospel with children and focus on the need for a discipleship plan.

By a host of metrics, boys are falling behind in our culture. This is true for faith, as well. But it doesn't have to be. We can build youth ministries where all students thrive, including our guys. But it takes intentionality. This interactive workshop will explore why boys are lagging in their faith and how to address it.

Are you a youth ministry leader facing the challenge of growing your ministry, witnessing students leave their faith, or noticing a weak understanding of the Bible among your students? Whether you're an experienced youth pastor seeking new strategies or a brand new leader eager to make an impact, this course is designed to equip you with the practical tools you need to revitalize your ministry and strengthen your students' faith.

What is the process by which a student ministry should be making disciples? Every ministry needs a process by which they help students become fully devoted followers of Jesus. From salvation to the senior send-off, what intentional discipleship steps will teenagers take in your church? This breakout will teach the five fundamental principles you want to add to your discipleship playbook at your church.

As a college ministry leader, you’re a missionary on a strategic mission field! Share your context and collaborate with other leaders to map and plan an engagement strategy to reach the students in your community.

This breakout will encourage pastors with the four ways they can engage families in order to bring parents to prioritize the church gathering once again, equip parents to join the front lines of discipling their children, provide families a biblical response to culture and technology, and cultivate vibrant intergenerational discipleship in your church. In light of Richard Baxter's exhortation, "If you want to see reformation in the church, first seek it in the home," this breakout will give us biblical and practical pathways for pursuing true revival in the home.