YOUTH WORKERS TRACK

Building a Youth Ministry from the Ground Up:

A Theological Journey!

What is youth ministry for? What's the purpose? Why are we doing what we're doing? You're invited on a journey as we take a theological look at youth ministry and ask some basic, foundational questions. Whether you are looking to build a youth ministry from scratch or just re-evaluate what you're doing and why you're doing it, this session is for you. You will hear some best practices and be invited into a theological conversation about youth ministry and what God is doing among young people.

Kyle Anderson has been involved with some form of ministry among young people for the past 9 years. He is currently the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry at Silver Spring Presbyterian Church in Mechanicsburg. He has a passion for young people and coming along side of them as they do life together.

Breathing Room

Are your students consumed between school and extra-curricular activities? What if we didn’t give our students just one more thing to do?  What if we encouraged them to be in relationship with God while their life travels a hundred miles an hour around them?  Let’s talk about practical ways you can give students the rest they need while still teaching them what it means to love Jesus. 

Amanda Bressler serves as the Youth Pastor at Shepherdstown United Methodist Church in Mechanicsburg, PA.  Involved in youth ministry for 8 years, Amanda holds a deep passion for relational youth ministry.  Amanda has an M.A. in Youth Ministry from Indiana Wesleyan University and is on the journey to becoming an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church.

Building for the Long Haul: A Fresh Plan of

Endurance for Effective Youth Work!

Encourage our veteran colleagues to be intentional with their soul care, their intentional time apart, the need for accountable relationships and continuing education, and the re-visiting of their ministry vision, mission, and missional strategies, etc.   

Jim Byrne is still very active in day to day youth work in Northern Virginia. Jim is a veteran of over 38 years of effective youth work. He has spoken to over 10,000  youth and has developed or revitalized youth ministries that connect with youth in Maryland, Northern Virginia, Southern California and Florida. An ordained Presbyterian (EPC) pastor serving at The Falls Church Anglican, Jim gives servant leadership to a youth ministry that reaches over 350 youth weekly, by pulling together a team of over 80 adult leaders called The Youth Family. 

He lives in Virginia with his wife Jenny and has two sons, Jacob & Joshua. He loves riding his Victory motorcycle and has crossed the US on his bike 7 times (and counting). This year he received the Doctorate of Ministry from Fuller Seminary on developing healthy youth work. 

Passion Ignition - Overcoming 5 Common Youth

Ministry Mistakes to Ignite Passion in church youth 

Your best intentions in youth ministry may actually be working against the results you desire.  Come learn how you can recognize these common mistakes and ignite a Christ-Centered passion in your church's youth.

Dr. Dave Coryell has been Christian Endeavor Mid-Atlantic’s Executive Director since 2007.  He served as a youth pastor for fifteen years prior to this.  Dave has served as an adjunct youth ministry professor at Evangelical Seminary since 2001.  He has authored several youth ministry resources and helped launch the Imagine the Impact leadership academy for high school students.  He and his wife Jennifer met at Messiah College.  They currently live in Ephrata, PA with their children: Katelyn, Ben, Kendra, and Zach.  Dave loves coaching his kids in soccer, watching movies, reading to learn, playing strategy games, and challenging people to put Christ at the center of their lives. 

Crisis Intervention: Basic Counseling Skills

Moments of crisis are unique opportunities for change. As youth workers, we are agents of change, situated in the optimal position to encounter these moments. Learn, and practice, some of the basic skills to help “make things new” out of a moment of crisis.

Shane Landherr MFT, Co-Founder of Uprooted Ministries, is a Marriage and Family Therapist who serves families in the State College area out of his private practice. He has ministered to youth and families for over six years, and continues to minister through speaking. It is his desire to bring healing and wholeness to adolescents, couples and families.

Keith Cotton, Co-Founder of Uprooted Ministries felt the call to ministry in 2001 as a junior in high school. He has over 10 years of experience as a youth leader and volunteer. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in youth & young adult ministry from Messiah College. He lives in York, PA with his wife and two sons. 

 Survival Kit: Your First Years in Youth Ministry

Ministry is messy! Come hear practical ideas of what to implement (and what not to implement!) in your fragile first years.  Learn how to navigate through relationships with students, your team, those cranky trustees and parents. You’ll leave with tools that you can put into place right away to have a sustainable and successful start to the dangerously exciting life of youth ministry!

Megan Faulkner is the Director of CrossRoots Student Ministries in Ocean Grove, NJ. She graduated from Eastern University with a B.A. in Youth Ministries and Communication Studies. Megan is passionate about raising leaders for the next generation and equipping students with the leadership skills they need to make advancements for the Kingdom of God.  On a regional level, Megan is a retreat speaker and has served as the keynote speaker for the Missions 101 program for the past four years. Megan writes a bi-weekly column on Girls Ministry for Youth Worker Journal. You can check her out on www.youthworker.com, meganfaulkner.tumblr.com, or follow her on twitter @MeganEFaulk. She loves communication and studying the changing culture. Megan lives in Ocean Grove, NJ and enjoys life at the beach.

Dealing with Conflict in Youth Ministry

Youth Ministry and conflict seem to go hand in hand.  Just when you think all is going well, someone seeks to undermine your work.  How do we respond?   We will examine seven areas of potential conflict that can surface in youth ministry.  Confronting conflict is one thing.  Surviving and overcoming conflict is another.    

Stephen Gallaher serves as Associate Professor of Christian Ministry / Youth Ministry at Messiah as well as Executive Director of Salt 'n Light Youth Ministry, Inc. (snlym.com).  Stephen is passionate about equipping young people for ministry among their peers.  Stephen and his wife Anne live in Mechanicsburg

Bridging the Divide

How does the church of today, begin to address the theological and social needs of our culture?  How do we embody the message of healing and hope while remaining grounded in our historical understanding of the word of God?  Moreover how do we bridge the divide between urban and suburban America without reinforcing the "great white hope" scenario that we continue to stand against? Our desire is to equip Youth Pastors to be able to ask and answer these questions within their context. 

Raymond Garcia serves as the Pastor of Roxboroough Presbyterian Church and founder & Executive Director of The Philadelphia Project.  He has been serving in and around the city of Philadelphia in ministry positions for 15 years and is blessed to be daddy to two small boys and husband to an amazing woman, Michelle.  As an alum of Eastern University, two times, he continues to serve as a voice for justice and faith outwardly lived in an effort to bear witness to the life giving grace of God.

Winning the Social Media Generation for Christ

Winning the Social Media Generation for Christ is an ideal workshop for Pastors, Youth Directors, and Youth volunteers. In this workshop, attendees will gain a basic understanding of social media (such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc) and will be introduced to some of the best ways to utilize social media in the church. This workshop will focus on current cultural trends and help attendees better navigate the social media waters. This workshop will utilize lecture, discussion, and interactive group learning.

 Josh Gill has been in the youth ministry field for nearly a decade. He lives in Downingtown, PA with his beautiful wife Vicki and their two boys J.D. and Sam  Currently Josh is the Youth Director at Covenant Presbyterian Church.  He holds a B.A. in Youth Ministry from Eastern University, a M.S. in Non-profit Business Management and a M.DIV. from Palmer Theological Seminary. He has taught at several conferences including CAPS-East and the annual Messiah College Youth Workers Conference. He has also been published in Youth Worker Journal in addition he is a contributor to Youth Ministry 360. You can get more info about Josh at www.directionsym.com

They May Be Short, but Their Gifts Aren’t Small

Junior/Middle school ministry is an adventurous undertaking for all youth workers. Underlying their zit filled faces, voice cracks, attention deficit disorders, awkward questions and their inability to take showers and wear deodorant, there are students who will love the Lord limitlessly and shamelessly. The opportunity to minister to this age is a gift to any youth worker. Establishing a good foundation for this segment of youth will benefit their lives as well as your senior high youth ministry to come. Join me as we discuss the framework, quirks and the chaos that is Junior/Middle ministry.

Who is Daniel Owen (you might ask)? He is a happily married man to an amazing woman for the last 4 years. She was smitten with him 4 years ago and so far that still seems to be true. They have a 7 week old son who has changed their lives, plans, and perspectives on life. He likes to have fun in everything he does and absolutely loves people. Right now, he is focusing his energy on loving and pastoring a group of Junior High Students that find him as weird and awkward as they find themselves. So they get along. Daniel loves the Lord and he is his Master. Every day he tries to be more like Him.

Equipping Volunteers

Volunteers…we need them, we appreciate them…but what do we “do” with them?  Come and explore some ideas on how to effectively equip volunteers.

With 19 + years of local church youth ministry in Southern California, Dr. Shelly Skinner has had the privilege of working alongside volunteers in a variety of settings.  She currently coordinates the master’s program in Youth & Young Adults Ministries at Messiah College, and is excited about the new offering of the Certificate in Youth & Young Adult Ministries.  She also teaches undergraduate Christian Ministry students.  She received her B.A. and M.A. from Biola University and Talbot Theological Seminary in La Mirada, CA, and her Ed.D. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.  She is a movie fiend, who enjoys spending time with friends and family, long road trips, and reading in a local café and/or coffee shop.

Interviews, Bonuses, and Pink Slips: Building and

Shepherding an Adult Youth Worker Team

Together we’ll explore some of the [sometimes rarely used] tools that ministers and team leaders can use to develop and maintain a healthy volunteer staff.  We will share practices that have worked well and those that have failed for one particular ministry.  Participants will receive helpful resources surrounding recruitment, boundaries, team building, shepherding, and unifying a team of volunteers and will focus on the philosophy and practicality of a team approach to youth ministry. 

Josh Tobias has been ministering to middle and high school students and their families at 1st UM, Chambersburg for almost 9 years.  His wife, Angie, serves 1st UM as Children’s Minister which offers a unique “one-two punch” of ministry in the local Church.  Together, they believe in relational ministry as it moves beyond program to reach generations for Christ.  Josh and Angie have a son, Micah (2) and prepared to welcome a baby girl in January 2013.

Engaging Students to Lead

This seminar will focus on developing an equipping mindset and providing leadership opportunities to help students grow in their spiritual walk, develop their gifts, develop a heart for ministering to people, and so much more! 

Chad Wenger has been leading the Middle School and High School ministries at Mechanicsburg BIC Church for nearly 6 years.  He has been married for 7 years and has two beautiful daughters.  Chad is passionate about equipping the next generation to see them live out the life that God has for them.   He also enjoys playing saxophone, reading, playing sports, and complaining about Philadelphia sports teams.

What’s the Point?!

Youth ministry is hard. But you already knew that. It is hard for many different reasons, but one of those reasons is that it sometimes feels as though we give, and we give and we are not sure if we are making any difference or any headway in terms of connecting with youth. We struggle with questions like, "Are they getting it?" "Do they understand why I'm here?" or, "Am I having any impact?" These are legitimate and difficult questions to work through. In this session we are going to hear stories of life change and spiritual growth and maturity because of investments of leaders as well as bring ourselves back to the main point of youth ministry.

LaVern Yutzi graduated from Messiah College in 1977 and began to serve in full-time youth ministry through Central Pennsylvania Youth Ministries. LaVern and his wife Kathy have three children who have all graduated from Messiah College as well. LaVern lives in Lewistown, PA and enjoys bicycling as well as many other outdoor activities. 

James Yutzi  is the youngest son of LaVern and Kathy. Having graduated from Messiah College in 2008, he began to serve at Carlisle Brethren in Christ Church. James and his wife Becky have one son, Kai. James enjoys being with his family, playing games with friends and family as well as a good cup of coffee.

Intentional Community

In this seminar we will be discussing how to create and maintain a welcoming and communal atmosphere in your youth ministry.  This seminar will include a lot of practical ideas for you to take back to your own ministry setting. 

Derek Parson has been involved in youth ministry for just over 10 years. He is currently serving as the youth pastor at Shippensburg Church of the Nazarene.  He also runs the YES Conference  (Youth Equipped to Serve) which is an event in the Nazarene Denomination for high school students who feel called into ministry.  Derek has a B.A. in Youth Ministry from Mount Vernon Nazarene University and is currently working on his Masters in Youth and Young Adult Ministries at Messiah College. He lives in Shippensburg with his wife, Aubree and their dog, Mozzie.

Finding Resources for Your Ministry and You

Thousands of books are published and other ministry resources are made available each year. Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the choices? With the little time you have for reading, you want to make wise investment. Conference organizers ahve invited Bryon Borger to offer a seminar this year outlining the most recent books and other resources that may be valuable for your ministry and for your personal spiritual journey. Byron has an encyclopedic knowledge of what's available and can advise you on any topic.

Byron Borger is the owner of Hearts and Minds Bookstore in Dallastown, PA. Byron and his wife, Beth, are passionate about helping folks find resources to relate a Christian worldview with all aspects of life. Byron blogs regularly about books, cultural engagement and reading. He and his family attend First Presbyterian church in York, PA. He is affiliated with CCO, a campus ministry organization.