2012 Adult Youth Workers Track

25 Things That Work!

Join me as I blast through 25 specific things that I've found that work with today's youth!  I've been in camping ministry and youth ministry for 15 years, and I've survived to tell about it, and keep coming back for more!  Come out and take a fast ride with me, as I equip you with actual examples of things that have worked for us at Warehouse54, involving middle and high school students!  There will be "take-aways" for every ministry application, and some may SHOCK you!

Photo to come

Dustin Sauder, High School Pastor, Manheim BIC Church

Creating Life Changing Moments

(Experience Driven Discipleship)

We want to see life change happen in our students lives, something that will last beyond their years in youth group. We will explore ways that students will be engaged in your program and how those life changing moments will impact future generations.

Jeff Davidson gives oversight to the Student Ministries Team of Christian Life Assembly (Camp

Hill) and has been in full-time youth ministry for over 19 years. Jeff has had the opportunity of

growing three youth ministries, designing a 24,000 square foot youth center and equipping

students to influence their world. Jeff and his wife Amber have been married 13 years and have three daughters - Summer, Jailyn & Brooke.

Generation to Generation

From believers in their twenties to their seventies, this seminar will focus upon the need and opportunity to incorporate a broad inter-generational witness within youth ministry. 

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

Life Together

Why is community important?  Sure, it's exemplified in Scripture, but why should we foster community in youth ministry?  Get real!  I am a highly relational person and students feel comfortable with me.  But…is that enough?

Shelly Skinner is Program Coordinator of Masters in Youth & Young Adult Ministries; Assistant Professor in Christian Ministries at Messiah College.  She is a native Southern Californian.  She received her B.A. and M.A. from Biola University and Talbot Seminary in La Mirada, CA, and her Ed.D. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.  She also served in a local church as the Minister of Youth in West Covina, CA for a number of years. 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.

Mentoring Students for Life-long Discipleship

Discipling students through mentoring is a "marathon, not a sprint" process with both great challenges and great rewards.  Come talk with a youth pastor and hear from three "youth alumni" young-adults who continue to share the journey of life-long discipleship.

Dave Showalter has been in love with and doing youth and family ministry for 23 years.  He will be ordained as a Deacon in the United Methodist Church this June and is in his third year Doctorate of Ministry studies at Fuller Theological Seminary.  He has been married to Debby, his partner in youth ministry, for nearly 3 decades.

Ministering with Truth and Grace to

Students Struggling with Homosexuality

Our culture offers only one option to youth who are attracted to the same gender – to adopt a gay identity. As Christians don’t we have more to offer than this? Yes, we do. Just as Jesus ministered with truth and grace so can we.

Dan Keefer, M.A., is the Executive Director of Day Seven Ministries. Prior to serving with Day Seven he spent 12 years in pastoral ministry at two Brethren in Christ churches, with over eight of those years in ministry to youth and their families. Dan is married to Heather and they are experiencing the joys and challenges of parenting three teenagers.

Finding Resources for Your Ministry and for 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 investments. Conference organizers have invited Byron 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 & 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 regularly blogs about books, cultural engagement and reading. He and his family attend First Presbyterian church in York, PA, and has affiliations with the CCO, a campus ministry organization.

Spiritual Formation and Student Ministry

We’ll take a look at a practical model of spiritual formation based on the list of virtues found in 2 Peter 1:5-9 and apply it to youth ministry. Then, we’ll see how this model can be used for the personal growth of the youth workers, for giving students a vision of spiritual growth, for evaluating ministry content and balance, and in spiritual direction with students.

Brian Kramer has been in professional youth ministry for 22 years, the last 17 as the Pastor of Student Ministries at King Street Church in Chambersburg, PA. He has been married to his wife, Amy for 17 years, and they have two daughters (Autumn - 13, and Ruby - 8).

Teens and Defining Moments

We will explore the kinds of moments and events that are important in the lives of young people and how to create the right atmosphere for spiritual growth and development.

Beth Warner is a graduate of Eastern College, 1999 with degree in Youth Ministry.  Have been director of Youth Ministry at Bethany UMC in Red Lion, PA full-time for 5 years, and part-time for the last 6 years.  Married to Cliff Warner, have 3 boys, Joey-7, Luke-5, Nate-2.  LOVE going out to eat!

The Devil is in the Details

Have you ever attempted to hold an impacting event for young people only to find that it wasn’t as successful as you wished? It doesn’t matter if you have the best music and youth speakers if the teens are tired, uncomfortable or hungry; in fact, Satan will use anything to ruin our attempts to bring teens to Christ, even logistical details.  In this workshop we will discuss the importance of logistics when planning youth events (large or small). Effectively doing things like advertising, getting enough volunteers, forming a planning team, creating the right environment, making a realistic schedule.  Preparing people spiritually and practically before and during the event can often be the difference between success and failure.  

Scott M. Anthony has been involved in youth ministry for 20 years and is currently the Director of Youth Ministries for St. Joseph & St. Patrick Parishes in York, PA. He runs the Fan the Fire ® Youth Rallies which have impacted almost 12,000 teens for Christ. In addition, he travels around the country speaking to teens and adults and leading retreats. He is married and currently has seven children. You can learn more about his ministry at: www.scottmanthony.com.

Youth Min Code Red . . .

One change could save your church

Learn where discipleship and leadership intersect, understand how every youth ministry should include this element, and why this adjustment could save your church.

Dr. Dave Coryell leads Christian Endeavor Mid-Atlantic "For Christ and the Church!", serves on the adjunct youth min team at Evangelical Seminary, and lives with his family in Ephrata, PA.

Topic Yet to be Announced

Fred Douglas Smith, Jr. is the Associate Director of Practice in Ministry and Mission and Professor of Urban Ministry at Wesley Theological Seminary, in Washington, D.C.  He specializes in the areas of prophetic religious education, violence in black communities, susbtance abuse prevention, at-risk youth, and faith and health.