Breakout Sessions |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
A period of revolutionary change occurred about 500 years ago, expressed by a convergence of revolutions around Copernicus and Galileo (in science), Gutenberg (in communication), and Martin Luther (in religion). Increasing numbers of people believe that we are in a similar period of revolutionary change. In this breakout, we'll explore what that shift looks like so far, and what it means for those who work in youth ministry.
 | Brian McLarenBrian McLaren is an author, speaker, pastor, and networker among innovative Christian leaders, whose teaching is stirring people all over the world to think in fresh ways about Christian life and faith. He has also authored numerous books, including his most recent, Everything Must Change. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
This seminar will highlight specific ways to maintain your zeal and excitement for youth ministry when your round table brainstorm sessions involve five people—or just you and a cup of coffee. A veteran of small ministry settings, Shaun Blakeney brings empathetic practicality to this breakout designed to encourage, uplift, and equip you to make a difference in any ministry setting.
 | Shaun BlakeneyShaun Blakeney is the student ministries pastor at Christ Fellowship in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. He has been in youth ministry since 1992 and along with his ministry at Christ Fellowship keeps busy by speaking to thousands of young adults each year at conferences, seminars and festivals. He is the author of Energy Zappers, Dealing with Those Who Drain You Dry. He and his wife Teresa have two children, Austin and Alyssa. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
We all want to see students live and love like Jesus. The most effective way to accomplish this is through mentoring relationships. In this breakout you will learn how to build a mentoring culture that will increase ministry effectiveness and gain support from your pastor and parents, choose the right students to mentor, spend the right time, not just more time—modeling real life lessons, and how to set safe boundaries.
 | Bo BoshersBo Boshers is the motivating and visionary Executive Director of Student Ministries in the Willow Creek Association. For almost a decade, Bo was the Director of Student Impact where he led an outreach of over 1,000 students at the high school ministry of Willow Creek Community Church. Bo’s current role allows him to focus extensively on his passion area of training, encouraging, and mentoring students and ministry leaders from around the world. With his twenty-plus years of ministry experience, Bo has much to offer. As Champion of the WCA Student Ministries Movement, his responsibilities include writing, speaking at workshops and conferences worldwide, coaching and mentoring likeminded youth pastors, and leading the annual Shift Student Ministries Conference at Willow Creek Community Church. Bo has contributed material for several books and has authored The Be-With Factor: Mentoring Students in Everyday Life, The Be-With Factor: Six Questions Students Need To Ask About Life With God, and Becoming a Contagious Christian: Youth Edition. Bo, his wife Gloria, and their three kids—originally from Santa Monica, California—now live in Algonquin, Illinois. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Many of us have experienced that community is best formed around a cause or a mission. As leaders we've all witnessed how inward-turned communities implode. In this breakout, we'll discuss how can we unleash our high school students as missional communities, growing in their relationships and increasing their impact at the same time.
 | Shane FarmerShane Farmer serves as Community Life Director for Student Impact, the high school ministry of Willow Creek Community Church. He and his wife Wendy moved to Chicago from Oklahoma four years ago to be a part of Willow Creek's internship and master's program through Bethel Seminary. During that time, Shane worked with Axis, Willow Creek's ministry to twenty-somethings. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Junior highers…they're young, they're squirrelly, they're hard to figure out, and even harder to control! But they are also ready to grow. This breakout will give valuable insight into the challenges and importance of providing spiritual growth opportunities for young teens. Plus, you'll walk away with a bunch of practical ideas you can use in your own ministry!
 | Kurt JohnstonKurt Johnston is the Junior High Pastor at Saddleback Church in Southern California. He is passionate about encouraging other junior high youth workers, and has written a few books and created a ton of resources with that in mind. Kurt and his wife Rachel have been married since 1991 and have two children, Kayla and Cole. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
The youth of this generation hear things in the Bible we don't, are suspicious of the authoritative language of the Bible, love the story and narrative of the Bible, but are not yet convinced of a systematic theological approach to the Bible. In this breakout we will explore how to read the Bible with and teach the Bible to the emerging generation.
 | Scot McKnightScot McKnight is a widely-recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. He is the Karl A. Olsson Professor of Religious Studies at North Park University (Chicago, Illinois), where he is also the Department Chair and the Director of the College of Christian Life and Thought. He and his wife Kristen have two children, Laura and Lukas. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
God has a missional purpose for humans. Students are craving for some sort of purpose in life. It's time for youth ministries to rethink student leadership, and help connect the two. In this breakout, we'll look at how we might reculture student leadership and help students join God in His Kingdom mission as agents of redemption.
 | Jim NewberryJim Newberry is Pastor of Student and Young Adult Ministries at Christ Community (Evangelical Free) Church in Leawood, Kansas. He has over 20 years of full-time youth ministry experience and is passionate about local church youth ministry along with the necessary shifts needed for effective youth ministry today. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Over the last 15 years, Aaron has been a worship leader at the AWANA clubs of his home church, then in the student ministries of Willow Creek, and most recently weekends at Mars Hill. All three are glorious and odd in their own way. And all three have pushed and changed Aaron's understanding of worship, challenged him to re-evaluate how to lead a group experience, and have secured an eternal love/hate relationship with cue sheets. In this breakout, we'll learn from Aaron's experiences, mistakes, and journey of trying to figure out how to best serve whatever community he finds himself in. [Repeated in B29]
 | Aaron NiequistAaron Niequist is a worship leader and songwriter from Grand Rapids, Michigan. He recently left his worship leading role at Mars Hill Bible Church, and is currently trying to figure out what to do when he grows up. He and his wife, Shauna, have a son, Henry. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
As you may have figured out by now, there is more to leading in student ministries than hanging out with students. Many times it’s the stuff we do (or don't do) between student gatherings that determines the effectiveness of our ministry. This breakout will explore how our personal leadership affects our ministries both positively and negatively.
 | Phil ShinnersPhil Shinners has been in full-time junior high ministry for the past 10 years, most recently at Mariners Church in Irvine, California. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
You can't do it all. Your staff can't do it all. Even Jack Bauer, the fictional counterterrorism-expert-and-savior-of-the-free-world needs a highly skilled support staff back at CTU, right? Volunteer teams can help carry the load of ministry. In this breakout, we'll discuss how to put them together and make them work effectively.
 | Bubba ThurmanBubba Thurman is the Student Pastor at Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall, Texas. He is responsible for ministry to students from birth to high school seniors. Bubba is a 17 year veteran in student ministry with a passion to teach and youth workers. He and his wife Amanda have three children: Joshua, Tyler and Hannah. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
In order to lead a ministry of students on mission for God, students must embrace their identity in Christ. Our actions flow out of our identity. In this breakout we will look at four key identities that help ground us in Christ and how we can lead students into a missional life that flows out of those identities.
 | Jeff VandersteltJeff is the lead elder of Soma Communities in Tacoma, Washington. For 14 years Jeff led youth ministries in a variety of church contexts, including Student Impact, the high school ministry of Willow Creek Community Church. He and his wife Jayne have three children: Haylee, Caleb and Maggie. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
In this featured breakout, Greg Hawkins shares a dilemma he's wrestled with throughout his 11 years as an executive pastor: Can we really know if our church is making a difference in the ongoing spiritual growth of our people? This pivotal question will set up what will be discussed during our time together. In addition, we'll gain a strong understanding of the science involved in identifying how individuals growing spiritually.
 | Greg HawkinsGreg Hawkins is Executive Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church. Since 1996, he has assisted Senior Pastor Bill Hybels in providing strategic leadership to Willow Creek’s five campuses, and to the Willow Creek Association. He also serves as point leader for REVEAL, a new initiative that utilizes research tools and discoveries to help churches better understand spiritual growth in their congregations. He is also the co-author of the book, REVEAL: Where Are You? Prior to joining the staff of Willow Creek in 1991, Greg spent five years as a consultant for McKinsey & Company. He has an undergraduate degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University, and an MBA from Stanford University. Greg and his wife Lynn live in the Chicago suburbs with their three children. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Based on systematic theology, research, and personal experience, this breakout will help you better understand urban/hip-hop culture and how to leverage it to reach the urbanized students in you local context. Our time together will both challenge your assumptions and help you rethink your youth ministry methodology.
 | Chris BrooksChris Brooks is the National Coordinator of UrbNet, the National Network of Youth Ministries’ urban initiative. Called by God to provide leadership in urban youth ministry, Chris has nearly 15 years of experience working with youth and families, primarily in an inner-city context. Chris and his wife Bobbi Jo have two children, Selah and Gabriel. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Building a student ministry team has always been difficult, no matter the size of church. The purpose of this session is to discuss practical methods of building a ministry team in any size church with any budget. From proven hiring practices to raising up staff from within, we'll examine solutions to student ministry staffing problems.
 | Richy FisherRichy Fisher is the Executive Director of Student Ministries for Sugar Creek Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. He brings over 20 years of experience in various youth ministry settings and has served in churches ranging from small to large, rural to urban. His passion for effective student ministries has led him to serve as a consultant and contributor to LEAD 222, local non-profits, and leading his ministry staff. Richy and his wife, Susan have three sons, Ryan, William and Nathan. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
How high is the value of worship in your junior high ministry? In this breakout, we'll explore practical ideas that will help you create a culture of worship by incorporating elements that speak directly to the hearts and minds of junior high students.
 | Brandon GrissomBrandon Grissom is a really tall, slightly clumsy singer/songwriter from the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Raised in the dusty backwoods of Oklahoma, he relocated to chi-town from Oklahoma City in the spring of 2003. He leads worship regularly at Elevate, Willow Creek Community Church's ministry to middle school. Brandon also leads worship at Willow's regional campus as well as various conferences, camps, churches, and events around the country. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
When do student ministries become unsafe environments? In recent years, sexual abuse in the church has made the headlines, devastating the lives of students and severely damaging the witness of the church. In this breakout, learn how to implement a child protection policy in your ministry.
 | Mike HuberMike Huber is team Pastor at Cornerstone Community Church in Ocean City, New Jersey. He is also a licensed psychologist providing therapy to adolescents and adults, specializing in trauma and addictions. Previously, Mike spent 11 years as a youth ministry pastor. Mike and his wife Carol have two children, Molly and Ryley. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
The singular term capturing this generation is "kingdom" because it comes from Jesus and doesn't sound as "churchy" as more traditional terms (like justification). In this breakout we will discuss what Jesus meant by "the kingdom of God", and how the kingdom vision of Jesus can be "missional" for us, and for our students.
| Scot McKnightScot McKnight is a widely-recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. He is the Karl A. Olsson Professor of Religious Studies at North Park University (Chicago, Illinois), where he is also the Department Chair and the Director of the College of Christian Life and Thought. He and his wife Kristen have two children, Laura and Lukas. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
In today's world there is no greater influencer of students and their worldviews than marketing, and it's all by design. Marketing guides them on how to live their lives throughout each day. In this breakout, gain a deeper understanding of this student life-shaper and be equipped to help your students navigate the marketing maze they live in.
 | Walt MuellerWalt Mueller is the founder and President of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding and has been working with young people and families for 31 years. As a result of his work with CPYU, Walt has become an internationally-recognized speaker and author on contemporary youth culture. He is the author of many books, including his most recent Opie Doesn't Live Here Anymore: Where Faith, Family, and Culture Collide. Walt and his wife Lisa live in Elizabethtown, Pennslyvania and have four children. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
The Great Commission is certainly a great thing for disciples of Christ to live out. But are the methods we use for accomplishing the Great Commission in youth ministry actually working? This breakout will take a holistic (and theological) look at this commission from Jesus, and the needed reculturing of evangelism & discipleship in youth ministry.
| Jim NewberryJim Newberry is Pastor of Student and Young Adult Ministries at Christ Community (Evangelical Free) Church in Leawood, Kansas. He has over 20 years of full-time youth ministry experience and is passionate about local church youth ministry along with the necessary shifts needed for effective youth ministry today. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Over the last 15 years, Aaron has been a worship leader at the AWANA clubs of his home church, then in the student ministries of Willow Creek, and most recently weekends at Mars Hill. All three are glorious and odd in their own way. And all three have pushed and changed Aaron's understanding of worship, challenged him to re-evaluate how to lead a group experience, and have secured an eternal love/hate relationship with cue sheets. In this breakout, we'll learn from Aaron's experiences, mistakes, and journey of trying to figure out how to best serve whatever community he finds himself in. [Repeated in A08]
| Aaron NiequistAaron Niequist is a worship leader and songwriter from Grand Rapids, Michigan. He recently left his worship leading role at Mars Hill Bible Church, and is currently trying to figure out what to do when he grows up. He and his wife, Shauna, have a son, Henry. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Does God hear and answer your prayers for your students, and for your ministry? In this breakout you will learn about the prayer life of Christ and His disciples—a prayer life that transformed lives, neighborhoods, and cities. Learn how to have a prayer life as a student ministry leader that will help change you, your ministry and your city!
 | Gail ReeseGail Reese is the vice president of The Ministry of Reconciliation and director of Blanketing Our Cities with Prayer and The Gospel Of Jesus Christ, an initiative to work in love and unity with the body of Christ in the Cleveland area. She also serves on the Ministry Council of the National Network of Youth Ministries. She is a wife and mother of three children. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
The mission of God is not an event that comes and goes. It is a calling that permeates all of life. In this breakout we will consider how to lead students into the everyday rhythms of mission so that all of their lives can be permeated with the mission of God.
| Jeff VandersteltJeff is the lead elder of Soma Communities in Tacoma, Washington. For 14 years Jeff led youth ministries in a variety of church contexts, including Student Impact, the high school ministry of Willow Creek Community Church. He and his wife Jayne have three children: Haylee, Caleb and Maggie. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
A shift has occurred in families. This requires youth workers to understand what it means to be a spiritual mother or father and teach our youth about biblical family roles and responsibilities. This breakout will provide a framework and tools for youth workers to be spiritual parents to youth.
 | Virginia WardVirginia Ward is the Youth Pastor at Abundant Life Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts where her husband, Lawrence, serves as pastor. She also serves as the Director of Youth Ministries for the United Pentecostal Council of the Assemblies of God, where she provides oversight to approximately 30 churches in America and the Caribbean. Virginia and her husband of 23 years reside in Boston, Massachusetts with their two sons. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
The world is evolving. Culture is shifting. Youth ministry must continue to change. In this breakout we will examine the changes in culture and unpack the implications they may have on the way we lead students towards surrendering more of their lives to Jesus.
 | Darren WhiteheadDarren Whitehead is the director of Student Impact, the high school ministry of Willow Creek Community Church. Darren joined the staff at Willow Creek 2003, when he began serving as Next Gen Director overseeing Axis, Willow’s community of twenty-somethings. Darren and his wife Brandy and have a daughter named Sydney. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Every emerging leader needs a mentor, and the relationship of Moses and Joshua provide us both a map and model. This breakout takes an in depth look at the timeless leadership characteristics that Joshua inherited from Moses to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land and forever be known for fulfilling the orders from God to “Be strong and courageous."
 | Brent CroweBrent Crowe is the executive director of conferences for Student Leadership University. This program has trained thousands of students to commit themselves to excellence. Brent also travels and speaks at conferences and symposiums worldwide. He and his wife Christina have a son Gabriel and daughter Charis Rose Crowe. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
It is estimated that 80% of all people learn best visually and 20% learn best audibly. Yet we usually talk 80% of the time. In this workshop, you'll learn to communicate beyond words by using drama, video, and other relevant methods to reach the current student culture while staying biblically focused. [repeated in D65]
 | Adam DursoAdam Durso is the Youth Pastor of Christ Tabernacle in Queens, New York, and is the founder of Youth Explosion Ministries, in which he continues to serves with his wife, Luz. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
C.S. Lewis once wrote that at the heart of Christianity is a myth which is also a fact. For writers like Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and others, myths were not lies, but rather the best way of conveying truths which would otherwise be inexpressible. In this breakout session, we will examine the ways in which we have lost the mythic element to our teaching, and we will explore how we can recover the power of myth in our communication of the Gospel. [repeated in D66]
 | Jeff FrazierJeff Frazier is teaching pastor and pastor of spiritual formation at First Baptist Church of Geneva in Geneva, IL. Previously, Jeff spent 14 years in youth ministry, 8 years at First Baptist and 6 years on staff at Willow Creek Community Church. Jeff and his wife, Erin, have three children: Noah, Hannah & Benjamin. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Sometimes we fall into the trap of simply tolerating our junior high students instead of investing leadership skills into them. In this breakout, let's challenge one another to invest in the younger generation and teach them how to rise above what others label them.
 | Kristi HayesKristi Hayes is the youth pastor at Fairfax Community Church in Fairfax, Virginia. Kristi has been a featured speaker at several student ministry conferences across the nation, and was previously the director of junior high student ministries at Crossings Community Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Kristi resides in Virginia with her husband Grant. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Today's high school students are confronted with unprecedented affluence and technology, along with issues of obesity, violence and substance abuse. Most of all, they are confronting the loss of meaningful familial and peer relationships. They are a "generation of disconnect" from themselves and from God. This breakout will explore the psychological and sociological influences on today's adolescent spirituality and how to impact students with the transformational message of Jesus.
| Mike HuberMike Huber is team Pastor at Cornerstone Community Church in Ocean City, New Jersey. He is also a licensed psychologist providing therapy to adolescents and adults, specializing in trauma and addictions. Previously, Mike spent 11 years as a youth ministry pastor. Mike and his wife Carol have two children, Molly and Ryley. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
One of the things we desire most in student ministry is to help students grow from immature followers of Christ into students who become leaders and, in turn, help others learn what it means to follow Christ. But how do you get from point A to point B? In this breakout, we'll look at what it takes to develop leadership within your ministry that the immature students will aspire to. Next, we'll look at how to develop leadership initiatives with juniors and seniors that train them to think deeper theologically and have a heart for evangelism. Then we'll discuss how to develop a leadership strategy for adult leaders to train them to be prepared for Biblical questions from your students. Finally, we'll explore how to challenge adult leaders to finish the each ministry year strong. [repeated in D67]
 | Steve KeelsSteve Keels is currently the Pastor of Student Ministries at Good Shepherd Community Church in the Gresham/Portland, Oregon area since 1982. He is the author of the Truthquest Bible, also a book aimed at parents called Transparenting, and has co-authored 4 student commentaries (on Luke, Romans, James, Revelation) as well as The Truth Quest Survival Guide, a book designed to help students build a firm biblical theology. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Most of us in student ministry loathe the idea of reducing ministry down to correcting adolescent behaviors and modifying outward appearance. But how do you minister to students in a way that makes it more than mere outward conformity? Join us for an intensely practical discussion about the role of the Gospel not just to convert students, but also to transform them.
 | Mitchel LeeMitchel Lee is the pastor of student ministries at Community Fellowship in West Chicago, Illinois. Having been involved in student ministries for over 10 years, he is also currently studying at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School for his masters in biblical exegesis. He and his wife Sarah have a son, Calvin. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Based largely on Tommy's own experience as a leader of an urban student mentoring program, this breakout will provide a biblical basis and principles for mentoring young people by identifying and enlisting the help of those inside the church. In addition, it will explore the benefits, advantages, and necessity of mentoring as part of building a viable youth ministry in the church. [repeated in D69]
 | Tommy McClamTommy McClam serves as the Youth Pastor at Elim Christian Fellowship, in Buffalo, New York. He has worked over 25 years in urban youth ministry, and currently oversees the Elim Community Corporation's "Girls to Women" and "Boys to Men" mentoring program. Together, both year-long mentoring programs reach over 150 urban youth with mentors from within the faith-based community. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
There are over 60 million broadband paying subscribers in America alone. The internet has quickly become the preferred choice for global communication, which has fostered millions of “spaces” for community. In this breakout, we'll discuss how we can safely and effectively use this vehicle in our work with students.
 | Troy MurphyTroy Murphy works with Good News Holdings, and is involved in multiple areas of ministry and business, where he teaches, leads teams, coaches, and provides strategic development. His desire is to launch people and organizations toward a passionate relationship with God. He and his wife Tricia have four daughters. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
We live by the stories we tell—about ourselves, about God, and about the world we live in. In this breakout, Shauna will share how the practice of writing and storytelling has changed her way of living and seeing. We'll talk about the practice of writing - in a journal, as a prayer, a poem, a song, a blog, a book, the publication process, as well as the ways that a focus on storytelling can transform our groups, programs and our communication.
 | Shauna NiequistShauna Niequist lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband Aaron, who is a worship leader, and their son Henry. She grew up at Willow Creek, then studied English and French literature at Westmont College, in Santa Barbara, California. She worked in Student Ministry at Willow Creek for five years and as the Creative Director at Mars Hill for three years. Shauna's first book, Cold Tangerines, is a collection of essays about the extraordinary moments in our everyday lives. Her very favorite things are throwing dinner parties, taking full advantage of Michigan summers, and reading great books. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
If you love communicating God's word to junior high students then this breakout is for you. We will talk through new ways to tell stories, dream up big ideas and engage students. We will also explore how to speak with our students, not at them.
 | Jason RaitzJason Raitz is the Group Life Director for Elevate, the junior high ministry of Willow Creek Community Church. He is part of a team of people that make sure junior high students are connected to each other, and connected to an adult leader. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
So you're doing the service stuff you're "supposed" to be doing in your ministry and yet you don't see a long-term transformation in your students' commitment to serving the least, the last, and the lost. This breakout will help you understand the difference between service and justice as well as discuss how to create experiences that will set your students on a trajectory of lifelong justice and compassion. In addition, you'll gain all sorts of practical program and teaching ideas that you can start using with students immediately to help your entire ministry to bring deeper justice to our broken world.
 | Kara PowellDr. Kara Powell is the Executive Director of the Center for Youth and Family Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. She currently volunteers in student ministries at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena. She (along with Chap Clark) is the author of Deep Justice in a Broken World. Kara lives in Pasadena, CA, with her husband, Dave, and their children, Nathan, Krista, and Jessica. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
We are involved with youth ministry because we love students. But we often wonder whether we're actually getting close enough to be of any help. In this breakout, we'll explore some spiritual, sociological, and theological aspects that can help you better understand adolescents, help you help parents, and think holistically about your role as a youth leader. Your questions are valued, your input is needed. This is safe space for open dialogue.
 | Steve ArgueSteve Argue is the Executive Director of the Contextual Learning Center at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, where he also teaches as an adjunct professor in youth ministry. He is the co-founder of Intersect, a ministry that provides leadership training and consulting to emerging leaders in ministries around the world. He is also on the steering team for the Emergent West Michigan Cohort. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Building loving families and marriages while serving in youth ministry has its set of unique challenges. Caring for others' kids while neglecting those that are closest to us can happen if we don't plan ahead and set clear boundaries. In this breakout, you will answer five questions that will help you identify and reveal what boundaries and values need to be established or strengthened to help you build healthy, loving relationships with your spouse and kids.
| Bo BoshersBo Boshers is the motivating and visionary Executive Director of Student Ministries in the Willow Creek Association. For almost a decade, Bo was the Director of Student Impact where he led an outreach of over 1,000 students at the high school ministry of Willow Creek Community Church. Bo’s current role allows him to focus extensively on his passion area of training, encouraging, and mentoring students and ministry leaders from around the world. With his twenty-plus years of ministry experience, Bo has much to offer. As Champion of the WCA Student Ministries Movement, his responsibilities include writing, speaking at workshops and conferences worldwide, coaching and mentoring likeminded youth pastors, and leading the annual Shift Student Ministries Conference at Willow Creek Community Church. Bo has contributed material for several books and has authored The Be-With Factor: Mentoring Students in Everyday Life, The Be-With Factor: Six Questions Students Need To Ask About Life With God, and Becoming a Contagious Christian: Youth Edition. Bo, his wife Gloria, and their three kids—originally from Santa Monica, California—now live in Algonquin, Illinois. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Volunteers are the pastors to our students—they are the ones loving, walking with, hearing their hearts, laughter and stories. If we really believe our volunteers are actually pastors to our students, then what are we doing to find the right team of pastors? How are we empowering them? What are we doing to keep them around for years instead of semesters?
 | Corrie BoyleCorrie Boyle is the lead pastor for the.element, the junior high ministry at Mars Hill in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She works with volunteers and the.element staff to create a place where students learn to live the best life possible for God. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
It is estimated that 80% of all people learn best visually and 20% learn best audibly. Yet we usually talk 80% of the time. In this workshop, you'll learn to communicate beyond words by using drama, video, and other relevant methods to reach the current student culture while staying biblically focused. [repeated in C43]
| Adam DursoAdam Durso is the Youth Pastor of Christ Tabernacle in Queens, New York, and is the founder of Youth Explosion Ministries, in which he continues to serves with his wife, Luz. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
C.S. Lewis once wrote that at the heart of Christianity is a myth which is also a fact. For writers like Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and others, myths were not lies, but rather the best way of conveying truths which would otherwise be inexpressible. In this breakout session, we will examine the ways in which we have lost the mythic element to our teaching, and we will explore how we can recover the power of myth in our communication of the Gospel. [repeated in C44]
| Jeff FrazierJeff Frazier is teaching pastor and pastor of spiritual formation at First Baptist Church of Geneva in Geneva, IL. Previously, Jeff spent 14 years in youth ministry, 8 years at First Baptist and 6 years on staff at Willow Creek Community Church. Jeff and his wife, Erin, have three children: Noah, Hannah & Benjamin. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
One of the things we desire most in student ministry is to help students grow from immature followers of Christ into students who become leaders and, in turn, help others learn what it means to follow Christ. But how do you get from point A to point B? In this breakout, we'll look at what it takes to develop leadership within your ministry that the immature students will aspire to. Next, we'll look at how to develop leadership initiatives with juniors and seniors that train them to think deeper theologically and have a heart for evangelism. Then we'll discuss how to develop a leadership strategy for adult leaders to train them to be prepared for Biblical questions from your students. Finally, we'll explore how to challenge adult leaders to finish the each ministry year strong. [repeated in C47]
| Steve KeelsSteve Keels is currently the Pastor of Student Ministries at Good Shepherd Community Church in the Gresham/Portland, Oregon area since 1982. He is the author of the Truthquest Bible, also a book aimed at parents called Transparenting, and has co-authored 4 student commentaries (on Luke, Romans, James, Revelation) as well as The Truth Quest Survival Guide, a book designed to help students build a firm biblical theology. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Students today are born with global awareness. They see, hear and interact with the pain of this world...virtually. The Bible's simple call is to be a participant—not just a spectator in these global issues. This breakout will discuss the cultural shift toward social justice and how to engage students in this calling.
 | Mark MillerMark is currently on staff at Life Church in Wheaton, Illinois. He also consults on story, creativity and communicating Christ in culture. He's the founder of the Jesus Journey, an experiential retreat that makes the story of the Bible accessible to postmoderns. Mark and his wife Stacey have two adopted children from Vietnam, and work with orphan care organizations and churches to raise awareness of the plight of the orphan. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Based largely on Tommy's own experience as a leader of an urban student mentoring program, this breakout will provide a biblical basis and principles for mentoring young people by identifying and enlisting the help of those inside the church. In addition, it will explore the benefits, advantages, and necessity of mentoring as part of building a viable youth ministry in the church. [repeated in C49]
| Tommy McClamTommy McClam serves as the Youth Pastor at Elim Christian Fellowship, in Buffalo, New York. He has worked over 25 years in urban youth ministry, and currently oversees the Elim Community Corporation's "Girls to Women" and "Boys to Men" mentoring program. Together, both year-long mentoring programs reach over 150 urban youth with mentors from within the faith-based community. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
As a youth worker, one of the most important relationships you have is with your senior pastor. Whether you are a first year leader or a seasoned veteran, Kevin will share some practical, proven advice.
 | Kevin MooreKevin Moore is the Youth Pastor of Oneighty, the youth ministry of Church on the Move in Tulsa, Oklahoma. For the past 15 years, his passion in life has been to introduce young people to Jesus Christ, helping them walk out their faith in a real and personal way. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Based on both research and experience, we'll take a look at the life of adolescent girls and strategies to help them. Some of the topics we’ll investigate include: sexuality and dating, self-injury, and relational aggression.
 | Ginny OlsonGinny Olson is co-director of North Park University's Center for Youth Ministry Studies in Chicago, Illinois where she works with both undergraduate and seminary students. She has been involved in youth ministry for over 20 years at various churches and camps, including serving on staff in the junior high ministry at Willow Creek Community Church. She is the author of numerous books, including Teenage Girls: Exploring Issues Adolescent Girls Face and Strategies to Help Them. |
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Is there anything good that can come from Facebook, MSN, MySpace, Music Videos, MTV, iTunes, video games, blogging and podcasting? You bet! This breakout will explore how some of these interactive tools can be monumental in launching a highly relational and personal student ministry to both the churched and unchurched. By stepping into their world and speaking their language, we will see how focusing and interacting with a student's “digital identity” gives you insights and permission to walk with them in their spiritual and personal life as well.
 | Matt WilkinsonMatt Wilkinson is the Cross Regional Youth Pastor at The Meeting House, a multi-site church in Ontario, Canada. Matt is a visionary who is passionate about releasing the potential within youth and youth workers to be influencers across their nation because of the love and grace of Jesus. |
