This year, we chose to incorporate the Youth Ministry Certification and Training Program into the Conference Breakout sessions as a clear Youth Ministry Track. We developed 4 separate breakouts for this Track. Those Youth Ministers who went through all 4 breakout sessions will receive a Certificate of Completion in the mail after the Conference. The Youth Ministry Certification Track was facilitated by Rev. Brian Sabourin and Dr. Kathy Winings.

The breakout sessions were as follows:

Breakout #1:“Getting to Know Who Teens Are and Learning the Basics of Counseling Teens” Breakout #2:“How to Effectively Organize Your Youth Ministry for Maximum Effect”
Breakout #3:“Planning Lessons that Grab Your Kids”
Breakout #4:“Teaching Strategies that Motivate and Engage the Learner”

Presenter: Brian Sabourin Presentation
Title: Getting to Know Who Teens Are and Learning the Basics of Counseling Teens

In this session, participants will challenge their understanding of teen growth and development and engage in a dialogue around the basics of teen characteristics, issues and challenges. In addition, participants will develop the initial skills needed to counsel teens effectively as well as utilizing this basic information in their teaching and learning programs.

Presenter: Brian Sabourin Presentation
Title: Teaching Strategies that Motivate and Engage the Learner

The last topic for this Youth Ministry Track is designed to stimulate and energize participants to become better teachers – to become teachers who can arouse a real passion for God among their kids. Working from years of experience in youth ministry, this session will explore and discuss a wide range of methods and styles of teaching that can grab the hearts and minds of your students. The goal of this working session is to help teachers learn how to deliver high-quality instruction that motivates and engages their students in the learning process. To accomplish this, we will explore and compare several teaching models, practice classroom management techniques, and learn how to use various involvement strategies. Teachers will leave with many practical, easily implemented tools that will help them provide quality instruction that will motivate and engage their students.

Presenter: Dr. Kathy Winings Presentation
Title: How to Effectively Organize Your Youth Ministry for Maximum Effect

An effective youth ministry is not simply a group of programs strung together. Nor is it a series of nice or exciting lessons and teaching sessions. No, an effective youth ministry that develops a passion for God in youth is one with a clear purpose and structure and plan. If you want to have a youth ministry that has maximum impact on your teens, you need to think differently about youth ministry – what it is, who you are and what you need to do. This session will cover these practical but vital areas of youth ministry.

Presenter: Dr. Kathy Winings Presentation
Title: Planning Lessons that Grab Your Kids

Learning to teach effectively is a central factor of an effective ministry. Once you have a clear direction and organization for your ministry, the next step is how to effectively plan each of the lessons or teaching sessions so that your students are energized, challenged, and can develop spiritually from week to week, month to month and year to year. Come prepared to be challenged and to be engaged in this session.