Proudly Presented By: Helping you better disciple your students next week LEARN MORE REGISTER NOW YOUTH WORKER CONFERENCE SASKATOON Helping you better disciple your students next week January 24-25, 2025 Elim Church 419 Slimmon Rd, Saskatoon, SK S7V 0E3 REGISTER NOW LEARN MORE Our Sponsors Our Sponsors KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Tim Barnett Tim Barnett is an apologist and speaker with Stand to Reason (STR), an apologetics ministry dedicated to training Christians to think more clearly about their faith. Tim travels across the US and Canada, speaking to thousands of people each year. He’s also a frequent guest on podcasts and YouTube channels. Jason Ballard Jason is the lead Pastor of The Way Church in Vancouver British Columbia and the Director of The Pastorate (formerly The Canadian Church Leader Network). He is one of the Hosts of the Alpha Youth Series and The Pastorate Podcast. He is Married to Rachael and they have three kids: Hudson (11), Mary (9) and Millie (7). You can find out more about him on Instragram @jasonaballard Sid Koop From camp speaker to local youth pastor to youth ministry professor, Sid draws from over 25 years of youth ministry experience. Sid Koop is the Executive Director of the Youth Worker Community where he and his team are dedicated to equipping, empowering, and relationally supporting youth workers to help the next generation follow Jesus. YWC is shaping ministry to adolescents in Canada through Digital Resources, The Coalition, Youth Worker Training Events, and Youth Ministry Coaching, and Consulting, equipping and encouraging thousands of youth workers each year. Currently, his "most important" contract is working for his wife at Green Bay Bible Camp as the Director of Leadership Development and Discipleship). Emma Narayanan Emma is the co-Lead Pastor of Avant Life Church which she planted in 2018. She is passionate about leadership development, church planting, worship ministry and teaching. She loves encouraging leaders to step into the calling they have received with bold faith, spiritual authority and humble surrender to God. She has served as a Youth & Young Adults Pastor, Worship Pastor, and Events Manager and now has the privilege of serving as Lead Pastor alongside her husband, Ben. Andy Steiger Andy Steiger is the founder and president of Apologetics Canada Ministries (AC). He passionately engages pressing issues related to our humanity from a Christian perspective. He has presented at various venues internationally from universities and conferences to churches and prisons. MAIN SESSION TEAM Kait Brennan | Host Kaitlin Brennan currently lives in Moose Jaw with her husband Matt. She works as the Director of Youth Quake at Briercrest College and Seminary, where her main goal is to guide youth in their relationship with Jesus. During the summer, she visits and speaks at various Bible camps around Saskatchewan. Kait is deeply committed to helping young people grow in their faith and wants to see the next generation dedicated to following Jesus with their whole lives. Kait graduated from Briercrest in 2018 with a degree in Psychology, and is currently working towards a Masters in Leadership. In her free time, Kait enjoys a good cup of coffee, playing board games with friends, camping, and spending time with her family at their farm. Ben Woodman | Host After ten years as a youth pastor and speaker, Ben joined Alpha Canada to create and host the Alpha Youth Series. He currently devotes his time to coaching youth workers, speaking, and creating content to help make faith come alive for youth, kids, and adults. Ben has a joy and enthusiasm for life that is infectious. He and his wife, Melissa live in Vancouver with their daughter, Livia. Find him on Instagram at @benwoodman. Joshua Leventhal | Worship Joshua Leventhal is both an artist and worship leader in a local church in Chilliwack, British Columbia. He sees music as one of the most beautiful ways to see us love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, all at once. He writes both devotional music as well as congregational songs meant to make much of Jesus from as true and honest a place as possible. He lives in Chilliwack with his wife Kaitlyn Rose, and their dog Luna. 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 Play VENUE MAP VENUE MAP OUR SPONSORS CONFERENCE SCHEDULE THURSDAY SCHEDULE Time Event 7:00pm - 8:30pm Wings With Us What's This? RSVP FOR WINGS FRIDAY SCHEDULE Time Event 9:00am - 4:30pm Point Leader Conference With Andy Steiger, Jason Ballard, and Sid Koop What's This? 6:00pm - 7:00pm Registration Opens 7:00pm - 9:00pm Main Session #1 With Jason Ballard What's This? 9:00pm - 10:00pm After Party SATURDAY SCHEDULE Time Event 8:15am - 8:45am Morning Worship & Prayer 9:00am - 10:15am Main Session #2 With Tim Barnett 10:15am - 10:45am Snack Break 10:45am - 11:45am Breakout #1 12:00pm - 1:15pm Lunch Break Optional Lunch with Jon 1:15pm - 2:15pm Breakout #2 2:15pm - 2:45pm Snack Break 2:45pm - 3:45pm Breakout #3 4:00pm - 5:00pm Main Session #3 With Emma Narayanan BREAKOUT TRACKS Trying to decide which breakouts to attend? Use these questions to prompt what might be most helpful for you and your ministry. SEE BREAKOUT DETAILS Track 1 LEADERSHIP Creating Sustainable Youth Ministry Teams for the Long Haul | Breakout 1 Help! I'm Struggling With All the Administration and Planning That My Ministry Requires | Breakout 2 A Practical Guide to Responsible Digital Discipleship | Breakout 3 Equipping point leaders to bring out the best in their teams and ministries. Track 2 YOUTH CULTURE Q&A on the Deconstruction of Christianity | Breakout 1 Can I Trust That the God of the Bible is Good? | Breakout 1 Who I Really Am | Breakout 2 Friend or Leader? | Breakout 2 The Problem of Pornography | Breakout 3 Understanding and engaging new cultural norms. Track 3 MINISTRY TOOLS Helping Hurting Kids | Breakout 1 10 Essential Practices for Every Youth Leader | Breakout 1 How to Lead a Great Small Group | Breakout 2 When High School Isn't a Musical: Helping Kids in Hard Relationships | Breakout 3 How to Lead Your Teenagers to Christ | Breakout 3 Equipping volunteers with practical skills & tools for effective ministry. Track 4 MOVING STUDENTS TO MISSION Short-Term Missions: Making the Most of Life-Changing Experiences | Breakout 1 Equipping High School Students to Lead with Biblical Competency and Character | Breakout 2 4 Chair Discipleship 101 | Breakout 2 4 Chair Discipleship 201 | Breakout 3 Equipping volunteers to help students engage in mission. Track 2 | Youth Culture Q&A on the Deconstruction of Christianity Presented by: Tim Barnett Location: Auditorium Tim Barnett is an apologist, speaker, and YouTuber that reaches millions of people very month through his ministry Red Pen Logic, which assesses bad thinking on social media by using good thinking. He sits at the forefront of many ideas people have when deconstructing Christianity. Join him for a live Q&A where you can bring questions from your specific context. Track 2 | Youth Culture Can I Trust That the God of the Bible is Good? Presented by: Andy Steiger Location: Room CR-15/16 We encourage our youth to read the Bible, in which they are confronted by war, slavery, murder, prostitution, rape, and more. Everything that shames humanity is on full display. For a holy book, it’s not what you would expect. The characters found in the pages of Scripture are not the heroes we are often tempted to revere. They are complicated, broken, and in need of saving. The Bible provides such clarity on the human condition that our students may distort the main character—God. The Bible has left many to question: is the God of the Bible good? Can He be trusted? In this session, we will look beyond the biblical characters to see God clearly and that He can be trusted. Besides grounding ourselves, we will discuss how to help youth navigate the character of God in the OT. Track 3 | Ministry Tools Helping Hurting Kids Presented by: Marv Penner Location: Room CR-7/8 With his decades of experience and thousands of hours of counselling in the most difficult of situations, Dr. Marv Penner will provide a wide range of appropriate interventions and fundamental people-helping skills for youth workers as we attempt to minister to kids who are experiencing all types of pain and hurt. He’ll also help us recognize our limitations and learn the principles of effective referral. Track 3 | Ministry Tools 10 Essential Practices for Every Youth Leader Presented by: Jason Ballard Location: Choir/Lecture Theatre In this session, Jason is going to unpack 10 essential and accessible youth ministry practices that you can easily put into action. These essentials will help you to be more effective, joyful and faithful in youth ministry. This session will include lots of time for Q and A with Jason. Track 4 | Moving Students to Mission Short-Term Missions: Making the Most of Life-Changing Experiences Presented by: Tristan Kruse Location: Room CR-5 Are short-term mission trips ethical? How can we do them in a way that blesses those we go to serve and leaves a lasting impact on our kids' lives? Join Tristan as he unpacks a step-by-step strategy for effectively leading your kids on a short-term mission trip. Youth mission trips can be transformational to our kid's spiritual lives, and they can also be done in an ethical way that can leave a lasting impact on the lives you serve. Track 1 | Leadership Creating Sustainable Youth Ministry Teams for the Long Haul Presented by: Will Dmytrow & Michael Streilein Location: Room CR-10/11 Building a robust youth ministry requires more than passion (what we got in the game for)—it demands a team equipped and empowered by the youth pastor for the journey. In this breakout session, William Dmytrow and Michael Streilein will unpack strategies for developing sustainable ministry teams that go the distance . You will learn how to equip the saints for ministry, cultivate long-term leaders, and create a sustainable team that organizationally fosters growth for every youth your ministry serves. Regardless of program size, ministry budget, whether you’re just starting out or a veteran of youth ministry, this session will help you build a foundation for lasting impact and is for every youth pastor who happens to work with leaders! Breakout 1 Track 1 | Leadership Help! I'm Struggling With All the Administration and Planning That My Ministry Requires Presented by: Jeremy MacDonald Location: Room CR-7/8 Does the administrative side of ministry leave you feeling overwhelmed? You’re not alone! Many leaders find that balancing ministry with the constant demands of planning, emails, messages, receipts, and all the meetings can be challenging. Join us as we dive into practical strategies and tools that will help you remain passionate about your calling while managing the details — all without stress! Or at least less stress. Friend or Leader? Presented by: Emma Narayanan Location: Choir/Lecture Theatre Can I build authentic relationships and hold the influence of a leader at the same time? This breakout discusses how to invest in the next generation with friendship and leadership converging. Track 4 | Moving Students to Mission Equipping High School Students to Lead with Biblical Competency and Character Presented by: Kait Brennan Location: Room CR-15/16 How do you develop Christian leadership in lives of high school students? As we raise up the next generation, are we developing the character and competency of our high school students? How do we foster a calling to leadership in those same students? In this session, AJ will walk through practical examples of how mentorship was a key to unlocking that type of leadership. AJ will also introduce you to a free digital resource from Youth Quake & Briercrest called Leadership Essentials: An 8-month ministry training program designed for high school aged leaders. Track 3 | Ministry Tools How to Lead a Great Small Group Presented by: Ben Woodman Location: Auditorium Small groups are foundational for a healthy youth ministry. But sometimes small groups just feel like chaos. Not controlled chaos. Just chaos. But it doesn’t have to be that way. This workshop will teach you how to create an environment where friends become family and faith puts down deep roots. Track 2 | Youth Culture Who I Really Am Presented by: Rick Hiemstra Location: Room CR-5 In this session, Rick will look at how our anthropology (or how we think about ourselves) has changed in recent decades and why that makes it hard for people to receive Jesus. And we'll talk about what we can do about that so more people will choose to follow Christ. Track 4 | Moving Students to Mission 4 Chair Discipleship 101 Presented by: Brett Andrews Location: Room CR-10/11 Jesus recognized that the people he encountered were at different stages of growth and development, and he worked to challenge each of them to the next level. In the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar, you'll get a clear and simple picture of how to follow in Jesus' footsteps and do the same thing. Who then should attend the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar? Anyone who wants to be encouraged with practical skills to be a disciple who makes disciples! Breakout 2 Track 3 | Ministry Tools When High School Isn't a Musical: Helping Kids in Hard Relationships Presented by: Steve Zacharias Location: Room CR-7/8 When you hear your students talk about their “bullies” or the ups and downs of their friendships break your heart? In the good and the difficult, your students need skills in working through hard relational dynamics. In this session we’ll work through how to help our youth to grow in self-awareness, identify harmful patterns, and discover healthy boundaries in their relationships. Track 3 | Ministry Tools How to Lead Your Teenagers to Christ Presented by: Mark Miller Location: Room CR-15/16 In this session, explore how God can use you to lead teenagers to Christ, whether one-on-one, in a small group, or through a call to decision from the stage. Be equipped as a leader who can passionately point youth to Christ and effectively help them cross the line of faith. Track 4 | Moving Students to Mission 4 Chair Discipleship 201 Presented by: Brett Andrews Location: Room CR-10/11 Jesus recognized that the people he encountered were at different stages of growth and development, and he worked to challenge each of them to the next level. In the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar, you'll get a clear and simple picture of how to follow in Jesus' footsteps and do the same thing. Who then should attend the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar? Anyone who wants to be encouraged with practical skills to be a disciple who makes disciples! Track 2 | Youth Culture The Problem of Pornography Presented by: Sid Koop Location: Choir/Lecture Theatre This conversation is critical when you realize how pervasive and how destructive pornography is within your youth ministry. Teenagers' brains are being rewired, their understanding of intimacy is being hijacked, and their time is being filled by this powerful addiction. Unfortunately, the shame that porn brings often diminishes the ability to have honest conversations so that teenagers can find hope and healing. This session will walk through the importance of talking about pornography as well as practical and healthy ways to do so in your local context so your students can find hope and healing. Track 1 | Leadership A Practical Guide To Responsible Digital Discipleship Presented by: Josh Woodcock Location: Room CR-5 Everyone wants to know how to stay safely connected with their students and leaders when they go home. This breakout is a practical guide to continuing responsible, ethical, and effective communication when your group goes home, as well as an introduction to the FaithSpark app as the answer. Attendees will leave with resources and strategies they can implement in their ministry right away and feel confident in their ability to expand their ministry online. Breakout 3 SEE BREAKOUTS Meet our dynamic speakers for this year's conference! Each presenter brings a wealth of experience and passion for equipping youth workers to impact the next generation. From leadership development to understanding today’s youth culture, they’ll be guiding breakout sessions that dive into essential ministry tools and strategies for empowering students to step into their own ministry roles. Get ready to be inspired and equipped to lead with greater purpose and insight! Presenters Tim Barnett Tim Barnett is an apologist and speaker with Stand to Reason (STR), an apologetics ministry dedicated to training Christians to think more clearly about their faith. Tim travels across the US and Canada, speaking to thousands of people each year. He’s also a frequent guest on podcasts and YouTube channels. Jason Ballard Jason is the lead Pastor of The Way Church in Vancouver British Columbia and the Director of The Pastorate (formerly The Canadian Church Leader Network). He is one of the Hosts of the Alpha Youth Series and The Pastorate Podcast. He is Married to Rachael and they have three kids: Hudson (11), Mary (9) and Millie (7). You can find out more about him on Instragram @jasonaballard Sid Koop From camp speaker to local youth pastor to youth ministry professor, Sid draws from over 25 years of youth ministry experience. Sid Koop is the Executive Director of the Youth Worker Community where he and his team are dedicated to equipping, empowering, and relationally supporting youth workers to help the next generation follow Jesus. YWC is shaping ministry to adolescents in Canada through Digital Resources, The Coalition, Youth Worker Training Events, and Youth Ministry Coaching, and Consulting, equipping and encouraging thousands of youth workers each year. Currently, his "most important" contract is working for his wife at Green Bay Bible Camp as the Director of Leadership Development and Discipleship). Emma Narayanan Emma is the co-Lead Pastor of Avant Life Church which she planted in 2018. She is passionate about leadership development, church planting, worship ministry and teaching. She loves encouraging leaders to step into the calling they have received with bold faith, spiritual authority and humble surrender to God. She has served as a Youth & Young Adults Pastor, Worship Pastor, and Events Manager and now has the privilege of serving as Lead Pastor alongside her husband, Ben. Andy Steiger Andy Steiger is the founder and president of Apologetics Canada Ministries (AC). He passionately engages pressing issues related to our humanity from a Christian perspective. He has presented at various venues internationally from universities and conferences to churches and prisons. Kait Brennan Kaitlin Brennan currently lives in Moose Jaw with her husband Matt. She works as the Director of Youth Quake at Briercrest College and Seminary, where her main goal is to guide youth in their relationship with Jesus. During the summer, she visits and speaks at various Bible camps around Saskatchewan. Kait is deeply committed to helping young people grow in their faith and wants to see the next generation dedicated to following Jesus with their whole lives. Kait graduated from Briercrest in 2018 with a degree in Psychology, and is currently working towards a Masters in Leadership. In her free time, Kait enjoys a good cup of coffee, playing board games with friends, camping, and spending time with her family at their farm. Josh Woodcock Josh lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick, with his wife, Melissa, daughter, Claire, and their golden retriever, Banjo. With a background in camp, youth, and digital ministry, he completed his Master’s in Theological Studies with a focus on Youth Ministry from the University of Waterloo. Now, as the Director of the FaithSpark app for One Hope Canada, Josh channels his experience and passion into reaching the next generation of digital natives. Marv Penner Marv is a veteran youth worker who has given his life to serving the next generation and to caring for those who love them. An author, professor, trainer, mentor, consultant, advocate and thought leader, Marv has travelled the world to invest in students, leaders, parents, and decision makers at every level. As a registered clinical counselor, he continues to work each week with hurting teens and their families. Marv is the Founder of The Coalition for Youth Ministry Leadership, a unique apprenticeship based vocational ministry training program based in Kelowna, BC. Marv and his wife, Lois, live in Lake Country, British Columbia. They have three adult children and five energetic grandkids. Ben Woodman After ten years as a youth pastor and speaker, Ben joined Alpha Canada to create and host the Alpha Youth Series. He currently devotes his time to coaching youth workers, speaking, and creating content to help make faith come alive for youth, kids, and adults. Ben has a joy and enthusiasm for life that is infectious. He and his wife, Melissa live in Vancouver with their daughter, Livia. Find him on Instagram at @benwoodman. Jeremy MacDonald Jeremy has been a youth pastor in a large church with 100s of teenagers, in a small church where things grew from a couple volunteers and 6 teenagers, and in a multi-site church with six different youth groups. He is now the Director of Operations at the Youth Worker Community, Professor of NextGen Ministry at Kingswood University, and the Teaching Pastor at Moncton Wesleyan. Steve Zacharias Steve’s passion is to be an encourager and catalyst for emerging leaders. His ministry adventure has spanned over a couple decades and has taken him around the globe, supporting leaders in camp and youth ministry on four continents. The teams he’s served with have pioneered dynamic ministries that reach hundreds of thousands every week. He deeply loves connecting with Jesus, people and good pizza. Rick Hiemstra Rick Hiemstra is Director of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada's Centre for Research on Church and Faith (CRCF). Prior to coming to the EFC, he served as a Wesleyan pastor and as a high school mathematics and computer science teacher. Rick speaks on Canadian church and cultural trends, including the recent Parenting Faith, Significant Church and Renegotiating Faith studies. He holds a BMath from the University of Waterloo, a BEd from Ottawa University and an MTS from Tyndale Seminary. Tristan Kruse Tristan Kruse is a husband and father to three beautiful kids. He is currently serving as the National Director for Christar Canada, an organization that focuses on reaching out with the Gospel to those who have yet to hear the good news of Jesus. He has been active in youth ministry both in Canada and overseas and has a heart to see this next generation equipped to fulfill Christ's call on their lives, wherever that might be. Mark Miller Mark serves nationally as the Assistant Director of Ministry with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada, while also serving locally as an Associate Pastor at Rock Church in Halifax, NS. Mark is also a Police Chaplain with the RCMP. Mark and his wife Kelly have 2 adult children; a son Josiah who is married to Jess, and a daughter Maria. Will Dmytrow William is a husband, Youth Pastor, and, most importantly, a follower of the way of Jesus. He's located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and spends most of his time pastoring at Ebenezer Church, but he also helps lead the 306 Network, a movement of youth and youth workers in the 306 area unifying under Jesus as Lord! William is also a writer and a speaker, but he is most passionate about gathering people together to share about Jesus. Michael Streilein Michael is the Pastor of Missions & Student Ministries at Cornerstone Church in Saskatoon. He has a passion for the next generation and seeing them empowered and equipped in their faith. He is married to Kaitlyn, and they have two children, Noah (7), and Abigail (4). Visit The Lobby & Meet Our Sponsors National Sponsors National Sponsors Regional Sponsor Regional Sponsor OUR SPONSORS How to Process this Event with Your Team This is a crazy, intense, completely full, brain boggling weekend of learning and community building for you and your youth ministry team. We know there’s not a lot of time to sit back and reflect on what you’re hearing and learning much over the course of the weekend, and that can make things feel overwhelming. So what do you do once the event is finished? Check out these 3 steps to help you pull what you’ve learned this weekend into your ministry. 1. Book the FollowUp Meeting Today! Before you leave, compare calendars with your team and set up a time to review the weekend. Meet up over coffee or a meal with everyone and then go over notes and talk through things you learned and the experiences you shared on the weekend. If you can’t get everyone together at once, then meet one on one or in small groups. 2. Identify One Action Item for Now and One for Later Simplifying to two action items helps keep things moving and frees you from being overwhelmed with all of the things you feel you need to do RIGHT NOW 3. Meet with Your Supervisor/Senior Pastor If meeting with a senior pastor is a stretch or will take too long then write a report. When your church or ministry has financed you to go to a conference, a great way to say “thank you” is to put into words what you learned. Talk about things you learned, experiences you had, and what you’re doing moving forward to use what you learned. Keeping one another informed and on the inside of what’s happening with you and your youth team will build trust and create open communication lines that will be to everyone’s benefit. General Assessment A resource for you to critically assess weaknesses while celebrating wins in your ministry. Which areas require more attention? Where are you crushing it? Click here to download this PDF free from the YWC Team. DOWNLOAD OUR SPONSORS Collaboratively shaping the future of youth ministry. Coalition students experience a dynamic way of learning that fits their life and ministry. The Coalition could be right for you if your current situation sounds like... "I feel called to be in youth ministry one day, but I have little to no training or experience." "I am currently in a youth ministry leadership role but haven't had the opportunity to be formally or comprehensively trained." "I have an undergraduate (Bachelors) degree and am currently in a youth ministry leadership position but would love to upgrade to a Masters degree without having to leave my current situation." LEARN MORE APPLY NOW Experiential Learning Spiritual Formation Intentional Community Academic Excellence YOUTH GROUP TALKS Train Your Volunteers Plug and play training videos ready to encourage and equip your team. LEARN MORE Teach Your Students Youth group video talks that are ready to download and play in any context. LEARN MORE

Proudly Presented By: YOUTH WORKER CONFERENCE CALGARY Helping you better disciple your students next week LEARN MORE SEND US FEEDBACK YOUTH WORKER CONFERENCE CALGARY Helping you better disciple your students next week LEARN MORE SEND US FEEDBACK Proudly Presented By: YOUTH WORKER CONFERENCE CALGARY Helping you better disciple your students next week November 8-9, 2024 Centre Street Church, Bears Paw Campus 33 Damkar Ct, Calgary, AB T3L 0H4 REGISTER NOW LEARN MORE Our Sponsors Our Sponsors KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Jason Ballard Jason is the lead Pastor of The Way Church in Vancouver British Columbia and the Director of The Pastorate (formerly The Canadian Church Leader Network). He is one of the Hosts of the Alpha Youth Series and The Pastorate Podcast. He is Married to Rachael and they have three kids: Hudson (11), Mary (9) and Millie (7). You can find out more about him on Instragram @jasonaballard Sid Koop From camp speaker to local youth pastor to youth ministry professor, Sid draws from over 25 years of youth ministry experience. Sid Koop is the Executive Director of the Youth Worker Community where he and his team are dedicated to equipping, empowering, and relationally supporting youth workers to help the next generation follow Jesus. YWC is shaping ministry to adolescents in Canada through Digital Resources, The Coalition, Youth Worker Training Events, and Youth Ministry Coaching, and Consulting, equipping and encouraging thousands of youth workers each year. Currently, his "most important" contract is working for his wife at Green Bay Bible Camp as the Director of Leadership Development and Discipleship). Cheryl Nembhard Cheryl Nembhard is an international speaker, author, podcaster, TV host, and social justice advocate. She uses her talents in film and theatre to address critical societal issues and is dedicated to community service, supporting at-risk youth, sexual assault survivors, and teenage mothers. As the founder of EMG Education, her educational theatre company has reached over 85,000+ students across 190 Ontario schools. Recognized by CBC as one of the top 150 Women making Canada better, she received the 2017 Harry Jerome Award for Social Advocacy. Cheryl co-hosts See, Hear, Love on YES TV and hosts On The Path and Soulfood to Go podcasts. She serves on the board of Brave Canada, advocates for marginalized women globally, and is the author of Brave: This Is Us. Currently, Cheryl is the Director of the Women Speakers Collective, empowering women’s voices worldwide. Hakeem Bradley Hakeem has served in pastoral ministry at various churches in Portland, OR before transitioning to full-time biblical scholarship in 2021. He has the privilege of helping other people learn about the Scriptures, so that they will experience God’s invitation to know him. Being a Bible nerd is the name of my game. As a result, Hakeem received a Master of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies and is currently working on a Ph.D. in New Testament Studies. MAIN SESSION TEAM Aliza Latta | Host Aliza Latta is a writer, artist, and pastor who is a huge fan of telling stories. She creates content for Canada’s largest youth conference, Change Conference, and is a church planter and pastor in Ontario. Ben Woodman | Host After ten years as a youth pastor and speaker, Ben joined Alpha Canada to create and host the Alpha Youth Series. He currently devotes his time to coaching youth workers, speaking, and creating content to help make faith come alive for youth, kids, and adults. Ben has a joy and enthusiasm for life that is infectious. He and his wife, Melissa live in Vancouver with their daughter, Livia. Find him on Instagram at @benwoodman. Centre Street Band | Worship Our team is made up of Jesus followers from Calgary who desire to see congregations enter into collective worship, lifting the name of Jesus above everything. Although they attend different churches, they are united with the purpose of using their gifts and talents to usher people into the presence of God. 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 Play VENUE MAP Upper Level Main Level Lower Level OUR SPONSORS CONFERENCE SCHEDULE THURSDAY SCHEDULE Time Event 7:00pm - 8:30pm Wings With Us What's This? RSVP FOR WINGS FRIDAY SCHEDULE Time Event 9:00am - 4:30pm Point Leader Conference With Hakeem Bradley, Jason Ballard, and Sid Koop What's This? 6:00pm - 7:00pm Registration Opens 7:00pm - 9:00pm Main Session #1 With Jason Ballard What's This? 9:00pm - 10:00pm After Party SATURDAY SCHEDULE Time Event 8:15am - 8:45am Morning Worship & Prayer 9:00am - 10:15am Main Session #2 With Hakeem Bradley 10:15am - 10:45am Snack Break 10:45am - 11:45am Breakout #1 12:00pm - 1:15pm Lunch Break Optional Lunch with Jon 1:15pm - 2:15pm Breakout #2 2:15pm - 2:45pm Snack Break 2:45pm - 3:45pm Breakout #3 4:00pm - 5:00pm Main Session #3 With Cheryl Nembhard BREAKOUT TRACKS Trying to decide which breakouts to attend? Use these questions to prompt what might be most helpful for you and your ministry. SEE BREAKOUT DETAILS Track 1 LEADERSHIP Help! I'm Struggling With All the Administration and Planning That My Ministry Requires | Breakout 1 Responsible Digital Discipleship | Breakout 3 Equipping point leaders to bring out the best in their teams and ministries. Track 2 YOUTH CULTURE Who I Really Am | Breakout 1 The Problem of Pornography | Breakout 3 Understanding and engaging new cultural norms. Track 3 MINISTRY TOOLS Helping Hurting Kids | Breakout 1 How To Help Your Students Love The Bible | Breakout 1 How to Lead Your Teenagers to Christ | Breakout 1 10 Essential Practices for Every Youth Leader | Breakout 1 Embodied Discipleship | Breakout 2 When High School Isn’t A Musical: Helping Kids In Hard Relationships | Breakout 2 How To Lead a Great Small Group | Breakout 2 Equipping volunteers with practical skills & tools for effective ministry. Track 4 MOVING STUDENTS TO MISSION 4 Chair Discipleship 101 | Breakout 2 Equipping High School Students to Lead with Biblical Competency and Character | Breakout 3 4 Chair Discipleship 201 | Breakout 3 Equipping volunteers to help students engage in mission. Track 3 | Ministry Tools How To Help Your Students Love The Bible Presented by: Hakeem Bradley Location: Room 006A (lower level) We will explore what it could look like to engage with the Scriptures in a time of widespread deconstruction in the faith. Track 3 | Ministry Tools Helping Hurting Kids Presented by: Marv Penner Location: Room 205 (upper level) With his decades of experience and thousands of hours of counselling in the most difficult of situations, Dr. Marv Penner will provide a wide range of appropriate interventions and fundamental people-helping skills for youth workers as we attempt to minister to kids who are experiencing all types of pain and hurt. He’ll also help us recognize our limitations and learn the principles of effective referral. Track 3 | Ministry Tools How to Lead Your Teenagers to Christ Presented by: Aliza Latta Location: Multipurpose Room 011C (lower level) In this session, explore how God can use you to lead teenagers to Christ, whether one-on-one, in a small group, or through a call to decision from the stage. Be equipped as a leader who can passionately point youth to Christ and effectively help them cross the line of faith. Track 2 | Youth Culture Who I Really Am Presented by: Rick Hiemstra Location: Room 011A (lower level) In this session, Rick will look at how our anthropology (or how we think about ourselves) has changed in recent decades and why that makes it hard for people to receive Jesus. And we'll talk about what we can do about that so more people will choose to follow Christ. Track 3 | Ministry Tools 10 Essential Practices for Every Youth Leader Presented by: Jason Ballard Location: Chapel (upper level) In this session, Jason is going to unpack 10 essential and accessible youth ministry practices that you can easily put into action. These essentials will help you to be more effective, joyful and faithful in youth ministry. This session will include lots of time for Q and A with Jason. Breakout 1 Track 3 | Ministry Tools Embodied Discipleship Presented by: Cheryl Nembhard Location: Chapel (upper level) In a world where young people are craving authenticity, this session challenges you to move beyond teaching theology with words and start living it through action. Cheryl will guide you through powerful postures of surrender, generosity, and mission, calling you to reflect on the cost of a faith that’s disconnected from daily life. What example are we setting for the next generation? How can we help them embody their beliefs in real, impactful ways? This session will equip you to lead young people into a transformative, lived-out faith that engages their hearts, minds, and hands. Walk away with practical tools to inspire the youth in your ministry to live a faith that’s bold, tangible, and relevant to the challenges of today’s world. Track 3 | Ministry Tools When High School Isn't a Musical: Helping Kids in Hard Relationships Presented by: Steve Zacharias Location: Multipurpose Room 011A (lower level) When you hear your students talk about their “bullies” or the ups and downs of their friendships break your heart? In the good and the difficult, your students need skills in working through hard relational dynamics. In this session we’ll work through how to help our youth to grow in self-awareness, identify harmful patterns, and discover healthy boundaries in their relationships. Track 1 | Leadership Help! I'm Struggling With All the Administration and Planning That My Ministry Requires Presented by: Jeremy MacDonald Location: Multipurpose Room 011C (lower level) Does the administrative side of ministry leave you feeling overwhelmed? You’re not alone! Many leaders find that balancing ministry with the constant demands of planning, emails, messages, receipts, and all the meetings can be challenging. Join us as we dive into practical strategies and tools that will help you remain passionate about your calling while managing the details — all without stress! Or at least less stress. Track 3 | Ministry Tools How to Lead a Great Small Group Presented by: Ben Woodman Location: Room 006A (lower level) Small groups are foundational for a healthy youth ministry. But sometimes small groups just feel like chaos. Not controlled chaos. Just chaos. But it doesn’t have to be that way. This workshop will teach you how to create an environment where friends become family and faith puts down deep roots. Track 4 | Moving Students to Mission 4 Chair Discipleship 101 Presented by: Calvin Russell Location: Room 009 (lower level) Jesus recognized that the people he encountered were at different stages of growth and development, and he worked to challenge each of them to the next level. In the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar, you'll get a clear and simple picture of how to follow in Jesus' footsteps and do the same thing. Who then should attend the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar? Anyone who wants to be encouraged with practical skills to be a disciple who makes disciples! Breakout 2 Track 2 | Youth Culture The Problem of Pornography Presented by: Sid Koop Location: Chapel (upper level) This conversation is critical when you realize how pervasive and how destructive pornography is within your youth ministry. Teenagers' brains are being rewired, their understanding of intimacy is being hijacked, and their time is being filled by this powerful addiction. Unfortunately, the shame that porn brings often diminishes the ability to have honest conversations so that teenagers can find hope and healing. This session will walk through the importance of talking about pornography as well as practical and healthy ways to do so in your local context so your students can find hope and healing. Track 4 | Moving Students to Mission Equipping High School Students to Lead with Biblical Competency and Character Presented by: Kait Brennan Location: Multipurpose Room 011C (lower level) How do you develop Christian leadership in lives of high school students? As we raise up the next generation, are we developing the character and competency of our high school students? How do we foster a calling to leadership in those same students? In this session, AJ will walk through practical examples of how mentorship was a key to unlocking that type of leadership. AJ will also introduce you to a free digital resource from Youth Quake & Briercrest called Leadership Essentials: An 8-month ministry training program designed for high school aged leaders. Track 1 | Leadership Responsible Digital Discipleship Presented by: Bill McCaskell Location: Multipurpose Room 011A (lower level) Everyone wants to know how to stay safely connected with their group when they go home. This breakout is a practical guide to responsible, ethical, and effective communication in your ministry as well as an introduction to the FaithSpark App as the answer. Track 4 | Moving Students to Mission 4 Chair Discipleship 201 Presented by: Calvin Russell Location: Room 009 (lower level) Jesus recognized that the people he encountered were at different stages of growth and development, and he worked to challenge each of them to the next level. In the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar, you'll get a clear and simple picture of how to follow in Jesus' footsteps and do the same thing. Who then should attend the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar? Anyone who wants to be encouraged with practical skills to be a disciple who makes disciples! Breakout 3 SEE BREAKOUTS Meet our dynamic speakers for this year's conference! Each presenter brings a wealth of experience and passion for equipping youth workers to impact the next generation. From leadership development to understanding today’s youth culture, they’ll be guiding breakout sessions that dive into essential ministry tools and strategies for empowering students to step into their own ministry roles. Get ready to be inspired and equipped to lead with greater purpose and insight! Presenters Jason Ballard Jason is the lead Pastor of The Way Church in Vancouver British Columbia and the Director of The Pastorate (formerly The Canadian Church Leader Network). He is one of the Hosts of the Alpha Youth Series and The Pastorate Podcast. He is Married to Rachael and they have three kids: Hudson (11), Mary (9) and Millie (7). You can find out more about him on Instragram @jasonaballard Sid Koop From camp speaker to local youth pastor to youth ministry professor, Sid draws from over 25 years of youth ministry experience. Sid Koop is the Executive Director of the Youth Worker Community where he and his team are dedicated to equipping, empowering, and relationally supporting youth workers to help the next generation follow Jesus. YWC is shaping ministry to adolescents in Canada through Digital Resources, The Coalition, Youth Worker Training Events, and Youth Ministry Coaching, and Consulting, equipping and encouraging thousands of youth workers each year. Currently, his "most important" contract is working for his wife at Green Bay Bible Camp as the Director of Leadership Development and Discipleship). Cheryl Nembhard Cheryl Nembhard is an international speaker, author, podcaster, TV host, and social justice advocate. She uses her talents in film and theatre to address critical societal issues and is dedicated to community service, supporting at-risk youth, sexual assault survivors, and teenage mothers. As the founder of EMG Education, her educational theatre company has reached over 85,000+ students across 190 Ontario schools. Recognized by CBC as one of the top 150 Women making Canada better, she received the 2017 Harry Jerome Award for Social Advocacy. Cheryl co-hosts See, Hear, Love on YES TV and hosts On The Path and Soulfood to Go podcasts. She serves on the board of Brave Canada, advocates for marginalized women globally, and is the author of Brave: This Is Us. Currently, Cheryl is the Director of the Women Speakers Collective, empowering women’s voices worldwide. Hakeem Bradley Hakeem has served in pastoral ministry at various churches in Portland, OR before transitioning to full-time biblical scholarship in 2021. He has the privilege of helping other people learn about the Scriptures, so that they will experience God’s invitation to know him. Being a Bible nerd is the name of my game. As a result, Hakeem received a Master of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies and is currently working on a Ph.D. in New Testament Studies. Kait Brennan Kaitlin Brennan currently lives in Moose Jaw with her husband Matt. She works as the Director of Youth Quake at Briercrest College and Seminary, where her main goal is to guide youth in their relationship with Jesus. During the summer, she visits and speaks at various Bible camps around Saskatchewan. Kait is deeply committed to helping young people grow in their faith and wants to see the next generation dedicated to following Jesus with their whole lives. Kait graduated from Briercrest in 2018 with a degree in Psychology, and is currently working towards a Masters in Leadership. In her free time, Kait enjoys a good cup of coffee, playing board games with friends, camping, and spending time with her family at their farm. Josh Woodcock Josh lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick, with his wife, Melissa, daughter, Claire, and their golden retriever, Banjo. With a background in camp, youth, and digital ministry, he completed his Master’s in Theological Studies with a focus on Youth Ministry from the University of Waterloo. Now, as the Director of the FaithSpark app for One Hope Canada, Josh channels his experience and passion into reaching the next generation of digital natives. Marv Penner Marv is a veteran youth worker who has given his life to serving the next generation and to caring for those who love them. An author, professor, trainer, mentor, consultant, advocate and thought leader, Marv has travelled the world to invest in students, leaders, parents, and decision makers at every level. As a registered clinical counselor, he continues to work each week with hurting teens and their families. Marv is the Founder of The Coalition for Youth Ministry Leadership, a unique apprenticeship based vocational ministry training program based in Kelowna, BC. Marv and his wife, Lois, live in Lake Country, British Columbia. They have three adult children and five energetic grandkids. Aliza Latta Aliza Latta is a writer, artist, and pastor who is a huge fan of telling stories. She creates content for Canada’s largest youth conference, Change Conference, and is a church planter and pastor in Ontario. Ben Woodman After ten years as a youth pastor and speaker, Ben joined Alpha Canada to create and host the Alpha Youth Series. He currently devotes his time to coaching youth workers, speaking, and creating content to help make faith come alive for youth, kids, and adults. Ben has a joy and enthusiasm for life that is infectious. He and his wife, Melissa live in Vancouver with their daughter, Livia. Find him on Instagram at @benwoodman. Jeremy MacDonald Jeremy has been a youth pastor in a large church with 100s of teenagers, in a small church where things grew from a couple volunteers and 6 teenagers, and in a multi-site church with six different youth groups. He is now the Director of Operations at the Youth Worker Community, Professor of NextGen Ministry at Kingswood University, and the Teaching Pastor at Moncton Wesleyan. Steve Zacharias Steve’s passion is to be an encourager and catalyst for emerging leaders. His ministry adventure has spanned over a couple decades and has taken him around the globe, supporting leaders in camp and youth ministry on four continents. The teams he’s served with have pioneered dynamic ministries that reach hundreds of thousands every week. He deeply loves connecting with Jesus, people and good pizza. Rick Hiemstra Rick Hiemstra is Director of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada's Centre for Research on Church and Faith (CRCF). Prior to coming to the EFC, he served as a Wesleyan pastor and as a high school mathematics and computer science teacher. Rick speaks on Canadian church and cultural trends, including the recent Parenting Faith, Significant Church and Renegotiating Faith studies. He holds a BMath from the University of Waterloo, a BEd from Ottawa University and an MTS from Tyndale Seminary. Bill McCaskell Bill McCaskell has been serving as the National Director of One Hope Canada since 2012, leading a team of over 150 missionaries to share the Gospel with more than 30,000 children and youth annually. Prior to joining the mission, Bill was a pastor and entrepreneur, and together with his wife Bev, they are proud parents of two sons and grandparents to four grandsons. Calvin Russell With over 30 years of youth ministry experience, Calvin is deeply committed to ‘making disciples as Jesus did’ and helping youth attain their full life potential. He loves to spend time equipping youth leaders with the necessary tools to create healthy and vibrant youth ministries both locally and nationally. He is a Youth Unlimited missionary in Toronto and he also oversees Sonlife Canada. Visit The Lobby & Meet Our Sponsors National Sponsors National Sponsors Regional Sponsor Regional Sponsor OUR SPONSORS How to Process this Event with Your Team This is a crazy, intense, completely full, brain boggling weekend of learning and community building for you and your youth ministry team. We know there’s not a lot of time to sit back and reflect on what you’re hearing and learning much over the course of the weekend, and that can make things feel overwhelming. So what do you do once the event is finished? Check out these 3 steps to help you pull what you’ve learned this weekend into your ministry. 1. Book the FollowUp Meeting Today! Before you leave, compare calendars with your team and set up a time to review the weekend. Meet up over coffee or a meal with everyone and then go over notes and talk through things you learned and the experiences you shared on the weekend. If you can’t get everyone together at once, then meet one on one or in small groups. 2. Identify One Action Item for Now and One for Later Simplifying to two action items helps keep things moving and frees you from being overwhelmed with all of the things you feel you need to do RIGHT NOW 3. Meet with Your Supervisor/Senior Pastor If meeting with a senior pastor is a stretch or will take too long then write a report. When your church or ministry has financed you to go to a conference, a great way to say “thank you” is to put into words what you learned. Talk about things you learned, experiences you had, and what you’re doing moving forward to use what you learned. Keeping one another informed and on the inside of what’s happening with you and your youth team will build trust and create open communication lines that will be to everyone’s benefit. General Assessment A resource for you to critically assess weaknesses while celebrating wins in your ministry. Which areas require more attention? Where are you crushing it? Click here to download this PDF free from the YWC Team. DOWNLOAD OUR SPONSORS Collaboratively shaping the future of youth ministry. Coalition students experience a dynamic way of learning that fits their life and ministry. The Coalition could be right for you if your current situation sounds like... "I feel called to be in youth ministry one day, but I have little to no training or experience." "I am currently in a youth ministry leadership role but haven't had the opportunity to be formally or comprehensively trained." "I have an undergraduate (Bachelors) degree and am currently in a youth ministry leadership position but would love to upgrade to a Masters degree without having to leave my current situation." LEARN MORE APPLY NOW Experiential Learning Spiritual Formation Intentional Community Academic Excellence YOUTH GROUP TALKS Train Your Volunteers Plug and play training videos ready to encourage and equip your team. LEARN MORE Teach Your Students Youth group video talks that are ready to download and play in any context. LEARN MORE

Proudly Presented By: Helping you better disciple your students next week LEARN MORE SEND US FEEDBACK Helping you better disciple your students next week LEARN MORE SEND US FEEDBACK Proudly Presented By: Helping you better disciple your students next week LEARN MORE REGISTER NOW YOUTH WORKER CONFERENCE WINNIPEG Helping you better disciple your students next week November 1-2, 2024 My Church Winnipeg 955 Wilkes Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3P 1B8 REGISTER NOW LEARN MORE Our Sponsors KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Tim Barnett Tim Barnett is an apologist and speaker with Stand to Reason (STR), an apologetics ministry dedicated to training Christians to think more clearly about their faith. Tim travels across the US and Canada, speaking to thousands of people each year. He’s also a frequent guest on podcasts and YouTube channels. Jason Ballard Jason is the lead Pastor of The Way Church in Vancouver British Columbia and the Director of The Pastorate (formerly The Canadian Church Leader Network). He is one of the Hosts of the Alpha Youth Series and The Pastorate Podcast. He is Married to Rachael and they have three kids: Hudson (11), Mary (9) and Millie (7). You can find out more about him on Instragram @jasonaballard Kaitlyn Cey Kaitlyn is a speaker, writer, and Certified Leadership Coach. She is accredited with the ICF (International Coaching Federation) and she is the Founding Executive Director of the youth empowerment organization, Inspire Our Nation. Kaitlyn is an Educator and Credential Holder with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. She is passionate about inspiring people towards God’s greatest purposes for their lives personally and professionally. Sid Koop From camp speaker to local youth pastor to youth ministry professor, Sid draws from over 25 years of youth ministry experience. Sid Koop is the Executive Director of the Youth Worker Community where he and his team are dedicated to equipping, empowering, and relationally supporting youth workers to help the next generation follow Jesus. YWC is shaping ministry to adolescents in Canada through Digital Resources, The Coalition, Youth Worker Training Events, and Youth Ministry Coaching, and Consulting, equipping and encouraging thousands of youth workers each year. Currently, his "most important" contract is working for his wife at Green Bay Bible Camp as the Director of Leadership Development and Discipleship). 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 Play BREAKOUT TRACKS Trying to decide which breakouts to attend? Use these questions to prompt what might be most helpful for you and your ministry. SEE BREAKOUT DETAILS Track 1 LEADERSHIP Faith Beyond Youth Group: ReFocusing Youth Ministry | Breakout 1 Help! I'm Struggling With All the Administration and Planning That My Ministry Requires | Breakout 1 Responsible Digital Discipleship | Breakout 3 Equipping point leaders to bring out the best in their teams and ministries. Track 2 YOUTH CULTURE Q&A on the Deconstruction of Christianity | Breakout 1 Navigating Current Cultural Conversation | Breakout 2 Who I Really Am | Breakout 2 The Problem of Pornography | Breakout 3 Understanding and engaging new cultural norms. Track 3 MINISTRY TOOLS Helping Hurting Kids | Breakout 1 How to Lead Your Teenagers to Christ | Breakout 1 10 Essential Practices for Every Youth Leader | Breakout 1 When High School Isn’t A Musical: Helping Kids In Hard Relationships | Breakout 2 How To Lead a Great Small Group | Breakout 2 Spiritual Exercises for People Who Can’t Sit Still | Breakout 3 Spotify Habits: Finding The Best Christian Music | Breakout 3 Equipping volunteers with practical skills & tools for effective ministry. Track 4 MOVING STUDENTS TO MISSION Equipping High School Students to Lead with Biblical Competency and Character | Breakout 2 4 Chair Discipleship 101 | Breakout 2 Short-Term Missions: Making the most of a life-changing experiences | Breakout 3 4 Chair Discipleship 201 | Breakout 3 Equipping volunteers to help students engage in mission. How to Process this Event with Your Team This is a crazy, intense, completely full, brain boggling weekend of learning and community building for you and your youth ministry team. We know there’s not a lot of time to sit back and reflect on what you’re hearing and learning much over the course of the weekend, and that can make things feel overwhelming. So what do you do once the event is finished? Check out these 3 steps to help you pull what you’ve learned this weekend into your ministry. 1. Book the FollowUp Meeting Today! Before you leave, compare calendars with your team and set up a time to review the weekend. Meet up over coffee or a meal with everyone and then go over notes and talk through things you learned and the experiences you shared on the weekend. If you can’t get everyone together at once, then meet one on one or in small groups. 2. Identify One Action Item for Now and One for Later Simplifying to two action items helps keep things moving and frees you from being overwhelmed with all of the things you feel you need to do RIGHT NOW 3. Meet with Your Supervisor/Senior Pastor If meeting with a senior pastor is a stretch or will take too long then write a report. When your church or ministry has financed you to go to a conference, a great way to say “thank you” is to put into words what you learned. Talk about things you learned, experiences you had, and what you’re doing moving forward to use what you learned. Keeping one another informed and on the inside of what’s happening with you and your youth team will build trust and create open communication lines that will be to everyone’s benefit. OUR SPONSORS CONFERENCE SCHEDULE FRIDAY SCHEDULE Time Event 9:00am - 4:30pm Point Leader Conference With Tim Barnett, Jason Ballard, and Sid Koop What's This? 6:00pm - 7:00pm Registration Opens 7:00pm - 9:00pm Main Session #1 With Jason Ballard What's This? 9:00pm - 10:00pm After Party SATURDAY SCHEDULE Time Event 8:15am - 8:45am Morning Worship & Prayer 9:00am - 10:15am Main Session #2 With Tim Barnett 10:15am - 10:45am Snack Break 10:45am - 11:45am Breakout #1 12:00pm - 1:15pm Lunch Break Optional Lunch with Jon 1:15pm - 2:15pm Breakout #2 2:15pm - 2:45pm Snack Break 2:45pm - 3:45pm Breakout #3 4:00pm - 5:00pm Main Session #3 With Kaitlyn Cey YOUTH GROUP TALKS Train Your Volunteers Plug and play training videos ready to encourage and equip your team. LEARN MORE Teach Your Students Youth group video talks that are ready to download and play in any context. LEARN MORE General Assessment A resource for you to critically assess weaknesses while celebrating wins in your ministry. Which areas require more attention? Where are you crushing it? Click here to download this PDF free from the YWC Team. DOWNLOAD Collaboratively shaping the future of youth ministry. Coalition students experience a dynamic way of learning that fits their life and ministry. The Coalition could be right for you if your current situation sounds like... "I feel called to be in youth ministry one day, but I have little to no training or experience." "I am currently in a youth ministry leadership role but haven't had the opportunity to be formally or comprehensively trained." "I have an undergraduate (Bachelors) degree and am currently in a youth ministry leadership position but would love to upgrade to a Masters degree without having to leave my current situation." LEARN MORE APPLY NOW Experiential Learning Spiritual Formation Intentional Community Academic Excellence Track 2 | Youth Culture Q&A on the Deconstruction of Christianity Presented by: Tim Barnett Location: Sanctuary Tim Barnett is an apologist, speaker, and YouTuber that reaches millions of people very month through his ministry Red Pen Logic, which assesses bad thinking on social media by using good thinking. He sits at the forefront of many ideas people have when deconstructing Christianity. Join him for a live Q&A where you can bring questions from your specific context. Track 3 | Ministry Tools Helping Hurting Kids Presented by: Marv Penner Location: Chapel With his decades of experience and thousands of hours of counselling in the most difficult of situations, Dr. Marv Penner will provide a wide range of appropriate interventions and fundamental people-helping skills for youth workers as we attempt to minister to kids who are experiencing all types of pain and hurt. He’ll also help us recognize our limitations and learn the principles of effective referral. Track 1 | Leadership Help! I'm Struggling With All the Administration and Planning That My Ministry Requires Presented by: Jeremy MacDonald Location: Loft Does the administrative side of ministry leave you feeling overwhelmed? You’re not alone! Many leaders find that balancing ministry with the constant demands of planning, emails, messages, receipts, and all the meetings can be challenging. Join us as we dive into practical strategies and tools that will help you remain passionate about your calling while managing the details — all without stress! Or at least less stress. Track 3 | Ministry Tools How to Lead Your Teenagers to Christ Presented by: Karly Brandt Location: Studio In this session, explore how God can use you to lead teenagers to Christ, whether one-on-one, in a small group, or through a call to decision from the stage. Be equipped as a leader who can passionately point youth to Christ and effectively help them cross the line of faith. Track 3 | Ministry Tools When High School Isn't a Musical: Helping Kids in Hard Relationships Presented by: Steve Zacharias Location: Attic When you hear your students talk about their “bullies” or the ups and downs of their friendships break your heart? In the good and the difficult, your students need skills in working through hard relational dynamics. In this session we’ll work through how to help our youth to grow in self-awareness, identify harmful patterns, and discover healthy boundaries in their relationships. Track 2 | Youth Culture Who I Really Am Presented by: Rick Hiemstra Location: Lakeside In this session, Rick will look at how our anthropology (or how we think about ourselves) has changed in recent decades and why that makes it hard for people to receive Jesus. And we'll talk about what we can do about that so more people will choose to follow Christ. Breakout 1 National Sponsors SEE BREAKOUTS Meet our dynamic speakers for this year's conference! Each presenter brings a wealth of experience and passion for equipping youth workers to impact the next generation. From leadership development to understanding today’s youth culture, they’ll be guiding breakout sessions that dive into essential ministry tools and strategies for empowering students to step into their own ministry roles. Get ready to be inspired and equipped to lead with greater purpose and insight! Presenters Tim Barnett Tim Barnett is an apologist and speaker with Stand to Reason (STR), an apologetics ministry dedicated to training Christians to think more clearly about their faith. Tim travels across the US and Canada, speaking to thousands of people each year. He’s also a frequent guest on podcasts and YouTube channels. Jason Ballard Jason is the lead Pastor of The Way Church in Vancouver British Columbia and the Director of The Pastorate (formerly The Canadian Church Leader Network). He is one of the Hosts of the Alpha Youth Series and The Pastorate Podcast. He is Married to Rachael and they have three kids: Hudson (11), Mary (9) and Millie (7). You can find out more about him on Instragram @jasonaballard Kaitlyn Cey Kaitlyn is a speaker, writer, and Certified Leadership Coach. She is accredited with the ICF (International Coaching Federation) and she is the Founding Executive Director of the youth empowerment organization, Inspire Our Nation. Kaitlyn is an Educator and Credential Holder with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. She is passionate about inspiring people towards God’s greatest purposes for their lives personally and professionally. Sid Koop From camp speaker to local youth pastor to youth ministry professor, Sid draws from over 25 years of youth ministry experience. Sid Koop is the Executive Director of the Youth Worker Community where he and his team are dedicated to equipping, empowering, and relationally supporting youth workers to help the next generation follow Jesus. YWC is shaping ministry to adolescents in Canada through Digital Resources, The Coalition, Youth Worker Training Events, and Youth Ministry Coaching, and Consulting, equipping and encouraging thousands of youth workers each year. Currently, his "most important" contract is working for his wife at Green Bay Bible Camp as the Director of Leadership Development and Discipleship). Kait Brennan Kaitlin Brennan currently lives in Moose Jaw with her husband Matt. She works as the Director of Youth Quake at Briercrest College and Seminary, where her main goal is to guide youth in their relationship with Jesus. During the summer, she visits and speaks at various Bible camps around Saskatchewan. Kait is deeply committed to helping young people grow in their faith and wants to see the next generation dedicated to following Jesus with their whole lives. Kait graduated from Briercrest in 2018 with a degree in Psychology, and is currently working towards a Masters in Leadership. In her free time, Kait enjoys a good cup of coffee, playing board games with friends, camping, and spending time with her family at their farm. Marv Penner Marv is a veteran youth worker who has given his life to serving the next generation and to caring for those who love them. An author, professor, trainer, mentor, consultant, advocate and thought leader, Marv has travelled the world to invest in students, leaders, parents, and decision makers at every level. As a registered clinical counselor, he continues to work each week with hurting teens and their families. Marv is the Founder of The Coalition for Youth Ministry Leadership, a unique apprenticeship based vocational ministry training program based in Kelowna, BC. Marv and his wife, Lois, live in Lake Country, British Columbia. They have three adult children and five energetic grandkids. Karly Brandt Karly grew up on the Manitoba prairies. She graduated from Providence College and in 2017, shortly after getting married, her and her husband moved to Calgary. Since then she has been working for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for their Internet Evangelism ministry Search for Jesus! Ben Woodman After ten years as a youth pastor and speaker, Ben joined Alpha Canada to create and host the Alpha Youth Series. He currently devotes his time to coaching youth workers, speaking, and creating content to help make faith come alive for youth, kids, and adults. Ben has a joy and enthusiasm for life that is infectious. He and his wife, Melissa live in Vancouver with their daughter, Livia. Find him on Instagram at @benwoodman. Chuck Hunt Rev. Charles (Chuck) Hunt, D.Min is the Sr. Director of Training at Fuller Youth Institute and has been ministering to adolescents, young adults, and their families for more than 30 years. Chuck is passionate about Christ’s call to restore our relationship with God and with each other, thus he advocates for righteousness and justice. Through both his career and lived experience, Chuck has an ability to connect with individuals from diverse cultural, spiritual, and economic backgrounds. He lives with his wife Shannon and their young adult daughter Rhyen, in Southern California. Though cleverly disguised as a responsible adult, Chuck still runs, surfs, mountain bikes, and skateboards. Jeremy MacDonald Jeremy has been a youth pastor in a large church with 100s of teenagers, in a small church where things grew from a couple volunteers and 6 teenagers, and in a multi-site church with six different youth groups. He is now the Director of Operations at the Youth Worker Community, Professor of NextGen Ministry at Kingswood University, and the Teaching Pastor at Moncton Wesleyan. Steve Zacharias Steve’s passion is to be an encourager and catalyst for emerging leaders. His ministry adventure has spanned over a couple decades and has taken him around the globe, supporting leaders in camp and youth ministry on four continents. The teams he’s served with have pioneered dynamic ministries that reach hundreds of thousands every week. He deeply loves connecting with Jesus, people and good pizza. AJ Crocker AJ Crocker has worked at Briercrest for 15 years leading things like Youth Quake, High School chapel program, Recruitment teams and Marketing departments. AJ has a BA in Youth Ministry and an MBA in Digital Marketing. He currently serves as the Vice-President of External Relations for Briercrest Christian Academy, College, and Seminary. Rick Hiemstra Rick Hiemstra is Director of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada's Centre for Research on Church and Faith (CRCF). Prior to coming to the EFC, he served as a Wesleyan pastor and as a high school mathematics and computer science teacher. Rick speaks on Canadian church and cultural trends, including the recent Parenting Faith, Significant Church and Renegotiating Faith studies. He holds a BMath from the University of Waterloo, a BEd from Ottawa University and an MTS from Tyndale Seminary. Garth Friesen Garth Friesen is passionate about inspiring youth & young adults to pursue God’s calling. For the last twenty years, Garth has been a professor of youth ministry at Steinbach Bible College in Steinbach, MB. Garth is married to his amazing wife Wendy and together they have three adventurous kids. He continues to serve in senior high ministry with Emmanuel EFC, does staff training at a variety of camps and regularly helps with music in his church. He also loves mountain biking year-round and spending time exploring outdoors! Bill McCaskell Bill McCaskell has been serving as the National Director of One Hope Canada since 2012, leading a team of over 150 missionaries to share the Gospel with more than 30,000 children and youth annually. Prior to joining the mission, Bill was a pastor and entrepreneur, and together with his wife Bev, they are proud parents of two sons and grandparents to four grandsons. Tristan Kruse Tristan Kruse is a husband and father to three beautiful kids. He is currently serving as the National Director for Christar Canada, an organization that focuses on reaching out with the Gospel to those who have yet to hear the good news of Jesus. He has been active in youth ministry both in Canada and overseas and has a heart to see this next generation equipped to fulfill Christ's call on their lives, wherever that might be. Jeff Smyth Jeff is passionate about engaging young people in an encounter with the living Christ and equipping leaders with disciple making priorities and practices. Jeff works in Scarborough with Youth Unlimited where he leads leaders and teams focusing on making disciples that make disciples of Jesus. Jeff is a youth ministry veteran of two decades in Canada and the US. He and his wife Heather live in Toronto and they have one son, Nate and a dog named Dodger. Visit The Lobby & Meet Our Sponsors National Sponsors Regional Sponsor Regional Sponsor OUR SPONSORS VENUE MAP MAIN SESSION TEAM Kait Brennan | Host Kaitlin Brennan currently lives in Moose Jaw with her husband Matt. She works as the Director of Youth Quake at Briercrest College and Seminary, where her main goal is to guide youth in their relationship with Jesus. During the summer, she visits and speaks at various Bible camps around Saskatchewan. Kait is deeply committed to helping young people grow in their faith and wants to see the next generation dedicated to following Jesus with their whole lives. Kait graduated from Briercrest in 2018 with a degree in Psychology, and is currently working towards a Masters in Leadership. In her free time, Kait enjoys a good cup of coffee, playing board games with friends, camping, and spending time with her family at their farm. Ben Woodman | Host After ten years as a youth pastor and speaker, Ben joined Alpha Canada to create and host the Alpha Youth Series. He currently devotes his time to coaching youth workers, speaking, and creating content to help make faith come alive for youth, kids, and adults. Ben has a joy and enthusiasm for life that is infectious. He and his wife, Melissa live in Vancouver with their daughter, Livia. Find him on Instagram at @benwoodman. Andrew Stanley | Worship Andrew is a Worship Leader and Creative Director at Trinity Church in Kelowna, BC. He is energized by facilitating environments where heaven meets earth and lives encounter the life-changing power of Christ. Andrew lives in Kelowna, BC with his wife, Sarah, and son, Emerson. Our Sponsors Track 1 | Leadership Faith Beyond Youth Group: ReFocusing Youth Ministry Presented by: Chuck Hunt Location: Lakeside Building on two decades of the Fuller Youth Institute's work and incorporating extensive new research and interviews, Faith Beyond Youth Group identifies the reasons youth ministry often flops both short-term and long-term, and offers five ways adult youth leaders can cultivate character for a lifetime of growing closer to Jesus rather than drifting away. Anxiety, relational ruptures, job pressure, school dances, and even all influence our faith formation. ReFocusing your Youth Ministry will help young people experiencing what it means for them to live out Jesus’ goodness everyday by loving God and neighbors. Track 3 | Ministry Tools 10 Essential Practices for Every Youth Leader Presented by: Jason Ballard Location: Attic In this session, Jason is going to unpack 10 essential and accessible youth ministry practices that you can easily put into action. These essentials will help you to be more effective, joyful and faithful in youth ministry. This session will include lots of time for Q and A with Jason. Track 2 | Youth Culture Navigating Current Cultural Conversations Presented by: Kaitlyn Cey Location: Chapel As youth leaders, it can be difficult to know how to navigate current cultural conversations that are impacting the next generation - especially the controversial ones! Join Kaitlyn Cey as she explores how the values and priorities Jesus taught and modelled can serve as a framework for the way we engage culture in our daily lives and in our conversations with the youth we lead. Track 4 | Moving Students to Mission Equipping High School Students to Lead with Biblical Competency and Character Presented by: AJ Crocker Location: Studio How do you develop Christian leadership in lives of high school students? As we raise up the next generation, are we developing the character and competency of our high school students? How do we foster a calling to leadership in those same students? In this session, AJ will walk through practical examples of how mentorship was a key to unlocking that type of leadership. AJ will also introduce you to a free digital resource from Youth Quake & Briercrest called Leadership Essentials: An 8-month ministry training program designed for high school aged leaders. Track 3 | Ministry Tools How to Lead a Great Small Group Presented by: Ben Woodman Location: Sanctuary Small groups are foundational for a healthy youth ministry. But sometimes small groups just feel like chaos. Not controlled chaos. Just chaos. But it doesn’t have to be that way. This workshop will teach you how to create an environment where friends become family and faith puts down deep roots. Track 4 | Moving Students to Mission 4 Chair Discipleship 101 Presented by: Jeff Smyth Location: Loft Jesus recognized that the people he encountered were at different stages of growth and development, and he worked to challenge each of them to the next level. In the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar, you'll get a clear and simple picture of how to follow in Jesus' footsteps and do the same thing. Who then should attend the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar? Anyone who wants to be encouraged with practical skills to be a disciple who makes disciples! Breakout 2 Track 1 | Leadership Responsible Digital Discipleship Presented by: Bill McCaskell Location: Lakeside Everyone wants to know how to stay safely connected with their group when they go home. This breakout is a practical guide to responsible, ethical, and effective communication in your ministry as well as an introduction to the FaithSpark App as the answer. Track 3 | Ministry Tools Spiritual Exercises for People Who Can’t Sit Still Presented by: Garth Friesen Location: Chapel This workshop will explore how we can participate in spiritual disciplines in more active and interactive ways. There are many ways of connecting with God and yet we tend to focus on either worship through singing, studying scripture, or doing prayer in solitude and silence. However, the Bible reveals many stories of how God actually can connect with people who aren’t necessarily sitting still in silence. The gospels share stories of how Jesus shows up to be with his followers on journeys whether on foot, in a boat, or at the beach around a fire. Together we will explore different exercises of connecting with God that hopefully will inspire you to pursue Him more deeply and in more dynamic ways! Track 2 | Youth Culture The Problem of Pornography Presented by: Sid Koop Location: Attic This conversation is critical when you realize how pervasive and how destructive pornography is within your youth ministry. Teenagers' brains are being rewired, their understanding of intimacy is being hijacked, and their time is being filled by this powerful addiction. Unfortunately, the shame that porn brings often diminishes the ability to have honest conversations so that teenagers can find hope and healing. This session will walk through the importance of talking about pornography as well as practical and healthy ways to do so in your local context so your students can find hope and healing. Track 4 | Moving Students to Mission Short-Term Missions: Making the Most of Life-Changing Experiences Presented by: Tristan Kruse Location: Gym Are short-term mission trips ethical? How can we do them in a way that blesses those we go to serve and leaves a lasting impact on our kids' lives? Join Tristan as he unpacks a step-by-step strategy for effectively leading your kids on a short-term mission trip. Youth mission trips can be transformational to our kid's spiritual lives, and they can also be done in an ethical way that can leave a lasting impact on the lives you serve. Track 3 | Ministry Tools Spotify Habits: Finding the Best Christian Music Presented by: AJ Crocker Location: Studio Christian music has never been better, and it has never been easier to find Christian music to fit your vibe. In this seminar AJ will show you where to look and how to find Christian music that you will love. More importantly, he will walk through how our listening habits impact our faith by directing our hearts and minds towards God. Directing our thoughts to God through what we listen to is easier when the music is incredible. Track 4 | Moving Students to Mission 4 Chair Discipleship 201 Presented by: Jeff Smyth Location: Loft Jesus recognized that the people he encountered were at different stages of growth and development, and he worked to challenge each of them to the next level. In the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar, you'll get a clear and simple picture of how to follow in Jesus' footsteps and do the same thing. Who then should attend the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar? Anyone who wants to be encouraged with practical skills to be a disciple who makes disciples! Breakout 3

Proudly Presented By: YOUTH WORKER CONFERENCE ABBOTSFORD Helping you better disciple your students next week January 31-February 1, 2025 Central Heights Church 1661 McCallum Rd, Abbotsford, BC V2S 3M4 REGISTER NOW LEARN MORE Our Sponsors Our Sponsors KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Tim Barnett Tim Barnett is an apologist and speaker with Stand to Reason (STR), an apologetics ministry dedicated to training Christians to think more clearly about their faith. Tim travels across the US and Canada, speaking to thousands of people each year. He’s also a frequent guest on podcasts and YouTube channels. Jason Ballard Jason is the lead Pastor of The Way Church in Vancouver British Columbia and the Director of The Pastorate (formerly The Canadian Church Leader Network). He is one of the Hosts of the Alpha Youth Series and The Pastorate Podcast. He is Married to Rachael and they have three kids: Hudson (11), Mary (9) and Millie (7). You can find out more about him on Instragram @jasonaballard Sid Koop From camp speaker to local youth pastor to youth ministry professor, Sid draws from over 25 years of youth ministry experience. Sid Koop is the Executive Director of the Youth Worker Community where he and his team are dedicated to equipping, empowering, and relationally supporting youth workers to help the next generation follow Jesus. YWC is shaping ministry to adolescents in Canada through Digital Resources, The Coalition, Youth Worker Training Events, and Youth Ministry Coaching, and Consulting, equipping and encouraging thousands of youth workers each year. Currently, his "most important" contract is working for his wife at Green Bay Bible Camp as the Director of Leadership Development and Discipleship). Emma Narayanan Emma is the co-Lead Pastor of Avant Life Church which she planted in 2018. She is passionate about leadership development, church planting, worship ministry and teaching. She loves encouraging leaders to step into the calling they have received with bold faith, spiritual authority and humble surrender to God. She has served as a Youth & Young Adults Pastor, Worship Pastor, and Events Manager and now has the privilege of serving as Lead Pastor alongside her husband, Ben. MAIN SESSION TEAM Aliza Latta | Host Aliza Latta is a writer, artist, and pastor who is a huge fan of telling stories. She creates content for Canada’s largest youth conference, Change Conference, and is a church planter and pastor in Ontario. Ben Woodman | Host After ten years as a youth pastor and speaker, Ben joined Alpha Canada to create and host the Alpha Youth Series. He currently devotes his time to coaching youth workers, speaking, and creating content to help make faith come alive for youth, kids, and adults. Ben has a joy and enthusiasm for life that is infectious. He and his wife, Melissa live in Vancouver with their daughter, Livia. Find him on Instagram at @benwoodman. Joshua Leventhal | Worship Joshua Leventhal is both an artist and worship leader in a local church in Chilliwack, British Columbia. He sees music as one of the most beautiful ways to see us love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, all at once. He writes both devotional music as well as congregational songs meant to make much of Jesus from as true and honest a place as possible. He lives in Chilliwack with his wife Kaitlyn Rose, and their dog Luna. 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 Play VENUE MAP VENUE MAP Main Level Upper Level OUR SPONSORS CONFERENCE SCHEDULE THURSDAY SCHEDULE Time Event 7:00pm - 8:30pm Wings With Us What's This? RSVP FOR WINGS FRIDAY SCHEDULE Time Event 9:00am - 4:30pm Point Leader Conference With Jason Ballard, Tim Barnett, and Sid Koop What's This? 6:00pm - 7:00pm Registration Opens 7:00pm - 9:00pm Main Session #1 With Jason Ballard What's This? 9:00pm - 10:00pm After Party SATURDAY SCHEDULE Time Event 8:15am - 8:45am Morning Worship & Prayer 9:00am - 10:15am Main Session #2 With Tim Barnett 10:15am - 10:45am Snack Break 10:45am - 11:45am Breakout #1 12:00pm - 1:15pm Lunch Break Optional Lunch with Jon 1:15pm - 2:15pm Breakout #2 2:15pm - 2:45pm Snack Break 2:45pm - 3:45pm Breakout #3 4:00pm - 5:00pm Main Session #3 With Emma Narayanan BREAKOUT TRACKS Trying to decide which breakouts to attend? Use these questions to prompt what might be most helpful for you and your ministry. SEE BREAKOUT DETAILS Track 1 LEADERSHIP A Practical Guide To Responsible Digital Discipleship | Breakout 2 Help! I'm Struggling With All the Administration and Planning That My Ministry Requires | Breakout 3 Equipping point leaders to bring out the best in their teams and ministries. Track 2 YOUTH CULTURE Q&A on the Deconstruction of Christianity | Breakout 1 Who I Really Am | Breakout 1 The Problem of Pornography | Breakout 2 Friend or Leader? | Breakout 2 Creating Redemptive Communities for Adolescents Wrestling With Gender, Sex, and Sexuality | Breakout 3 Understanding and engaging new cultural norms. Track 3 MINISTRY TOOLS Helping Hurting Kids | Breakout 1 How to Lead Your Teenagers to Christ | Breakout 1 10 Essential Practices for Every Youth Leader | Breakout 1 How to Lead a Great Small Group | Breakout 2 When High School Isn't a Musical: Helping Kids in Hard Relationships | Breakout 3 Spotify Habits: Finding the Best Christian Music | Breakout 3 Equipping volunteers with practical skills & tools for effective ministry. Track 4 MOVING STUDENTS TO MISSION Equipping High School Students to Lead with Biblical Competency and Character | Breakout 2 4 Chair Discipleship 101 | Breakout 2 4 Chair Discipleship 201 | Breakout 3 Short-Term Missions: Making the Most of Life-Changing Experiences | Breakout 3 Equipping volunteers to help students engage in mission. Track 2 | Youth Culture Q&A on the Deconstruction of Christianity Presented by: Tim Barnett Location: Nikkel Hall Tim Barnett is an apologist, speaker, and YouTuber that reaches millions of people very month through his ministry Red Pen Logic, which assesses bad thinking on social media by using good thinking. He sits at the forefront of many ideas people have when deconstructing Christianity. Join him for a live Q&A where you can bring questions from your specific context. Track 3 | Ministry Tools Helping Hurting Kids Presented by: Marv Penner Location: Room 3012 With his decades of experience and thousands of hours of counselling in the most difficult of situations, Dr. Marv Penner will provide a wide range of appropriate interventions and fundamental people-helping skills for youth workers as we attempt to minister to kids who are experiencing all types of pain and hurt. He’ll also help us recognize our limitations and learn the principles of effective referral. Track 3 | Ministry Tools How to Lead Your Teenagers to Christ Presented by: Aliza Latta Location: Room 3011 In this session, explore how God can use you to lead teenagers to Christ, whether one-on-one, in a small group, or through a call to decision from the stage. Be equipped as a leader who can passionately point youth to Christ and effectively help them cross the line of faith. Track 3 | Ministry Tools 10 Essential Practices for Every Youth Leader Presented by: Jason Ballard Location: Room 3003-3004 In this session, Jason is going to unpack 10 essential and accessible youth ministry practices that you can easily put into action. These essentials will help you to be more effective, joyful and faithful in youth ministry. This session will include lots of time for Q and A with Jason. Track 2 | Youth Culture Who I Really Am Presented by: Rick Hiemstra Location: Room 3002 In this session, Rick will look at how our anthropology (or how we think about ourselves) has changed in recent decades and why that makes it hard for people to receive Jesus. And we'll talk about what we can do about that so more people will choose to follow Christ. Breakout 1 Friend or Leader? Presented by: Emma Narayanan Location: Room 3011 Can I build authentic relationships and hold the influence of a leader at the same time? This breakout discusses how to invest in the next generation with friendship and leadership converging. Track 4 | Moving Students to Mission Equipping High School Students to Lead with Biblical Competency and Character Presented by: AJ Crocker Location: Room 3012 How do you develop Christian leadership in lives of high school students? As we raise up the next generation, are we developing the character and competency of our high school students? How do we foster a calling to leadership in those same students? In this session, AJ will walk through practical examples of how mentorship was a key to unlocking that type of leadership. AJ will also introduce you to a free digital resource from Youth Quake & Briercrest called Leadership Essentials: An 8-month ministry training program designed for high school aged leaders. Track 2 | Youth Culture The Problem of Pornography Presented by: Sarah Stanley Location: Nikkel Hall This conversation is critical when you realize how pervasive and how destructive pornography is within your youth ministry. Teenagers' brains are being rewired, their understanding of intimacy is being hijacked, and their time is being filled by this powerful addiction. Unfortunately, the shame that porn brings often diminishes the ability to have honest conversations so that teenagers can find hope and healing. This session will walk through the importance of talking about pornography as well as practical and healthy ways to do so in your local context so your students can find hope and healing. Track 3 | Ministry Tools How to Lead a Great Small Group Presented by: Ben Woodman Location: Room 3003-3004 Small groups are foundational for a healthy youth ministry. But sometimes small groups just feel like chaos. Not controlled chaos. Just chaos. But it doesn’t have to be that way. This workshop will teach you how to create an environment where friends become family and faith puts down deep roots. Track 1 | Leadership A Practical Guide To Responsible Digital Discipleship Presented by: Josh Woodcock Location: Room 3013 Everyone wants to know how to stay safely connected with their students and leaders when they go home. This breakout is a practical guide to continuing responsible, ethical, and effective communication when your group goes home, as well as an introduction to the FaithSpark app as the answer. Attendees will leave with resources and strategies they can implement in their ministry right away and feel confident in their ability to expand their ministry online. Track 4 | Moving Students to Mission 4 Chair Discipleship 101 Presented by: Doug Holliday Location: Room 3002 Jesus recognized that the people he encountered were at different stages of growth and development, and he worked to challenge each of them to the next level. In the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar, you'll get a clear and simple picture of how to follow in Jesus' footsteps and do the same thing. Who then should attend the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar? Anyone who wants to be encouraged with practical skills to be a disciple who makes disciples! Breakout 2 Track 3 | Ministry Tools When High School Isn't a Musical: Helping Kids in Hard Relationships Presented by: Steve Zacharias Location: Nikkel Hall When you hear your students talk about their “bullies” or the ups and downs of their friendships break your heart? In the good and the difficult, your students need skills in working through hard relational dynamics. In this session we’ll work through how to help our youth to grow in self-awareness, identify harmful patterns, and discover healthy boundaries in their relationships. Track 4 | Moving Students to Mission 4 Chair Discipleship 201 Presented by: Doug Holliday Location: Nikkel Hall Jesus recognized that the people he encountered were at different stages of growth and development, and he worked to challenge each of them to the next level. In the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar, you'll get a clear and simple picture of how to follow in Jesus' footsteps and do the same thing. Who then should attend the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar? Anyone who wants to be encouraged with practical skills to be a disciple who makes disciples! Track 1 | Leadership Help! I'm Struggling With All the Administration and Planning That My Ministry Requires Presented by: Jeremy MacDonald Location: Nikkel Hall Does the administrative side of ministry leave you feeling overwhelmed? You’re not alone! Many leaders find that balancing ministry with the constant demands of planning, emails, messages, receipts, and all the meetings can be challenging. Join us as we dive into practical strategies and tools that will help you remain passionate about your calling while managing the details — all without stress! Or at least less stress. Track 3 | Ministry Tools Spotify Habits: Finding the Best Christian Music Presented by: AJ Crocker Location: Nikkel Hall Christian music has never been better, and it has never been easier to find Christian music to fit your vibe. In this seminar AJ will show you where to look and how to find Christian music that you will love. More importantly, he will walk through how our listening habits impact our faith by directing our hearts and minds towards God. Directing our thoughts to God through what we listen to is easier when the music is incredible. Track 4 | Moving Students to Mission Short-Term Missions: Making the Most of Life-Changing Experiences Presented by: Tristan Kruse Location: Nikkel Hall Are short-term mission trips ethical? How can we do them in a way that blesses those we go to serve and leaves a lasting impact on our kids' lives? Join Tristan as he unpacks a step-by-step strategy for effectively leading your kids on a short-term mission trip. Youth mission trips can be transformational to our kid's spiritual lives, and they can also be done in an ethical way that can leave a lasting impact on the lives you serve. Track 2 | Youth Culture Creating Redemptive Communities for Adolescents Wrestling With Gender, Sex, and Sexuality Presented by: Kyla Gillespie Location: Nikkel Hall There are very few students who are not personally wrestling with issues of gender, sex, and sexuality (or don’t have close friends who are). It seems to be the most pervasive issue in current adolescent culture. Is there a way to care for, lead, shepherd, and love all teens in our community when it comes to these complex realities? This breakout will walk through ideas to help you as you point these students to Jesus. Breakout 3 SEE BREAKOUTS Meet our dynamic speakers for this year's conference! Each presenter brings a wealth of experience and passion for equipping youth workers to impact the next generation. From leadership development to understanding today’s youth culture, they’ll be guiding breakout sessions that dive into essential ministry tools and strategies for empowering students to step into their own ministry roles. Get ready to be inspired and equipped to lead with greater purpose and insight! Presenters Tim Barnett Tim Barnett is an apologist and speaker with Stand to Reason (STR), an apologetics ministry dedicated to training Christians to think more clearly about their faith. Tim travels across the US and Canada, speaking to thousands of people each year. He’s also a frequent guest on podcasts and YouTube channels. Jason Ballard Jason is the lead Pastor of The Way Church in Vancouver British Columbia and the Director of The Pastorate (formerly The Canadian Church Leader Network). He is one of the Hosts of the Alpha Youth Series and The Pastorate Podcast. He is Married to Rachael and they have three kids: Hudson (11), Mary (9) and Millie (7). You can find out more about him on Instragram @jasonaballard Sid Koop From camp speaker to local youth pastor to youth ministry professor, Sid draws from over 25 years of youth ministry experience. Sid Koop is the Executive Director of the Youth Worker Community where he and his team are dedicated to equipping, empowering, and relationally supporting youth workers to help the next generation follow Jesus. YWC is shaping ministry to adolescents in Canada through Digital Resources, The Coalition, Youth Worker Training Events, and Youth Ministry Coaching, and Consulting, equipping and encouraging thousands of youth workers each year. Currently, his "most important" contract is working for his wife at Green Bay Bible Camp as the Director of Leadership Development and Discipleship). Emma Narayanan Emma is the co-Lead Pastor of Avant Life Church which she planted in 2018. She is passionate about leadership development, church planting, worship ministry and teaching. She loves encouraging leaders to step into the calling they have received with bold faith, spiritual authority and humble surrender to God. She has served as a Youth & Young Adults Pastor, Worship Pastor, and Events Manager and now has the privilege of serving as Lead Pastor alongside her husband, Ben. Josh Woodcock Josh lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick, with his wife, Melissa, daughter, Claire, and their golden retriever, Banjo. With a background in camp, youth, and digital ministry, he completed his Master’s in Theological Studies with a focus on Youth Ministry from the University of Waterloo. Now, as the Director of the FaithSpark app for One Hope Canada, Josh channels his experience and passion into reaching the next generation of digital natives. Marv Penner Marv is a veteran youth worker who has given his life to serving the next generation and to caring for those who love them. An author, professor, trainer, mentor, consultant, advocate and thought leader, Marv has travelled the world to invest in students, leaders, parents, and decision makers at every level. As a registered clinical counselor, he continues to work each week with hurting teens and their families. Marv is the Founder of The Coalition for Youth Ministry Leadership, a unique apprenticeship based vocational ministry training program based in Kelowna, BC. Marv and his wife, Lois, live in Lake Country, British Columbia. They have three adult children and five energetic grandkids. Aliza Latta Aliza Latta is a writer, artist, and pastor who is a huge fan of telling stories. She creates content for Canada’s largest youth conference, Change Conference, and is a church planter and pastor in Ontario. Ben Woodman After ten years as a youth pastor and speaker, Ben joined Alpha Canada to create and host the Alpha Youth Series. He currently devotes his time to coaching youth workers, speaking, and creating content to help make faith come alive for youth, kids, and adults. Ben has a joy and enthusiasm for life that is infectious. He and his wife, Melissa live in Vancouver with their daughter, Livia. Find him on Instagram at @benwoodman. Jeremy MacDonald Jeremy has been a youth pastor in a large church with 100s of teenagers, in a small church where things grew from a couple volunteers and 6 teenagers, and in a multi-site church with six different youth groups. He is now the Director of Operations at the Youth Worker Community, Professor of NextGen Ministry at Kingswood University, and the Teaching Pastor at Moncton Wesleyan. Steve Zacharias Steve’s passion is to be an encourager and catalyst for emerging leaders. His ministry adventure has spanned over a couple decades and has taken him around the globe, supporting leaders in camp and youth ministry on four continents. The teams he’s served with have pioneered dynamic ministries that reach hundreds of thousands every week. He deeply loves connecting with Jesus, people and good pizza. AJ Crocker AJ Crocker has worked at Briercrest for 15 years leading things like Youth Quake, High School chapel program, Recruitment teams and Marketing departments. AJ has a BA in Youth Ministry and an MBA in Digital Marketing. He currently serves as the Vice-President of External Relations for Briercrest Christian Academy, College, and Seminary. Rick Hiemstra Rick Hiemstra is Director of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada's Centre for Research on Church and Faith (CRCF). Prior to coming to the EFC, he served as a Wesleyan pastor and as a high school mathematics and computer science teacher. Rick speaks on Canadian church and cultural trends, including the recent Parenting Faith, Significant Church and Renegotiating Faith studies. He holds a BMath from the University of Waterloo, a BEd from Ottawa University and an MTS from Tyndale Seminary. Sarah Stanley Sarah is a follower of Jesus, adventure seeker, and a novice-coffee drinker. She lives in Kelowna, BC with her fam and serves as a NextGen Pastor - overseeing kids, youth, young adults and family ministries. When not hanging out at YWC, she can be found exploring new hiking trails, having coffee with a friend, or practicing her triangle playing skills. Tristan Kruse Tristan Kruse is a husband and father to three beautiful kids. He is currently serving as the National Director for Christar Canada, an organization that focuses on reaching out with the Gospel to those who have yet to hear the good news of Jesus. He has been active in youth ministry both in Canada and overseas and has a heart to see this next generation equipped to fulfill Christ's call on their lives, wherever that might be. Kyla Gillespie Kyla Gillespie's deep desire is to help Christians be better equipped to love the LGBTQ+ community. Kyla has been a contributor to The Center for Faith, Sexuality and Gender, and is a speaker and writer—often speaking about her own experiences with same-sex attraction and gender dysphoria. She currently lives in Coquitlam, B.C. www.kylagillespie.com @kylagillespie.14 renewedtransformed@gmail.com Doug Holliday Doug Holliday is passionate about engaging students in an encounter with the living Christ and equipping leaders with disciple-making priorities and practices, speaking at conferences, camps and churches across North America and around the globe. Doug is a thirty-plus-year youth ministry veteran, having served on staff in the local church as a youth pastor and teaching pastor in Illinois, New Jersey and Florida. Doug is the President of Sonlife Ministries and has also served on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ and as a Speaker and Trainer with Dare 2 Share. Doug is a graduate of Liberty University and Wheaton College Graduate School. He and his wife, Jennifer, live in Lake Mary, Florida. They have six daughters: Marisa, Jaclyn, Emma, Edline, Mary-Faith and Edithe. Visit The Lobby & Meet Our Sponsors National Sponsors National Sponsors Regional Sponsor Regional Sponsor OUR SPONSORS How to Process this Event with Your Team This is a crazy, intense, completely full, brain boggling weekend of learning and community building for you and your youth ministry team. We know there’s not a lot of time to sit back and reflect on what you’re hearing and learning much over the course of the weekend, and that can make things feel overwhelming. So what do you do once the event is finished? Check out these 3 steps to help you pull what you’ve learned this weekend into your ministry. 1. Book the FollowUp Meeting Today! Before you leave, compare calendars with your team and set up a time to review the weekend. Meet up over coffee or a meal with everyone and then go over notes and talk through things you learned and the experiences you shared on the weekend. If you can’t get everyone together at once, then meet one on one or in small groups. 2. Identify One Action Item for Now and One for Later Simplifying to two action items helps keep things moving and frees you from being overwhelmed with all of the things you feel you need to do RIGHT NOW 3. Meet with Your Supervisor/Senior Pastor If meeting with a senior pastor is a stretch or will take too long then write a report. When your church or ministry has financed you to go to a conference, a great way to say “thank you” is to put into words what you learned. Talk about things you learned, experiences you had, and what you’re doing moving forward to use what you learned. Keeping one another informed and on the inside of what’s happening with you and your youth team will build trust and create open communication lines that will be to everyone’s benefit. General Assessment A resource for you to critically assess weaknesses while celebrating wins in your ministry. Which areas require more attention? Where are you crushing it? Click here to download this PDF free from the YWC Team. DOWNLOAD OUR SPONSORS Collaboratively shaping the future of youth ministry. Coalition students experience a dynamic way of learning that fits their life and ministry. The Coalition could be right for you if your current situation sounds like... "I feel called to be in youth ministry one day, but I have little to no training or experience." "I am currently in a youth ministry leadership role but haven't had the opportunity to be formally or comprehensively trained." "I have an undergraduate (Bachelors) degree and am currently in a youth ministry leadership position but would love to upgrade to a Masters degree without having to leave my current situation." LEARN MORE APPLY NOW Experiential Learning Spiritual Formation Intentional Community Academic Excellence YOUTH GROUP TALKS Train Your Volunteers Plug and play training videos ready to encourage and equip your team. LEARN MORE Teach Your Students Youth group video talks that are ready to download and play in any context. LEARN MORE

Proudly Presented By: YOUTH WORKER CONFERENCE MONCTON Helping you better disciple your students next week LEARN MORE SEND US FEEDBACK YOUTH WORKER CONFERENCE MONCTON Helping you better disciple your students next week LEARN MORE SEND US FEEDBACK Proudly Presented By: Helping you better disciple your students next week LEARN MORE REGISTER NOW YOUTH WORKER CONFERENCE MONCTON Helping you better disciple your students next week November 15-16, 2024 Moncton Wesleyan Church 945 St. George Blvd, Moncton, NB, E1E 2C9 REGISTER NOW LEARN MORE Our Sponsors Our Sponsors KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Tim Barnett Tim Barnett is an apologist and speaker with Stand to Reason (STR), an apologetics ministry dedicated to training Christians to think more clearly about their faith. Tim travels across the US and Canada, speaking to thousands of people each year. He’s also a frequent guest on podcasts and YouTube channels. Kaitlyn Cey Kaitlyn is a speaker, writer, and Certified Leadership Coach. She is accredited with the ICF (International Coaching Federation) and she is the Founding Executive Director of the youth empowerment organization, Inspire Our Nation. Kaitlyn is an Educator and Credential Holder with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. She is passionate about inspiring people towards God’s greatest purposes for their lives personally and professionally. Sid Koop From camp speaker to local youth pastor to youth ministry professor, Sid draws from over 25 years of youth ministry experience. Sid Koop is the Executive Director of the Youth Worker Community where he and his team are dedicated to equipping, empowering, and relationally supporting youth workers to help the next generation follow Jesus. YWC is shaping ministry to adolescents in Canada through Digital Resources, The Coalition, Youth Worker Training Events, and Youth Ministry Coaching, and Consulting, equipping and encouraging thousands of youth workers each year. Currently, his "most important" contract is working for his wife at Green Bay Bible Camp as the Director of Leadership Development and Discipleship). Hakeem Bradley Hakeem has served in pastoral ministry at various churches in Portland, OR before transitioning to full-time biblical scholarship in 2021. He has the privilege of helping other people learn about the Scriptures, so that they will experience God’s invitation to know him. Being a Bible nerd is the name of my game. As a result, Hakeem received a Master of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies and is currently working on a Ph.D. in New Testament Studies. MAIN SESSION TEAM Kait Brennan | Host Kaitlin Brennan currently lives in Moose Jaw with her husband Matt. She works as the Director of Youth Quake at Briercrest College and Seminary, where her main goal is to guide youth in their relationship with Jesus. During the summer, she visits and speaks at various Bible camps around Saskatchewan. Kait is deeply committed to helping young people grow in their faith and wants to see the next generation dedicated to following Jesus with their whole lives. Kait graduated from Briercrest in 2018 with a degree in Psychology, and is currently working towards a Masters in Leadership. In her free time, Kait enjoys a good cup of coffee, playing board games with friends, camping, and spending time with her family at their farm. Ben Woodman | Host After ten years as a youth pastor and speaker, Ben joined Alpha Canada to create and host the Alpha Youth Series. He currently devotes his time to coaching youth workers, speaking, and creating content to help make faith come alive for youth, kids, and adults. Ben has a joy and enthusiasm for life that is infectious. He and his wife, Melissa live in Vancouver with their daughter, Livia. Find him on Instagram at @benwoodman. Marc Joliceour | Worship Marc is a longtime follower & passionate worshipper of Jesus. His experience in worship leadership and artistic creativity has afforded him the opportunity to serve in those capacities at his local church (Moncton Wesleyan) for the last 8 years, as well as itinerantly abroad. He also currently serves as the Director of Worship Studies @ Kingswood University, as a researcher @ WorshipLeaderResearch.com, and as a curious conversation partner @ the Jolly Thoughts Podcast. 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 Play VENUE MAP VENUE MAP Upper Level Main Level CONFERENCE SCHEDULE THURSDAY SCHEDULE Time Event 7:00pm - 8:30pm Wings With Us What's This? RSVP FOR WINGS FRIDAY SCHEDULE Time Event 9:00am - 4:30pm Point Leader Conference With Hakeem Bradley, Tim Barnett, and Sid Koop What's This? 6:00pm - 7:00pm Registration Opens 7:00pm - 9:00pm Main Session #1 With Hakeem Bradley What's This? 9:00pm - 10:00pm After Party SATURDAY SCHEDULE Time Event 8:15am - 8:45am Morning Worship & Prayer 9:00am - 10:15am Main Session #2 With Tim Barnett 10:15am - 10:45am Snack Break 10:45am - 11:45am Breakout #1 12:00pm - 1:15pm Lunch Break 1:15pm - 2:15pm Breakout #2 2:15pm - 2:45pm Snack Break 2:45pm - 3:45pm Breakout #3 4:00pm - 5:00pm Main Session #3 With Kaitlyn Cey BREAKOUT TRACKS Trying to decide which breakouts to attend? Use these questions to prompt what might be most helpful for you and your ministry. SEE BREAKOUT DETAILS Track 1 LEADERSHIP Help! I'm Struggling With All the Administration and Planning That My Ministry Requires | Breakout 1 Responsible Digital Discipleship | Breakout 1 Faith Beyond Youth Group: ReFocusing Youth Ministry Breakout 2 Equipping point leaders to bring out the best in their teams and ministries. Track 2 YOUTH CULTURE Q&A on the Deconstruction of Christianity | Breakout 1 Navigating Current Cultural Conversations | Breakout 2 Who I Really Am | Breakout 3 The Problem of Pornography | Breakout 3 Understanding and engaging new cultural norms. Track 3 MINISTRY TOOLS How to Help Your Students Love The Bible | Breakout 1 How To Lead a Great Small Group | Breakout 2 When High School Isn’t A Musical: Helping Kids In Hard Relationships | Breakout 3 Bridging Generations: Empowering Youth with the Support of Parents and Mentors | Breakout 3 Equipping volunteers with practical skills & tools for effective ministry. Track 4 MOVING STUDENTS TO MISSION 4 Chair Discipleship 101 | Breakout 1 Equipping High School Students to Lead with Biblical Competency and Character | Breakout 2 4 Chair Discipleship 201 | Breakout 3 Short-Term Missions: Making the Most of Life-Changing Experiences | Breakout 3 Equipping volunteers to help students engage in mission. Track 2 | Youth Culture Q&A on the Deconstruction of Christianity Presented by: Tim Barnett Location: Room #222 Tim Barnett is an apologist, speaker, and YouTuber that reaches millions of people very month through his ministry Red Pen Logic, which assesses bad thinking on social media by using good thinking. He sits at the forefront of many ideas people have when deconstructing Christianity. Join him for a live Q&A where you can bring questions from your specific context. Track 3 | Ministry Tools How To Help Your Students Love The Bible Presented by: Hakeem Bradley Location: Room #254 We will explore what it could look like to engage with the Scriptures in a time of widespread deconstruction in the faith. Track 1 | Leadership Help! I'm Struggling With All the Administration and Planning That My Ministry Requires Presented by: Jeremy MacDonald Location: Room #231 Does the administrative side of ministry leave you feeling overwhelmed? You’re not alone! Many leaders find that balancing ministry with the constant demands of planning, emails, messages, receipts, and all the meetings can be challenging. Join us as we dive into practical strategies and tools that will help you remain passionate about your calling while managing the details — all without stress! Or at least less stress. Track 4 | Moving Students to Mission 4 Chair Discipleship 101 Presented by: Brett Andrews + Josh Lott Location: Room #244 Jesus recognized that the people he encountered were at different stages of growth and development, and he worked to challenge each of them to the next level. In the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar, you'll get a clear and simple picture of how to follow in Jesus' footsteps and do the same thing. Who then should attend the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar? Anyone who wants to be encouraged with practical skills to be a disciple who makes disciples! Track 1 | Leadership Responsible Digital Discipleship Presented by: Josh Woodcock Location: Room #242 Everyone wants to know how to stay safely connected with their group when they go home. This breakout is a practical guide to responsible, ethical, and effective communication in your ministry as well as an introduction to the FaithSpark App as the answer. Breakout 1 Track 2 | Youth Culture Navigating Current Cultural Conversations Presented by: Kaitlyn Cey Location: Room #222 As youth leaders, it can be difficult to know how to navigate current cultural conversations that are impacting the next generation - especially the controversial ones! Join Kaitlyn Cey as she explores how the values and priorities Jesus taught and modelled can serve as a framework for the way we engage culture in our daily lives and in our conversations with the youth we lead. Track 4 | Moving Students to Mission Equipping High School Students to Lead with Biblical Competency and Character Presented by: Kait Brennan Location: Room #254 How do you develop Christian leadership in lives of high school students? As we raise up the next generation, are we developing the character and competency of our high school students? How do we foster a calling to leadership in those same students? In this session, AJ will walk through practical examples of how mentorship was a key to unlocking that type of leadership. AJ will also introduce you to a free digital resource from Youth Quake & Briercrest called Leadership Essentials: An 8-month ministry training program designed for high school aged leaders. Track 3 | Ministry Tools How to Lead a Great Small Group Presented by: Ben Woodman Location: Room #231 Small groups are foundational for a healthy youth ministry. But sometimes small groups just feel like chaos. Not controlled chaos. Just chaos. But it doesn’t have to be that way. This workshop will teach you how to create an environment where friends become family and faith puts down deep roots. Track 1 | Leadership Faith Beyond Youth Group: ReFocusing Youth Ministry Presented by: Chuck Hunt Location: Room #242 Building on two decades of the Fuller Youth Institute's work and incorporating extensive new research and interviews, Faith Beyond Youth Group identifies the reasons youth ministry often flops both short-term and long-term, and offers five ways adult youth leaders can cultivate character for a lifetime of growing closer to Jesus rather than drifting away. Anxiety, relational ruptures, job pressure, school dances, and even all influence our faith formation. ReFocusing your Youth Ministry will help young people experiencing what it means for them to live out Jesus’ goodness everyday by loving God and neighbors. Track 2 | Youth Culture The Problem of Pornography Presented by: Sid Koop Location: Room #244 This conversation is critical when you realize how pervasive and how destructive pornography is within your youth ministry. Teenagers' brains are being rewired, their understanding of intimacy is being hijacked, and their time is being filled by this powerful addiction. Unfortunately, the shame that porn brings often diminishes the ability to have honest conversations so that teenagers can find hope and healing. This session will walk through the importance of talking about pornography as well as practical and healthy ways to do so in your local context so your students can find hope and healing. Breakout 2 Track 2 | Youth Culture Who I Really Am Presented by: Rick Hiemstra Location: Room #242 In this session, Rick will look at how our anthropology (or how we think about ourselves) has changed in recent decades and why that makes it hard for people to receive Jesus. And we'll talk about what we can do about that so more people will choose to follow Christ. Track 3 | Ministry Tools When High School Isn't a Musical: Helping Kids in Hard Relationships Presented by: Steve Zacharias Location: Room #254 When you hear your students talk about their “bullies” or the ups and downs of their friendships break your heart? In the good and the difficult, your students need skills in working through hard relational dynamics. In this session we’ll work through how to help our youth to grow in self-awareness, identify harmful patterns, and discover healthy boundaries in their relationships. Track 4 | Moving Students to Mission 4 Chair Discipleship 201 Presented by: Brett Andrews + Josh Lott Location: Room #244 Jesus recognized that the people he encountered were at different stages of growth and development, and he worked to challenge each of them to the next level. In the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar, you'll get a clear and simple picture of how to follow in Jesus' footsteps and do the same thing. Who then should attend the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar? Anyone who wants to be encouraged with practical skills to be a disciple who makes disciples! Track 3 | Ministry Tools Bridging Generations: Empowering Youth with the Support of Parents and Mentors Presented by: Dan Pyke Location: Room #231 In an era where loneliness is a growing concern among teenagers, youth ministry leaders have a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between generations. This breakout highlights the vital role parents and older adults play in supporting the next generation—not just today, but for their long-term faith journey. Learn how intergenerational relationships provide the stability and care that teens need, shaping their spiritual growth for years to come. You'll leave with practical strategies to engage older generations, fostering a lasting community where youth feel supported, valued, and deeply connected in their faith. Track 4 | Moving Students to Mission Short-Term Missions: Making the Most of Life-Changing Experiences Presented by: Tristan Kruse Location: Room #222 Are short-term mission trips ethical? How can we do them in a way that blesses those we go to serve and leaves a lasting impact on our kids' lives? Join Tristan as he unpacks a step-by-step strategy for effectively leading your kids on a short-term mission trip. Youth mission trips can be transformational to our kid's spiritual lives, and they can also be done in an ethical way that can leave a lasting impact on the lives you serve. Breakout 3 SEE BREAKOUTS Meet our dynamic speakers for this year's conference! Each presenter brings a wealth of experience and passion for equipping youth workers to impact the next generation. From leadership development to understanding today’s youth culture, they’ll be guiding breakout sessions that dive into essential ministry tools and strategies for empowering students to step into their own ministry roles. Get ready to be inspired and equipped to lead with greater purpose and insight! Presenters Tim Barnett Tim Barnett is an apologist and speaker with Stand to Reason (STR), an apologetics ministry dedicated to training Christians to think more clearly about their faith. Tim travels across the US and Canada, speaking to thousands of people each year. He’s also a frequent guest on podcasts and YouTube channels. Kaitlyn Cey Kaitlyn is a speaker, writer, and Certified Leadership Coach. She is accredited with the ICF (International Coaching Federation) and she is the Founding Executive Director of the youth empowerment organization, Inspire Our Nation. Kaitlyn is an Educator and Credential Holder with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. She is passionate about inspiring people towards God’s greatest purposes for their lives personally and professionally. Sid Koop From camp speaker to local youth pastor to youth ministry professor, Sid draws from over 25 years of youth ministry experience. Sid Koop is the Executive Director of the Youth Worker Community where he and his team are dedicated to equipping, empowering, and relationally supporting youth workers to help the next generation follow Jesus. YWC is shaping ministry to adolescents in Canada through Digital Resources, The Coalition, Youth Worker Training Events, and Youth Ministry Coaching, and Consulting, equipping and encouraging thousands of youth workers each year. Currently, his "most important" contract is working for his wife at Green Bay Bible Camp as the Director of Leadership Development and Discipleship). Hakeem Bradley Hakeem has served in pastoral ministry at various churches in Portland, OR before transitioning to full-time biblical scholarship in 2021. He has the privilege of helping other people learn about the Scriptures, so that they will experience God’s invitation to know him. Being a Bible nerd is the name of my game. As a result, Hakeem received a Master of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies and is currently working on a Ph.D. in New Testament Studies. Kait Brennan Kaitlin Brennan currently lives in Moose Jaw with her husband Matt. She works as the Director of Youth Quake at Briercrest College and Seminary, where her main goal is to guide youth in their relationship with Jesus. During the summer, she visits and speaks at various Bible camps around Saskatchewan. Kait is deeply committed to helping young people grow in their faith and wants to see the next generation dedicated to following Jesus with their whole lives. Kait graduated from Briercrest in 2018 with a degree in Psychology, and is currently working towards a Masters in Leadership. In her free time, Kait enjoys a good cup of coffee, playing board games with friends, camping, and spending time with her family at their farm. Josh Woodcock Josh lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick, with his wife, Melissa, daughter, Claire, and their golden retriever, Banjo. With a background in camp, youth, and digital ministry, he completed his Master’s in Theological Studies with a focus on Youth Ministry from the University of Waterloo. Now, as the Director of the FaithSpark app for One Hope Canada, Josh channels his experience and passion into reaching the next generation of digital natives. Ben Woodman After ten years as a youth pastor and speaker, Ben joined Alpha Canada to create and host the Alpha Youth Series. He currently devotes his time to coaching youth workers, speaking, and creating content to help make faith come alive for youth, kids, and adults. Ben has a joy and enthusiasm for life that is infectious. He and his wife, Melissa live in Vancouver with their daughter, Livia. Find him on Instagram at @benwoodman. Chuck Hunt Rev. Charles (Chuck) Hunt, D.Min is the Sr. Director of Training at Fuller Youth Institute and has been ministering to adolescents, young adults, and their families for more than 30 years. Chuck is passionate about Christ’s call to restore our relationship with God and with each other, thus he advocates for righteousness and justice. Through both his career and lived experience, Chuck has an ability to connect with individuals from diverse cultural, spiritual, and economic backgrounds. He lives with his wife Shannon and their young adult daughter Rhyen, in Southern California. Though cleverly disguised as a responsible adult, Chuck still runs, surfs, mountain bikes, and skateboards. Jeremy MacDonald Jeremy has been a youth pastor in a large church with 100s of teenagers, in a small church where things grew from a couple volunteers and 6 teenagers, and in a multi-site church with six different youth groups. He is now the Director of Operations at the Youth Worker Community, Professor of NextGen Ministry at Kingswood University, and the Teaching Pastor at Moncton Wesleyan. Steve Zacharias Steve’s passion is to be an encourager and catalyst for emerging leaders. His ministry adventure has spanned over a couple decades and has taken him around the globe, supporting leaders in camp and youth ministry on four continents. The teams he’s served with have pioneered dynamic ministries that reach hundreds of thousands every week. He deeply loves connecting with Jesus, people and good pizza. Rick Hiemstra Rick Hiemstra is Director of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada's Centre for Research on Church and Faith (CRCF). Prior to coming to the EFC, he served as a Wesleyan pastor and as a high school mathematics and computer science teacher. Rick speaks on Canadian church and cultural trends, including the recent Parenting Faith, Significant Church and Renegotiating Faith studies. He holds a BMath from the University of Waterloo, a BEd from Ottawa University and an MTS from Tyndale Seminary. Tristan Kruse Tristan Kruse is a husband and father to three beautiful kids. He is currently serving as the National Director for Christar Canada, an organization that focuses on reaching out with the Gospel to those who have yet to hear the good news of Jesus. He has been active in youth ministry both in Canada and overseas and has a heart to see this next generation equipped to fulfill Christ's call on their lives, wherever that might be. Brett Andrews Dr. Brett Andrews is the Director of People Development for YFC Canada. Brett is a 36-year veteran of youth ministry who has served on the front-lines in Toronto and Woodstock, Ontario. He is dedicated to working with God to encourage growth in leadership, discipleship and resilience in youth missionaries. Brett loves teaching, helping people tell their stories & seeing where God is at work in their lives. He has an M.Div in Counselling and a D.Min in Christian Leadership, is a graduate of the Arrow Leadership Program as well as a certified leadership Coach through Coachnet International. Additionally, Brett recently graduated as a certified Spiritual Director through Emmaus Formation Centre. Dan Pyke Dan Pyke has served in youth ministry for many years and is now navigating life as a parent of teenagers. With a deep love ad appreciation for the local church and volunteer leaders, Dan currently serves as the Director of Youth & Family Ministries for the CBAC, where he is passionate about equipping leaders to foster intergenerational connections and long-term faith development in youth. Visit The Lobby & Meet Our Sponsors National Sponsors National Sponsors Regional Sponsors Regional Sponsors OUR SPONSORS How to Process this Event with Your Team This is a crazy, intense, completely full, brain boggling weekend of learning and community building for you and your youth ministry team. We know there’s not a lot of time to sit back and reflect on what you’re hearing and learning much over the course of the weekend, and that can make things feel overwhelming. So what do you do once the event is finished? Check out these 3 steps to help you pull what you’ve learned this weekend into your ministry. 1. Book the FollowUp Meeting Today! Before you leave, compare calendars with your team and set up a time to review the weekend. Meet up over coffee or a meal with everyone and then go over notes and talk through things you learned and the experiences you shared on the weekend. If you can’t get everyone together at once, then meet one on one or in small groups. 2. Identify One Action Item for Now and One for Later Simplifying to two action items helps keep things moving and frees you from being overwhelmed with all of the things you feel you need to do RIGHT NOW 3. Meet with Your Supervisor/Senior Pastor If meeting with a senior pastor is a stretch or will take too long then write a report. When your church or ministry has financed you to go to a conference, a great way to say “thank you” is to put into words what you learned. Talk about things you learned, experiences you had, and what you’re doing moving forward to use what you learned. Keeping one another informed and on the inside of what’s happening with you and your youth team will build trust and create open communication lines that will be to everyone’s benefit. General Assessment A resource for you to critically assess weaknesses while celebrating wins in your ministry. Which areas require more attention? Where are you crushing it? Click here to download this PDF free from the YWC Team. DOWNLOAD Collaboratively shaping the future of youth ministry. Coalition students experience a dynamic way of learning that fits their life and ministry. The Coalition could be right for you if your current situation sounds like... "I feel called to be in youth ministry one day, but I have little to no training or experience." "I am currently in a youth ministry leadership role but haven't had the opportunity to be formally or comprehensively trained." "I have an undergraduate (Bachelors) degree and am currently in a youth ministry leadership position but would love to upgrade to a Masters degree without having to leave my current situation." LEARN MORE APPLY NOW Experiential Learning Spiritual Formation Intentional Community Academic Excellence YOUTH GROUP TALKS Train Your Volunteers Plug and play training videos ready to encourage and equip your team. LEARN MORE Teach Your Students Youth group video talks that are ready to download and play in any context. LEARN MORE

Empower Your Students with Engaging Video Lessons Let us help you lead students in a growing relationship with Jesus using our curated video content EXPLORE CURRICULUM Teach Your Students Youth group video talks that are ready to download and play in any context. EXPLORE VIDEOS Curriculum for Students The Life You Long For with Aliza Latta SEE THE SERIES Praying Through Psalm 23 with Spencer Conway SEE THE SERIES Better Together with Peter Bakunda SEE THE SERIES The Problem of Suffering with Kiara Moshansky SEE THE SERIES How He Loves with Elisa Humphreys SEE THE SERIES You Are Loved with Ben Woodman SEE THE SERIES Face to Face with Jesus with Kaitlin Brennan SEE THE SERIES Character by Design with Chris Williams SEE THE SERIES You Have Purpose with Lydia Kidd SEE THE SERIES Looking for Training to Equip Your Volunteers? Check out our engaging volunteer teachings! EXPLORE CURRICULUM

4 Core Responsibilities of a Youth Worker with Sid Koop and Jason Ballard Video Package $50 ADD TO CART About the Training You care about the faith of the next generation – that’s why you are a youth worker. But sometimes it can be challenging to understand exactly what your role is supposed to be. Is there a job description for what we do? What actions or steps can you take to make sure that you can make a difference for the teenagers in your ministry? Join Sid Koop and Jason Ballard as they unpack the 4 Core Responsibilities of every youth worker in this five part video series. No matter what your program looks like, these responsibilities will give you a clearer vision for what you are called to do and the confidence to carry it out. Is your youth ministry averaging 10 or fewer students each week? You can get 50% off all your purchases by using code SMALLBUTMIGHTY at checkout. And if you just don't have resources for your ministry, you can always use code WENEEDABREAK to access this series for free. *Every dollar spent on these resources goes back into creating more series like this.* Preview the Series Buy the Course Now! Video Package $50 ADD TO CART Amplify Ministry Impact Train Your Volunteers Cultivate Faith Foundations Teach Your Students

You Are Loved with Ben Woodman Video Package $20 ADD TO CART About the Series In this 2-part series with Ben Woodman, we are going to look at how God feels towards us. Hint: He LOVES us. We will look at different stories from the Bible to open up these ideas and wrestle with what God is like, how He feels towards us, and how we can experience that for ourselves. The hope is that the truth about how much God loves us can sink a little bit deeper from our heads into our hearts. Your purchase also includes small group questions, making it a ready-to-use resource for youth workers. Feel free to access a full preview of this teaching video below to make sure that it fits for your group. Is your youth ministry averaging 10 or fewer students each week? You can get 50% off all your purchases by using code SMALLBUTMIGHTY at checkout. And if you just don't have resources for your ministry, you can always use code WENEEDABREAK to access this series for free. *Every dollar spent on these resources goes back into creating more series like this.* Preview the Curriculum Buy the Series Now! Video Package $20 ADD TO CART Amplify Ministry Impact Train Your Volunteers Cultivate Faith Foundations Teach Your Students

Better Together with Peter Bakunda Video Package $30 ADD TO CART About the Series In this 3-part series with Peter Bakunda, we will talk about how we’re better together. The Bible says that two are better than one because if one falls, the other is there to pick the other one up. Life is challenging, so we need each other. This series will look at the themes of loneliness, key relationships, and community. Your purchase also includes small group questions, making it a ready-to-use resource for youth workers. Feel free to access a full preview of this teaching video below to make sure that it fits for your group. Is your youth ministry averaging 10 or fewer students each week? You can get 50% off all your purchases by using code SMALLBUTMIGHTY at checkout. And if you just don't have resources for your ministry, you can always use code WENEEDABREAK to access this series for free. *Every dollar spent on these resources goes back into creating more series like this.* Preview the Curriculum Buy the Series Now! Video Package $30 ADD TO CART Amplify Ministry Impact Train Your Volunteers Cultivate Faith Foundations Teach Your Students

Face to Face with Jesus with Kaitlin Brennan Video Package $30 ADD TO CART About the Series In this 3-part series with Kaitlin Brennan, we will look at three stories of three women who had the opportunity to be face to face with Jesus. All of them responded differently. In this series we will look at how we can respond to Jesus because even though we aren’t face to face with Jesus in the same way, we do get to encounter Him every day and how we respond will impact us and the world around us. Your purchase also includes small group questions, making it a ready-to-use resource for youth workers. Feel free to access a full preview of this teaching video below to make sure that it fits for your group. Is your youth ministry averaging 10 or fewer students each week? You can get 50% off all your purchases by using code SMALLBUTMIGHTY at checkout. And if you just don't have resources for your ministry, you can always use code WENEEDABREAK to access this series for free. *Every dollar spent on these resources goes back into creating more series like this.* Preview the Curriculum Buy the Series Now! Video Package $30 ADD TO CART Amplify Ministry Impact Train Your Volunteers Cultivate Faith Foundations Teach Your Students

Character by Design with Chris Williams Video Package $40 ADD TO CART About the Series In this 4-part series with Chris Williams, we will explore the transformative power of character development through the teachings of Jesus. Each week, we address a different aspect of how we can shape our lives to reflect Christ-like qualities. From building a strong foundation on Jesus’ teachings, embracing humility, facing life's storms with steadfastness, to ultimately understanding the depth of true love, Chris guides us through practical steps and personal reflections. This series aims to inspire and equip us to live out our faith with intention and grace, fostering a life that truly makes a difference. Your purchase also includes small group questions, making it a ready-to-use resource for youth workers. Feel free to access a full preview of this teaching video below to make sure that it fits for your group. Is your youth ministry averaging 10 or fewer students each week? You can get 50% off all your purchases by using code SMALLBUTMIGHTY at checkout. And if you just don't have resources for your ministry, you can always use code WENEEDABREAK to access this series for free. *Every dollar spent on these resources goes back into creating more series like this.* Preview the Curriculum Buy the Series Now! Video Package $40 ADD TO CART Amplify Ministry Impact Train Your Volunteers Cultivate Faith Foundations Teach Your Students

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