60+ hours of practical youth ministry training in six breakout blocks.
Click on any of the dates and times below to see a list of some of the specific breakout sessions that we are offering at Conclave. Don’t worry – we offer MP3 audio recordings onsite for any of the sessions that you are unable to make!
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TITLE: Chad-GPT
DESCRIPTION: This breakout will demonstrate how to leverage AI to plan your program, lighten your load, and design your life.
LEADER: Zac Workun, Student Ministry Training Specialist, Lifeway Christian Resources, Nashville, TN
ROOM: 2
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TITLE: Can I Talk About That? How to Approach Cultural Issues with Biblical Truth:
DESCRIPTION: Do you find it difficult to talk with your students about cultural shifts that push against the gospel? How do you address cultural misconceptions that threaten to cancel anyone with an opposing view? Our culture is dominated by lies that oppose God’s truth. Let’s talk about the best way to approach these cultural issues Biblically.
LEADER: Shane Pruitt, National Next Gen Director, North American Mission Board, Alpharetta, GA
ROOM: 7
TITLE: Developing A Next Gen Missional Pipeline
DESCRIPTION: One of the greatest joys in ministry is watching the next generations grow into spiritual maturity and launch into adult life as ambassadors for Christ and agents of reconciliation. Envision year after year of people sent out from your church to reach lost people with the gospel, start churches, and serve God in careers and places all over the world! Explore the elements and strategies you can put to work as your own plan for a pipeline.
LEADER: George Siler, Manager of Packaged Volunteer Trips, International Mission Board, Richmond, VA
ROOM: 8
TITLE: Prayer, Bible Study, and the Mental Health of the Student Pastor
DESCRIPTION: This breakout will discuss the importance of personal prayer and Bible study for Student Pastors. Practical tips will be given on how Student Pastors/Leaders can prioritize this in their personal lives. There will also be discussion on how the mental health of the student pastor must be addressed to survive long-term in ministry.
LEADER: Tim Kilgore, Pastor of Families, Central Baptist Waycross, GA & Georgia Baptist Mission Board South Rep
ROOM: 9
TITLE: Thriving in Babylon: Living Out Your Faith When It’s Unpopular
DESCRIPTION: Our kids have more in common with teenagers raised in Corinth, than what their grandparents would have experienced. That means we need to prepare students not only to survive but also to thrive in hostile territory. Grounding kids in the gospel and proactively giving them answers on sexuality and gender will be key! We will be in Daniel 3 and identify multiple parallels.
LEADER: Kevin Hash, Student Pastor, Versailles Baptist Church, Versailles, KY
ROOM: 10
TITLE: Creative Youth Pastors Win
DESCRIPTION: Creative>Cookie-Cutter. Every. Single. Time. Learn to be a more creative minister with students and become a problem solver!
LEADER: John Nugent, Minister of Youth, Temple Baptist Church, Ruston, LA
ROOM: 11
TITLE: Establishing Evangelistic Culture in Student Ministry
DESCRIPTION: Dive into the essentials of cultivating an evangelistic culture within your student ministry! In this interactive session, you’ll explore practical strategies and discuss how to inspire students to embrace and live out their faith within their spheres of influence. Learn how to create an environment where evangelism is not just an event but a core part of the ministry’s identity. We’ll discuss how to equip students with the tools and confidence to share their faith, integrate evangelism into your regular programming, and foster a community that is passionate about outreach. Whether you’re just starting or looking to revamp your approach, this session will provide actionable insights and fresh ideas to ignite a culture of evangelism among your students.
LEADER: Collin Wilson, Student Pastor, Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, Easley, SC
ROOM: 16
TITLE: How to Build a Bridge to Your Public High School
DESCRIPTION: While the days of a Youth Pastor eating lunch with their students in a public school might be behind us, public schools might not be as closed off to your ministry as you think! In this breakout, we will explore several ways to get inside the four walls of your public high school for the purpose of kingdom advancement. I will share how our ministry has built bridges with several local public high schools and potentially help you do the same!
LEADER: Jake Hueni, Director of Music and Youth, New Life Church, Osceola, IN
ROOM: 17
TITLE: Creative Ministry Training for Maximum Impact
DESCRIPTION: Ever feel like you’re boring your students and leaders? Have you ever wanted to do more hands-on learning, but never really understood how to incorporate it into a training plan? Do you want your students to actually remember what you taught them?
Yes, speaking in front of a crowd and commanding the stage is a critical communication skill, but it’s certainly not the only method. And it’s often not the most effective in training your students and leaders in critical skills for discipleship, evangelism, and missions. In Creating Ministry Trainings for Maximum Impact, you’ll learn 12 unique teaching methods and a clear system to develop your own customized training for your ministry.
LEADER: Charlie Swain, Next Gen Mobilizing Strategist, South Carolina Baptist Convention, Columbia, SC
ROOM: 18
TITLE: Empowering Parents When Their Teenager Feels Called to Ministry
DESCRIPTION: While we aspire for all parents and guardians to embrace their children’s call to ministry, the reality is that even among devout families, some may struggle to do so. In this session, we aim to address the complex thoughts, assumptions, and emotions parents may encounter regarding ministry and provide practical guidance on how they can support their children as they navigate this profound calling. Join us as we explore ways to assist parents in embracing and nurturing their teenager’s journey towards ministry.
LEADER: Dr. Dwayne Parker, Director of Discipleship/Sunday School, Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, Jackson, MS
ROOM: 19
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TITLE: A Perfect Fit: Dreaming, Building, Leading, and Improving an Effective Girls’ Ministry Customized for Your Unique Context
DESCRIPTION: Ministry isn’t a one-size-fits-all endeavor. You can’t borrow a girl’s ministry from someone else and expect it to work as well in your context. You have to grow your own! Come learn how to address the needs of the girls in your community in an ongoing, strategic, and systematic way that takes into consideration the nuanced challenges they face. Don’t worry! Your girl’s ministry does not have to be elaborate, expensive, or super time-consuming to be effective. It only needs to be intentional!
LEADER: Angela Sanders, Author, Speaker, Ministry Strategist, AngelaSandersWrites.com, Edmond, OK
ROOM: 11
TITLE: Understanding and Teaching God’s Design for Sex and Gender
DESCRIPTION: Our children and teens are growing up in a world where “It’s all up to you!” is the mantra that guides – or more accurately mis-guides – our students into embracing and living out ideologies on sex and gender that undermine their human flourishing. In this seminar, Walt will walk you through how the Sex Positive movement and LGBTQ+ ideologies are forming the beliefs and behaviors of our kids, along with how and what to teach about the beauty of God’s sex-and-gender-positive design. as the path to spiritual growth, relational growth, and sexual flourishing.
LEADER: Walt Mueller, Founder & President, Center for Parent/Youth Understanding, Elizabethtown, PA
ROOM: 12
TITLE: So Your Students Are Dealing with Some Heavy Stuff!
DESCRIPTION: In this part 1 discussion we will deal with many of the complex trauma our students are bringing to our ministries. How can we equip ourselves to meet the needs of our students who are dealing with issues such as anxiety, depression, thoughts of suicide, and past emotional/ physical trauma? Proven strategies for connecting and communicating care to hurting students.
LEADERS: Steve Spence, High School Pastor, Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis, TN
Shelly Spence, Licensed Professional Counselor, Shelley Spence Counseling, Cordova, TN
ROOM: 13
TITLE: Finding a Healthy Rhythm in Ministry
DESCRIPTION: Move from surviving to thriving. There is something broken in the church work culture today, but there is a biblical rhythm that allows you to experience powerful ministry and joyful life. A real testimony and a real plan you can start today.
LEADER: Andy Addis, Lead Teaching & Vision Pastor, Crosspoint Church, KS
ROOM: 14
TITLE: Beyond Z: Reaching Gen Alpha
DESCRIPTION: This breakout will unpack characteristics of Gen Alpha and provide insights in to how to best reach them.
LEADER: Dr. Shelly Melia, Program Director for the Master of Arts in Family Ministry, Dallas Baptist University, Dallas, TX
ROOM: 15
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TITLE: Yes, That Really Happened!
DESCRIPTION: What I have learned in 20 years of ministry with Shane Pruitt.
LEADER: Shane Pruitt, National Next Gen Director, North American Mission Board, Alpharetta, GA
ROOM: 6
TITLE: Marriage in Ministry
DESCRIPTION: Practical helps for nurturing marriage through the demands of ministry leadership with Chris and Wendy Trent.
LEADER: Chris & Wendy Trent, Next Gen Catalyst, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Suwanee, GA
ROOM: 5
TITLE: Student Ministry Rookies
DESCRIPTION: Establish healthy habits in your first three years of ministry with Steve Coleman.
LEADER: Steve Coleman, Minister to Youth & Families, FBC Richmond, KY
ROOM: 4
TITLE: Large Church Round Table
DESCRIPTION: Discuss leadership and ministry distinctives for large student ministries with Matt Dickey.
LEADER: Matt Dickey, Minister to Middle School Students, FBC Trussville, AL
ROOM: 3
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TITLE: Wives’ Session 1: Joy in Ministry comes from God’s Pruning
DESCRIPTION: In John 15:1-2, Jesus describes the first surprising pathway to finding joy: God’s pruning. In this session, we will specifically look at what these seasons of pruning look like and how we can trust God to bring about joy from our sorrows.
LEADER: Dr. Tera Dew, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, LA
ROOM: 2
TITLE: Discipleship Strategies for Youth Ministry
DESCRIPTION: The promise of youth ministry is more than just knowledge—it’s discipleship. Join Doug as he intentionally examines how to integrate discipleship and youth ministry. Learn practical tips and tricks for building meaningful relationships, sharing personal stories, asking intentional questions, helping students make life applications, and holding students accountable.
LEADER: Doug Franklin, President, LeaderTreks, Carol Stream, IL
ROOM: 7
TITLE: Leveraging Relational Equity in Student Ministry
DESCRIPTION: Relational equity is the currency we use to influence other people. We will discuss some pitfalls to avoid and ways you can effectively leverage your equity with students, parents, volunteers, and church staff to be a good steward of the resources God has given you.
LEADER: Andrew Watts, Student Pastor, Meadow Grove Baptist Church, Brandon, MS & Daniel Moody, Middle School Pastor, First Baptist Church, Brandon, MS
ROOM: 8
TITLE: Creating a Student Culture that Prioritizes the Bible
DESCRIPTION: Many students seem apathetic towards Bible Study. This session will show practical ways to engage students and create a culture that invites them to be people of the Bible. This will often mean changing the culture of your students and adult leaders.
LEADER: Allen Huber, Georgia
ROOM: 9
TITLE: Are Christian’s “Safe?” An Answer to the World’s Narrative
DESCRIPTION: Our kids are raised on a narrative that if you do not agree with the culture of LGBT, then at best, you are wrong; at worst, you are hateful and unsafe. Many student ministers are uncertain how to navigate this and maybe even wonder, “Am I safe?” In this breakout, we will look at how unsafe the world is, how the Bible is ultimately good, and how there is no safer place than to be at the feet of Jesus. This breakout will also address some narratives about suicidality among LGBT-identifying youths and how to help your students navigate the media they consume.
LEADER: Kevin Hash, Student Pastor, Versailles Baptist Church, Versailles, KY
ROOM: 10
TITLE: All Things Are Possible: Cultivating a Culture of Biblical Sisterhood Among the Girls in Your Youth Group
DESCRIPTION: What would happen if your church became the one place in your community where girls and women felt safe, accepted, and included? This kind of culture isn’t a destination. It’s an ongoing journey paved with gratitude, common purpose, and mutual submission for the sake of the Gospel and God’s glory. Come learn how to teach, model, and implement principles of biblical sisterhood that allow for individual and Kingdom growth. It’s possible! All it takes is commitment and Jesus.
LEADER: Angela Sanders, Author, Speaker, Ministry Strategist, AngelaSandersWrites.com, Edmond, OK
ROOM: 11
TITLE: Youth Culture 101: Cultural Forces Shaping Children and Teens Today
DESCRIPTION: Our kids are growing up in a world that powerfully shapes and mis-shapes their values, attitudes, and behaviors. What are the major cultural forces that are influencing the worldviews of children and teens today? How can we begin to temper the negative influences that present challenges for Christian parents and youth workers? In this practical and hope-filled seminar, Walt will pull back the curtain on a handful of the most-influential and often-overlooked trends which parents can and must address in the home and which youth workers can and must address in the church.
LEADER: Walt Mueller, Founder & President, Center for Parent/Youth Understanding, Elizabethtown, PA
ROOM: 12
TITLE: So Your Students are Dealing with Some Heavy Stuff! Part 2
DESCRIPTION:
LEADER: Steve & Shelly Spence
ROOM: 13
TITLE: The Story of Forgiveness
DESCRIPTION: Woundedness happens in ministry. If we are ever to communicate and lead a broken world in the realities of forgiveness, we must experience it ourselves. We have been forgiven, but we must learn to find the release of forgiving others.
LEADER: Andy Addis, Lead Teaching & Vision Pastor, Crosspoint Church, KS
ROOM: 14
TITLE: Leveraging Your Strengths and Recruiting for Your Weaknesses
DESCRIPTION: This breakout emphasizes understanding your strengths and weaknesses and provides an opportunity to create a visual of the team you lead to see what is missing.
LEADER: Dr. Shelly Melia, Program Director for the Master of Arts in Family Ministry, Dallas Baptist University, Dallas, TX
ROOM: 15
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WIVES BREAKOUT TRACK: Finding Healthy Rhythms and Habits in Life and Ministry
DESCRIPTION: With schedules and demands that can become overwhelming, we can set up healthy rhythms and habits in our lives and ministries to help us live lives of peace, intention, and purpose.
LEADER: Mel Gillen, Student Ministry Coach, FBC Simpsonville, Simpsonville, SC
ROOM: 2
TITLE: Cultivating Growth in Your Ministry
DESCRIPTION: What steps are you taking to grow your ministry? Every context is different, but two things remain the same: Jesus still saves and students are looking for truth. Join us as we look at some practical ways to reach more students and what to do when it starts working.
LEADER: John Templeton, Youth Pastor, FBC McMinnville, TN
Room 7
TITLE: The Supremacy of the Preaching/Teaching of Scripture in Student Ministry.
DESCRIPTION: In spite of all the important aspects of Student Ministry, the centrality of the Word of God must never be neglected.
LEADER: Adam Sells, Pastor to Youth and Children, Blountville FBC, TN
Room 8
TITLE: Lasting Through the Lifecycles of Student Ministry
DESCRIPTION: In ministry we will experience times of excitement and growth, but we can also experience times of transition, disengagement, and decline. Maybe you have looked at your student ministry and thought to yourself “How in the world am I going to overcome this difficult season? Or what am I going to do once that large group of students graduate?” In this session we will review practical tips on how to use each season to prepare for the next.
LEADER: Nathan Michel, Pastor to Students, FBC Kenner, LA
Room 9
TITLE: Student Ministry in Rural and Small Church Settings
DESCRIPTION: How do you effectively do student ministry in a rural or small church context? What are the key ingredients to making disciples in this type of ministry? In this breakout, we will discuss practical tools for having and casting vision, fundraising, camps, Wed nights, Sunday mornings and so much more.
LEADER: Zane Miles, Associate Pastor/Student Minister, FBC Guin, AL
Room 10
TITLE: Personal Health of the Ministry Leader
DESCRIPTION: Your ministry is directly related to your own personal health. During this practical breakout, you will learn practical things that you wish you would have learned in seminary. We must strive to be healthy physically, financially, emotionally, and spiritually to be the best leaders we can be.
LEADER: Daniel Rose, Student Ministry Strategist, Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, Cary, NC
Room 11
TITLE: Current Trends & Youth Culture
DESCRIPTION: Current Trends and Youth Culture seem to be changing at a record pace. In this breakout we will take a look at how current trends are impacting how we do youth ministry, along with some tips on how our youth ministries can respond. PLUS… you’ll leave with all the content from this breakout so you can go home and share with your youth ministry volunteers and parents.
LEADER: Chris Trent, Next Gen Catalyst, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Suwanee, GA
Room 12
TITLE: Equipping and Leading an Ethnically Diverse Ministry
DESCRIPTION: How to reach, equip, and lead ministries within your context to reflect the diversity of your community.
LEADER: Jake Deshler, Lead Student Pastor, Immanuel Baptist Church, Lexington, KY
Room 13
TITLE: Before They Graduate
DESCRIPTION: You’ve spent years serving your students, and now they’re about to graduate and move on. What are some things you can do now, and what are some things you can do for them as they leave? In this session, we’re going to discuss some great steps towards preparing your students for college and beyond.
LEADER: Ben Edfeldt, Director, Office of Collegiate and Student Ministry Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, Montgomery, AL
ROOM: 14
TITLE: A Time of Intentional Networking, Connection, and Prayer in Small Groups
DESCRIPTION: This is not your typical lecture-based breakout! In this breakout, participants will circle up into small groups of peers in Student Ministry from different states and contexts and will be guided through a time of introduction, bouncing ideas off of one another, reflection on takeaways from Conclave, and prayer!
LEADER: Mike Jamison, Youth Ministry Connector, State Convention of Baptists in Indiana, Mishawaka, IN
ROOM: 15
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TITLE: Men & Women Session: Doing Ministry as a Family
DESCRIPTION: Join Jamie & Tara in this breakout session to learn more about how to do ministry as a family, how to be intentional with your time, and how to shepherd your family’s ministry mindset.
LEADER: Dr. Jamie & Dr. Tera Dew, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, LA
ROOM: 2
TITLE: Grow in Gospel Teaching, Preaching, & Studying with Logos11
DESCRIPTION: Student ministry is perhaps more challenging today than ever! Discover how Logos11 can help you take your Bible teaching, preaching, discipleship, and study deeper to better minister to those in your student ministry and others in the church! Whether you’re exploring cultural and historical context, doing in-depth exegesis, studying the original languages, personal devotions, or wanting to provide counseling on contemporary matters to today’s students, Logos can equip you with the tools you need for effective, trusted, gospel-based student ministry.
LEADER: Rob Fleshman, Enterprise Account Executive, Simpson, LA, Logos
ROOM: 7
TITLE: Shepherding a Student Ministry
DESCRIPTION: In this breakout, we’ll dive into how to intentionally shepherd your students and develop leaders who are equipped for ministry. We’ll explore how to create a shepherding plan that ensures no student slips through the cracks while fostering a culture of discipleship and multiplication. You’ll learn strategies to move students from simply being engaged to becoming sent leaders, empowered to lead others in their faith journey. Whether you’re leading a small group or a large ministry, this session will provide practical tools to shepherd with purpose and build sustainable, transformational student ministries.
LEADER: Daniel Gibson, Next Gen Strategist, Missouri Baptist Convention, Jefferson City, MO
ROOM: 8
TITLE: That Kid! Understanding Trauma in Our Students
DESCRIPTION: Understanding why “that kid” in your student ministry acts the way they do! Breakdown of how early childhood adversities can shape the body, behaviors, and beliefs of our students and tips for reaching them with the Gospel.
LEADER: Paula Walker, Foster Care Mobilizer and Trauma Care Specialist, Mission Georgia, Suwanee, GA
ROOM: 9
TITLE: Connecting Students to Older Generations
DESCRIPTION: In this breakout, we will examine the importance of connecting our student ministries to the senior adult ministries of the church. We will look at biblical examples to support this point. Then, we will study how this practice has worked out in local church settings.
LEADER: Aaron Sibley, Minister to Students, First Baptist Church, Brandon, MS
ROOM: 10
TITLE:
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LEADER: Walt Mueller, Founder & President, Center for Parent/Youth Understanding, Elizabethtown, PA
ROOM: 11
TITLE: Helping Middle Schoolers Thrive in a Small/Mid-Sized Church
DESCRIPTION: Middle Schoolers! They’re those really small, short kids in your youth group that make you scratch your head. But, no matter how big or small your youth group is, middle school students play a huge role in your ministry. So, lean into their limitless energy and fun, and let’s talk about some practical steps to help middle schoolers thrive in your ministry.
LEADER: Chris Hargrove, Managing Editor of Youth Pastor Resources, YM360, Birmingham, AL
ROOM: 16
TITLE: Building an Effective Youth Ministry
DESCRIPTION: Learning how to build a student ministry that reaches students and equips leaders for the long haul.
LEADER: Denis Tanner, Associate Pastor: Next Steps & Students, Shades Crest Baptist Church, Hoover, AL
ROOM: 17
TITLE: Embracing Your Call to the Small — Addressing Common Challenges in Small-Church Student Ministry
DESCRIPTION: Student ministry in a small church setting brings its own unique set of challenges, which can sometimes feel overwhelming. We’ll explore these difficulties and share practical solutions to help you navigate and thrive in your ministry.
LEADER: Jacob Ball, Student and Discipleship Pastor, Buggat Heights Baptist Church, TN
ROOM: 18
TITLE: Missions Discipleship: Beyond the One-Week Trip
DESCRIPTION: Make missions come alive for your students as you empower them to fulfill the Great Commission every day in their community. Be equipped with project ideas and scriptural insights to help your youth group share Jesus.
LEADER: Jon Jeffries, Denominational Liaison and Design Editor for Students, National W.M.U., Birmingham, AL
ROOM: 19