Out of the Church, Into the Schools: What now?
Your students spend 1/3 of their time in school. Being present in schools opens the door to more authentic, meaningful relationship with youth, their friends, and those who pour into them day in and day out.  We will explore WHY and HOW to serve within schools.
LEADER:  Xavier Raymond: Level Ground Community Church, New Orleans, LA 

Redeeming Our Teenager’s Phones
Let’s take a realistic view inside the smart phone of the average teenager. What’s on it, why does it matter, is it dangerous, and how can we redeem it? 
LEADER:  Emily Hamilton: Southside Baptist Church, Gadsden, AL

Teaching Deep Things to Shallow Kids
Students today need to be inspired by the great truths of the Christian faith. Yet, in the age of social media, students are distracted and inclined towards the superficial. In this session, Dr. Jim Shaddix equips you to break through with your students and engage them with the deep things of God. 
LEADER:  Dr. Jim Shaddix:  Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC

Fighting the Fear Frenzy
Many students and their parents are overwhelmed with fear, anxiety and caution. Join us as we talk through practical ways to help students and families overcome fear so they can live as confident disciples on mission. 
LEADER:  Chad Stillwell, International Mission Board, Richmond, VA

Who’s In? Reaching College Students!
Reaching college students and having a relationship with your local college campus is not easy but it can be done with just a few simple steps. Do you want to know how your church can connect with your local college campus? Then this breakout is for you! We’ll discuss practical ways your church can have a greater influence in the lives of college students in your area. I know…because I’m doing it!
LEADER:  Deron Henry:  First Baptist Church, Columbia, TN

Gen Z: Speaking and Multiplying Gospel
Going from 0 to Gospel Conversation is tough. How do we expect people to share the Gospel if we are not even sure that they will show up to church? I have discovered evangelistic inches that will assist someone that does not care to share the Gospel to becoming a confidant ambassador of Christ. Let’s talk about how to help students be disciples that make disciples!
LEADER:  David Evans:  Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, Nashville, TN

Within Reach: The Power of Small Changes in Keeping Students Connected
Ten years ago, a research study showed that 70% of students who were active in student ministry didn’t stay connected to the church during their college years. Is that still true today? In this breakout session we will engage with the new research on this topic and discover the power that small changes can make in helping students stay connected.
LEADER:  Ben Trueblood:  Lifeway Christian Resources, Nashville, TN

Missing Pieces: The Fatherless Journey – “Ministering to the Fatherless”
More than 1:4 are growing up fatherless. Ministering to an adolescent with a missing family relationship can be challenging. We will overview ways to minister to the fatherless that have experienced divorce, death, or absent fathers within their family. We will highlight mentoring as a way to confront the fatherless journey for teenagers as we disciple them to embrace Jesus. 
LEADER:  Dr. Jody Dean: New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, LA 

Developing an Effective Parent Ministry
Sometimes our youth ministries can have a love/hate relationship with parents.  We would love for them to stay out of the way and we hate it when they complain and criticize.  But what if we could actually partner with parents in such a way that it’s a win for everyone: for students, for parents and for the whole student ministry?  In this seminar, we’ll look at what it means to have a healthy parent ministry that equips parents to be the spiritual leaders in their homes and empowers them to be some of your best volunteers.  We’ll also talk about some practical steps you can implement to build a healthy ministry to the parents of teenagers in your church.
LEADER:  Jamie Willis:  Lakewood Baptist Church, Gainesville, GA

Bruised Reeds and Broken Bodies:  Understanding the Transgender Debate
In this breakout session, I will explore the issues surrounding the transgender debate in the culture and in the church.  This will include defining often-used terms and language. Student ministers will be equipped to understand concepts such as gender, gender norms, and sexuality through the lens of biblical faithfulness.  They will also come away with guidelines for how to address this topic in age-appropriate settings for their student ministries. It is the goal of this presentation that student ministers be able to return to their students and train them in a manner that is faithful to Scripture and also loving to their neighbor.
LEADER:  Andrew Walker:  Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Nashville, TN

Leading a Youth Ministry That Will Thrive After You Leave
Churches increasingly are searching up to a year or more for a replacement youth pastor. In the months after you leave your present church, will your student ministry continue to reach, disciple, and mobilize teenagers? Will volunteers, parents, and teenagers plan and lead out with an exciting calendar designed to create lifetime faith? This conference will present best practices for equipping teenagers and adults to make a kingdom impact after you’re gone.
LEADER:  Dr. Richard Ross:  Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX

Teaching for Change: Engage Like Jesus 
Jesus models for us throughout the Gospels how to engage our teens in the teaching/learning process. He was never satisfied with passive listeners. This seminar will present six active learning approaches you can use immediately and train other leaders to use. Prepare to be engaged!
LEADER:  Dr. Ken Coley:  Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC

How to Help Gen Z Own Their Faith
Who is Gen Z? What is shaping them? What do they believe about the biggest questions of life? Based on the latest research from the Barna Group in partnership with Impact 360 Institute, Jonathan Morrow will talk about the specific things we can do to help teenagers follow Jesus in a post-Christian culture and own their faith.
LEADER:  Jonathan Morrow:  IMPACT 360 Institute, Pine Mountain, GA

A Simple Way to Share the Gospel
Every day we have dozens of conversations that have the potential to turn into gospel conversations. Learn how to use our 3 Circles life conversation guide to naturally tell others about the hope we have in the gospel of Jesus. It is simple, visual, easy to learn, and easy to train others to use!
LEADER:  Jimmy Scroggins, Family Church, West Palm Beach, FL

Getting Started:  Building a Strong Youth Ministry Foundation
(for those in their first years in ministry)
Are you in the first few years of youth ministry? Join Chris Trent author of “Consider This: A Youth Minister’s Guide to Longevity”. This year will be an interactive lunch and learn format to talk about how your first few years of youth ministry can lead to a great season of ministry as you get older.
LEADER:  Chris Trent:  Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, GA

Shifting from Youth Pastor to Next Generation Pastor or Family Pastor
You will continue to invest in teenagers until the day you die. But down the road, you might invest in teenagers—and all those who are young—by serving as a Next Generation Pastor. Or, you might invest in teenagers, their parents—and all the families of the church—by serving as a Family Pastor. What should you be doing now to prepare for a possible shift in role? What do Next Generation and Family Pastors do all day and what competencies are needed? Are there actually positions that do not involve lock ins or drinking Cokes through a sock?
LEADER:  Dr. Richard Ross:  Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX

Teaching for Change: Transformational Teaching for All Your Teens
Do you have diversity in your group? Most teach like they actually believe “One Size Fits All”. This seminar will challenge you to reconsider how you and your Bible teachers can disciple each member of your youth group through differentiated approaches to teaching.
LEADER:  Dr. Ken Coley:  Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC

Let’s Talk About Sex.
It’s more important than ever to have relevant and authentic conversations with students about dating, pornography, social media, and sex This breakout will update you on the latest trends and equip you to lead an engaging series or event that wins with both students and parents!
LEADER:  Tim Wildsmith:  First Baptist Church, Nashville, TN

If God Exists, Why is There So Much Evil?
Suffering, sorrow, and injustice are some of the biggest causes for disbelief in God, especially for young believers. If God is the way Christianity says He is, it just seems like evil should not be present in this world. In this session, Dr. Jamie Dew equips you to handle these questions by providing some helpful ways of seeing that “the problem of evil” does not make Christianity untrue.
LEADER:  Dr. Jamie Dew, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC

Wives’ Seminar
Enjoy time with other ministry wives and be encouraged that you are not alone as you walk this journey of life in ministry. Hear from an experienced ministry wife and Bible teacher about some practical things she has learned along the way that might benefit you as well.
LEADER:  Chelsea Kellum, Eastern Hills Baptist Church, Montgomery, AL

Who and When Do I Call? Or Should I Deal With it Myself? – Students in Crisis
No longer are student ministers dealing with sarcasm, attitudes, schedules, and drinking beer after the game-the critical issues they are facing are numerous and frightening. This breakout will help you to know how to handle the 911’s of your group’s students, parents, and leaders.
LEADER:  Tony Rankin:  First Baptist Church, Nashville, TN

Teaching Deep Things to Shallow Kids
Students today need to be inspired by the great truths of the Christian faith. Yet, in the age of social media, students are distracted and inclined towards the superficial. In this session, Dr. Jim Shaddix equips you to break through with your students and engage them with the deep things of God. 
LEADER:  Dr. Jim Shaddix:  Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC

What a Teenager Needs from a Youth Worker.
Want a great training resource for your volunteer youth workers? Come to this breakout to discuss what teenagers really need from youth workers and from you. You’ll leave this breakout with a reminder of what really matters in youth ministry AND with a great tool to take home and train your youth workers.
LEADER:  Chris Trent:  Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, GA

What Pastor’s Want
What if you could hear the thoughts of your pastor? What if he could hear the thoughts of the youth minister?  Allen Jackson was a youth pastor and a youth ministry professor for the first 35 years of his ministry. Now he is a senior pastor. The key practices for the relationship between senior pastor and youth pastor are 1. Establishing communication 2. Managing expectations 3. Believing the best in each other 4. Operating with all things in the light. 
LEADER:  Dr. Allen Jackson & Mark Paul, Dunwoody Baptist Church, Dunwoody, GA

CRAM: Doing it Well with Pressure
We will address the challenges of doing youth ministry well in a busy and hurried life. People including teenagers are busy and, in this session, you will be given principles through CRAM to engage students.
LEADER:  Dr. David Odom: New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, LA 

Wives’ Seminar
Enjoy time with other ministry wives and be encouraged that you are not alone as you walk this journey of life in ministry. Hear from an experienced ministry wife and Bible teacher about some practical things she has learned along the way that might benefit you as well.
LEADER:  Chelsea Kellum, Eastern Hills Baptist Church, Montgomery, AL

Let’s Talk About Sex.
It’s more important than ever to have relevant and authentic conversations with students about dating, pornography, social media, and sex This breakout will update you on the latest trends and equip you to lead an engaging series or event that wins with both students and parents!
LEADER:  Tim Wildsmith:  First Baptist Church, Nashville, TN

The Healthy Student Minister
Is physical health important?  Not looking like Dwayne Johnson or Scarlett Johansson, but real health.  It’s easy for student ministry leaders to lose sight of their physical health.  After all, you have your spiritual health to be concerned about, right?  On top of that, you have the health of your family, your job, your ministry and your church to focus on.  Physical health ends up taking a back seat, leaving us literally out of breath trying to chase teenagers around or construct a church on a mission trip. Whether you’ve recognized for a while that your fitness and nutrition is struggling or you’ve never given it any thought, this is an opportunity to see that stewarding your resources well includes caring for your body.  Get practical and biblical guidance on how to become a healthier, more fit student ministry leader.
LEADER:  Clint Bryant: Taylor Road Baptist Church, Montgomery, AL

If God Exists, Where is He?
For some people, it seems as though God is absent from this world. They pray and nothing happens. People suffer and God does not heal them. If God exists, why does he seem so absent in these moments? In this session, Dr. Jamie Dew equips you to make sense of these situations and minister to those struggling with their faith.
LEADER:  Dr. Jamie Dew, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC

The Race for Unity: The Church’s Response to Racial Tension in America
Racial Tension. Social Injustice. Politics. Police Brutality… Colin Kaepernick? Topics that divide like Moses parted the Red Sea. The reality of “divisions” isn’t something new for our culture, yet it thrives in countless ways throughout our day to day lives, even for God’s people… Even for His BODY, His Church. So why is division alive and well, and how should we, the carriers of TRUTH, position ourselves to confront the issues? What’s lacking more than anything… quality discussions about it. So, let’s talk about it today, and together, hear how God would have us respond.
LEADER:  Marlon Montgomery:  Agape Atlanta, Atlanta, GA

What Pastor’s Want
What if you could hear the thoughts of your pastor? What if he could hear the thoughts of the youth minister?  Allen Jackson was a youth pastor and a youth ministry professor for the first 35 years of his ministry. Now he is a senior pastor. The key practices for the relationship between senior pastor and youth pastor are 1. Establishing communication 2. Managing expectations 3. Believing the best in each other 4. Operating with all things in the light. 
LEADER:  Dr. Allen Jackson & Mark Paul, Dunwoody Baptist Church, Dunwoody, GA

Doing Full-Time Ministry in a Bi-Vocational World
Part-time pay, but full-time passion! Did your office once serve as a storage closet? Have you been told to “have fun on your vacation” before leaving for youth camp? Then you must be a bi-vocational student pastor. How do you manage your time without cheating yourself, your job, your ministry, or your family? In this breakout, we will look at practical ways to offer your students a full-time ministry experience as you serve bi-vocationally!
LEADER:  Keith Jones:  City View Baptist Church, Knoxville, TN

Creating a Faith Sharing Culture
How do I help teens take their faith beyond the walls of the church?  Come discover how to create a culture of sharing in your Youth ministry.
LEADER:  Jeremy Montgomery: Dauphin Way Baptist Church, Mobile, AL

The Net Worthy of Networking
Are you networking with other student ministry leaders in your area. If you aren’t doing it, you are missing out! The Business Dictionary defines networking as a process that fosters the exchange of information and ideas among individuals or groups that share a common interest. Simply put, networking is about building relationships. Relationships are something we all want and need, especially with people who share our same heart and passion for reaching teenagers for Christ. Join us as we discuss, what networking is, why it is important, how to start networking in your area, what obstacles you will encounter, and so much more.
LEADER:  Joel Morgan: Immanuel Baptist Church, Pace, FL

A Husband’s Entry into Your Wife’s World 
Husbands, grasp how ministry impacts your spouse. Ministry can look differently through her eyes.
LEADER:  Scooter and Chelsea Kellum: Eastern Hills Baptist Church, Montgomery, AL

The Race for Unity: The Church’s Response to Racial Tension in America
Racial Tension. Social Injustice. Politics. Police Brutality… Colin Kaepernick? Topics that divide like Moses parted the Red Sea. The reality of “divisions” isn’t something new for our culture, yet it thrives in countless ways throughout our day to day lives, even for God’s people… Even for His BODY, His Church. So why is division alive and well, and how should we, the carriers of TRUTH, position ourselves to confront the issues? What’s lacking more than anything… quality discussions about it. So, let’s talk about it today, and together, hear how God would have us respond.
LEADER:  Marlon Montgomery:  Agape Atlanta, Atlanta, GA

Who and When Do I Call? Or Should I Deal With it Myself? – Students in Crisis
No longer are student ministers dealing with sarcasm, attitudes, schedules, and drinking beer after the game-the critical issues they are facing are numerous and frightening. This breakout will help you to know how to handle the 911’s of your group’s students, parents, and leaders.
LEADER:  Tony Rankin:  First Baptist Church, Nashville, TN

Depression, Anxiety and Jesus: How Faith and Mental Health Intersect
Can Christians struggle with mental health? Isn’t faith enough? When does professional help become necessary? Answer these and many more questions about living with and loving those who live with mental health issues.
LEADER:  Michael Bozeman: Pathways Professional Counseling, Rainsville, AL

Help! Guidance for Youth Leaders in Urban Ministry
Urban settings come with a variety of opportunities and challenges. Join us in discussing practical ways to minister within the urban context.
LEADER:  Xavier Raymond: Level Ground Community Church, New Orleans, LA 

Drawing the Net
Presenting the gospel is a big part of many ministries, but is often an afterthought. In this session, we will discuss the art of the invitation: How to draw out and present the gospel clearly, effectively, and without manipulation.
LEADER:  John Paul Basham:  Lifeway Christian Resources, Nashville, TN

Building Your Own Personal Network
Don’t be a lone wolf! God created us to work in community. Learn how to build a personal network that blesses you and others. From digital groups to regional peers learn how to discover a network providing support, encouragement, and insights. What you do is important and networking can help youth leaders perform to their full potential. 
LEADER:  Michael Kelly:  Harrisburg Baptist Church, Tupelo, MS

Secrets to a Long-Haul in Youth Ministry
Lasting influence in student ministry comes through achieving longevity. However, longevity in youth ministry doesn’t just happen. In this breakout session you’ll discover the keys to longevity in youth ministry, the seasons you’ll experience in your youth ministry, why you should stay in your current position, and seven reasons to consider leaving your position.
LEADER:  Jody Livingston:  High Desert Church, Victorville, CA

Helping Students Explore the Call to Ministry.
Many students are drawn to ministry as they experience a variety of church activities, but are they truly called to vocational ministry? We will explore some practical ways to assist students in making this life-changing decision.
LEADER:  Larry Hyche: Mt. Hebron Baptist, Elmore, AL

Social Media Meets Ministry
Why, how and what do I need to understand about social media to reach students better? Let’s talk about the practical aspects of where social media and ministry meet. 
LEADER:  Emily Hamilton: Southside Baptist Church, Gadsden, AL