Dr. Kara E. Powell is the Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI) and a faculty member at Fuller Theological Seminary. She completed her PhD in Practical Theology from Fuller Seminary in 2000, an MDiv from Bethel Theological Seminary in 1994, and a BA from Stanford University in 1991. In addition to her roles at Fuller Seminary, Kara currently serves as an Advisor to Youth Specialties and volunteers at her church in student ministries. Kara speaks across the country at events for youth workers, parents, and students.She is the author or co-author of Sticky Faith (parent and youth leader editions and parent and student curriculum, 2011-2012), Essential Leadership (2010), Deep Justice Journeys (2009), Deep Justice in a Broken World (2008), Deep Ministry in a Shallow World (2006), Good Sex Youth Ministry Curriculum (2001, rev 2009), Help! I’m a Woman in Youth Ministry (2004), and Mirror, Mirror (2003).
Thursday, May 3, 2012
2:30 pm Registration
3:00 Worship
3:30 Workshops
5:30 Dinner
6:30 The Sticky Gospel
Research from the Fuller Youth Institute revealed that students often leave our ministries carrying a gospel a lot like a jacket: It's mostly based on behaviors, and students feel like they can put it on or take it off when they want depending on the situation. In this first workshop, we will introduce the research and explore ideas for using relationships and our teaching to move students beyond a "Jesus Jacket" gospel and into lives immersed in God's grace.
Friday, May 4, 2012
8:30 am Gathering Worship
9:00 Workshops
10:30 Break
10:45 Sticky Churches and Families: Helping Adults Get Out of Their Seats and Into Kids’ Lives
One of the most powerful things we can do in youth ministry is connecting teenagers to adults: their own parents and caring adults in the faith community. Sadly, few youth ministries truly embrace the power of intergenerational relationships or harness that power to disciple students. In this Sticky Faith track workshop, you will leave with a host of practical ideas from churches engaging parents and the intergenerational church family to holistically surround kids.
12:30 pm Lunch downtown for participants *Pastors lunch in Garden Level
2:00 A Sticky Youth Ministry: Small Ministry Changes that Deliver Big Results
Graduation. Change. Transition. Unfortunately, more and more youth workers are finding that close to half of high school seniors’ journeys after youth group are filled with twists and turns that leaves their faith stranded. What can we do NOW that will help our kids develop a faith that sticks? This seminar in the Sticky Faith track will look at ways to structure the youth ministry environment to facilitate growth and will explore ideas to prepare seniors for the transition out of high school.
3:30 Concluding Worship
Reimagining “Middle School” Ministry
While programs have a beginning and an end, the practices we invite middle school students into transcend the time frame of their season with us. They begin to embrace a dynamic faith that grows with them beyond middle school through to high school and into adulthood. Thus, age-appropriate ministry is more than being relevant: It calls for creating ministry strategies that encourage students’ faith to connect with the broader faith community, and for their faith to mature as their life experiences grow. In this session you’ll hear about practical ways to help make this happen.
Presenter: Jim Kast-Keats
Preaching with your mouth shut… developing a sacramental youth ministry
Does your program consist of a game, some singing, and then talking, talking, and more talking? The reality is most of our programs, events, and activities are all based around the idea of using our mouths and ignoring the rest of who we are. But there is a wealth of Christian experience that can be interpreted and applied to your students’ context, from prayer and meditation, to simulations and role playing; there are ways to help students learn deep truths while keeping your mouth shut. This session will deal with ideas and practical steps to move beyond just talking in your programs, events, and retreats. Presenter: Josh Wall
Developing Future Today’s Church Leaders
How can High School Youth Group help prepare students for college life and faith challenges? Campus ministers, Kate Davelaar (Hope College) and Pam Bush (GVSU), will help us creatively and openly explore this question. We will discuss how to help students transition from Youth Group in order to better connect to a faith community in college.
Rites of Passage: Creating Seamless and Sustainable Transitions (Offered Friday Only)
Research indicates a sharp drop off of student involvement as they move from one group to the next. This workshop explores practical ways to assist students with seamless transitions and celebrate their milestones through adolescence and into young adulthood.
Walking Toward Despair: The Power of Empathy in Youth Ministry (Offered Thursday Only)
Life can be complex, confusing, depressing, and downright painful . . . especially if you're an adolescent. Yet it's precisely these realities that create opportunities for encountering the God of hope and healing. In this workshop, you'll learn basic skills of empathy and intervention that will enable you to walk toward and walk with youth in the midst of their despair, grief, and perplexity. Presenter is Theresa Latini, Associate Professor of Congregational and Community Care Leadership, Luther Seminary
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