Forest Lakes District EFCA

21. Ministering to Families Impacted by Mental Health Challenges (Sandra Malone, Spring 2023)

These have been difficult times and families are experiencing stressors and pressures at high levels. This is reflected by the significant onset of mental health challenges in our children. We have an opportunity to minister to families in ways that extend compassionate care and support. This training educates and familiarizes you on the characteristics and dynamics of distress in the family and offers building blocks for resilience and support.

20. How Can Your Church Reignite Its Local Missionary Identity? (Glen Stevens, Spring 2023)

Reignite the missionary identity of your church. In this workshop we will help you develop a tool you can use to better understand how God wants to use your church to reach your community with the Gospel.We will provide a brief overview of the three main components of a Cultivate Cohort:
Developing a missional strategy for the makeup of your unique community.
Casting a clear and compelling vision for your church to make an impact for Jesus in your city, town, county or neighborhood.
Becoming more intentional about making disciples who make disciples
We will also share how to prayerfully prepare your church to meaningfully participate in an upcoming Cultivate Cohort.

19. Idol Lies Leaders Believe (Dee Brestin, Spring 2023)

For two decades, I had a full time administrative assistant to help with retreats. Though each successive woman I hired planned to be long-term, after a few years, she’d resign. I was blind to my hidden heart idol of control. God opened my eyes and showed me how He could overcome this idol and others! Beautiful fruit replaced the rotten fruit in my life and ministry. Listen to learn more!
 

18. Safety & Security: Are You Protecting the Flock? (Dave Forsthye, Spring 2023)

We know that God is the Protector. We also know that He tells us to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 
This seminar will encourage you to “harden” your church or ministry as a potential target. In today’s world, the church, the Bible and its believers draw potential criticism, demonstrators, and attacks.  We must be aware - taking proactive steps to plan for medical, natural and man-made issues and emergencies.
Due diligence to protect those attending our churches is required by law and a priority for church leadership. Come to this seminar to learn more about safety equipment, policies and procedures, best practices. Come with questions!
 

17. Preparing and delivering a message that connects with students (Brian Schley, SFMLT 2022)

We want to have the greatest impact we can on our students.  My goal is that you leave this training with a nugget you can take home that will make you a more effective preacher.  For those who do not have a defined process for how to set up a message, or would like to understand a different way to work through a text, we will talk through a process of how to prepare a sermon.  We will also talk about engaging our students by the way we communicate His Word. 

16. Ask The Hard Questions: How to Utilize Christian Apologetics in Student Ministry (Andrew Gutberlet, SFMLT 2022)

One Hope Research recently released a 54-page report on religious attitudes and behaviors of teenagers in the United State. In this study, they found that 51% of teens (ages 13-19) identify as Christian. However, the research also revealed that only 8% of those who identified as “Christian” would classify as a “committed Christian” who upholds a biblical worldview. From this research, we can conclude that the majority of teens are graduating from student ministries without a firmly grounded and fully formed biblical worldview. In this session, we will seek to establish that apologetics (defending one’s faith) is a vital aspect of student ministries, overview the types of apologetic topics that are most relevant to Gen Z, and demonstrate how to effectively teach apologetics in a student ministry setting.

15. Building a Discipleship Culture in Student Ministries (Jed Haas, SFMLT 2022)

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” - Peter Drucker. Thinking through a great strategy is very important. The end goal is creating a powerful and empowering culture. This is the way to lead your ministry to be part of a disciplemaking movement that can multiply disciples in your ministry, your church, and beyond. As you know, you are preparing youth to multiply disciples for generations as college students, co-workers, parents, future church leaders, and beyond. You get seven years max, maybe a few more if they stick around locally. Join the conversation with me about how to create a disciplemaking culture in your student ministry.

14. Counseling & Caring for students that are dealing with Stress and Anxiety (Jarrod Stichter, SFMLT 2022)

Mental health continues to be a challenge for students today - and all signs show this problem isn't going anywhere. This seminar designed to be a mix of teaching as well as round-table discussion so we can learn from one another in the areas of counseling and coming alongside of students in the areas of anxiety, stress management, and other mental health concerns. We will look at today's most recent stats, best-practices, as well as encourage one another in this area as we learn together. 

13. Building a Student-Led Worship Ministry in Youth Group (Bryan Niemeyer, SFMLT 2022)

Do you have a youth group that passionately engages in worship? Students that have a heart of worship and are willing to lead their peers before the throne? Working with students to build a youth-led worship team can be filled with frustration, challenges, discipleship, skill/spiritual growth, joy, and hopefully youth who “get it.” In this workshop, we’ll explore ways to start and grow a healthy youth-led worship ministry.
 

12. How to Train your Leaders to be Good Small Group Leaders (Jimmy Bero, SFMLT 2022)

Students need space to laugh, connect, and have meaningful conversations about life’s biggest questions. Small Group Leaders create and facilitate this space. We need to train and care for volunteers in a way that shapes them to love and lead students in their faith journey. We need to pastor them so that they can pastor students. This workshop will explore both the philosophical and practical elements of what it means to be a good small group leader, equipping you to raise up volunteers who embody the love and grace of Jesus in the lives of students, walking alongside them as they grow in their confidence of who they are, where they belong, and what they were made for.