Youthworker Academy

Join us for an amazing time of training, sharing and connection for pastors and lay leaders that work with youth in churches across the Conference.

Youth Worker Academy will be held at Storm Mountain Center on April 23-25, 2021. 

Our guest presenter will be Chris Hansen of Leadership Harbor.

Chris is a Leadership, and Parenting & Family, Coach, Trainer and Speaker with The John Maxwell Team.  He has worked in a variety of ministry & non-profit settings; youth, young adults and new worshiping communities, over the past 20+ years.  His passion in all of these areas is helping people.  Chris hopes to empower people to use their God-given gifts to intentionally live their life.  Over the years he has benefited from many mentors and coaches, each helping spur him on to becoming the best version of himself possible.  As part of the Leadership Harbor Team, Chris looks forward to helping more people reach their potential. Find out more at leadershipharbor.com.

Workshop List:

• Identifying and Investing In Our Leaders - Building a Team of Volunteers in your Youth Ministry is likely the most important component to a successful ministry second only to your own spiritual & personal health.  So, let's dive into what it means to retain your team by investing in and adding value to them.  
• Keep CALM and Lead On - You’re the Youth Pastor, can you keep calm when suicide or issues of bullying impact your youth & ministry?  What about your Leaders & Students, will they keep calm?  In this workshop we’ll unpack suicide prevention & bullying prevention with a simple approach that will help you stay calm, ask the right questions, lead and move.  
• Time To Shift Gears? - Whether you’ve been in ministry for 10 years or 10 minutes, it’s never a bad time to take a step back and ask “why?”  Why do you do the things you do in your ministry?  As a Leader?  Why does your ministry do things the way they do?  Maybe it’s all working well, but maybe it’s not.  As things in our world move faster and forward more quickly let’s evaluate if a gear shift in your ministry or your own self is necessary.  
• Yesterday Ended Last Night, Be Intentional With Today! - Intentionality is the key!  Being intentional is harder than it sounds, but it is paramount to living our best life and leading our best ministries - for our students and leaders.  When we commit to intentional living things start to happen, goals are met, lives are impacted, purposes lived out.  Know your ‘Why’ and then start living with intentionality. 

Event Information

• Cost: $75
• Ages: Pastors and youth leaders
• Speaker: Chris Hansen
•  Register Online (Program Classification = CCYM/DakYouth Events, Program # = 865)
• For assistance and additional information, call the area camping office here.

Schedule (download the schedule)

Friday, April 23

6:30-7:30pm Registration and Unpack at SMC

7:30-7:45pm: Welcome and Introductions

7:45-9pm Session 1: Identifying & Investing In Our Leaders

Saturday, April 24

8:30am Breakfast

9:30am Session 2: Keep Calm & Lead On (Suicide and Bullying Prevention)

Noon: Lunch

1:00pm Session 3: Time To Shift Gears (What is the “why?” in your ministry)

3pm Break (Take a hike!, Take a nap, Do some yoga)

3:30pm Session 4: Yesterday Ended Last Night, Be Intentional With Today

5:30pm Dinner

7:00pm Q and A -with Chris Hansen

8pm: Free Time

9:00pm Devotion

Sunday, April 25

8:30am Breakfast

9:30am Closing Worship/Communion
10:30am Head Home

For a wrap-up of the 2019 event at Lake Poinsett Camp and Retreat Center, click here.