2025 National Children's and Youth Ministry Conference: Full Schedule

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8:45am CST

Morning Devotional

Wednesday January 8, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am CST

Lantana I

Speakers

Rick Atchley

Preacher, The Hills Church

46 years in preaching ministry, 35 at The Hills

Wednesday January 8, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am CST
Lantana I

Class

11:00am CST

40-Year Youth Ministry

Wednesday January 8, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST

Lantana II

We often hear about how the world today is unlike anything we have ever experienced, making teen discipleship more difficult than ever. While our present time in history is certainly unique, when it comes to youth ministry, there are some things that never change. Join Jaron Brandt and Edd Eason as they talk about their experiences leading youth groups 40 years apart in time and share what they have learned from one another through their current ministry partnership as friends 40 years apart in age.

Speakers

Jaron Brandt

Student Minister, Care Church

Jaron has worked with middle school and high school students since 2016 when he was hired to be the Student Minister at Care Church in Richardson, TX. Originally from San Antonio, Jaron graduated from Oklahoma Christian University where he earned a Bachelors in Biblical Studies and... Read More →

Edd Eason

Shepherd, Care Church

Edd Eason served as Youth & Family Minister from 1978 to 1992 at Care Church in Richardson, TX where he currently serves as a Shepherd. Edd is a proud graduate of both Harding University (1974) and Texas Woman's University (1989). Edd was one of the youth ministers who helped start... Read More →

Wednesday January 8, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Lantana II

Class

11:00am CST

Intergenerational Ministry Workshop

Wednesday January 8, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST

Onyx

There are two aspects of Intergenerational Ministry--during worship and outside of worship. We will discuss the purpose and benefits of Intergenerational Ministry and share ideas of how to implement it.

Speakers

Laura Lathrop

Children & Family Minister, Northwest Church of Christ

Laura's first ministry is at home to her husband Evan and boys Henry (8) and Oliver (11). She has been in Children's Ministry for 12 years. Several years ago at Northwest Church of Christ (OKC), her title was changed to Family Minister to better describe the work she was doing with... Read More →

Wednesday January 8, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Onyx

Class

11:00am CST

Protecting Your Joy pt2

Wednesday January 8, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST

Lantana I

Joy is a gift from God. Joy is a choice. If we lose our joy, we lose our witness. In this 2-part class we will explore what the Bible has to say about joy, as well as how scientific research can be helpful in protecting and promoting the joy God has placed in us. We hope you leave this class with greater knowledge about joy, but even more than that, with practical ways to cultivate joy in your life and ministry.

Speakers

Josh Ross

Lead Minister, Sycamore View Church of Christ

Josh Ross is the Lead Minister at Sycamore View Church in Memphis, TN. He is married to Kayci, and they have two boys, Truitt and Noah. He is the author of a few books, most recently Coreology: Six Principles for Navigating an Election Season without Losing Your Witness. He loves... Read More →

Wednesday January 8, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Lantana I

Class

11:00am CST

Qualifying the Called: Navigating Your First 2 Years in Youth Ministry

Wednesday January 8, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST

Quartz

Maybe you had a passion or a calling for Youth Ministry but don't feel quite qualified for it (like myself). Maybe you've just started in ministry and you're questioning everything you do and doubting yourself, wondering if you can really do this. But if I know anything about our God, it's that He doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called. If you've read my bio, you can probably put 2 and 2 together to figure out that I didn't have full-time ministry in mind for my life. But by the grace of God, I'm still in it and going strong! I want to share with you what has helped me get through my first 2 years in Youth Ministry, especially when I didn't plan to be in it and didn't go to school for it -- while in the midst of fear and doubt. There is no "1 size fits all" model for a successful Youth Ministry, but I believe the items discussed in this session will be beneficial for those of you just getting started. So whether you went to a Christian University and studied Bible/Ministry, or you went into a different field like me and came into ministry with little experience and the odds against you, I pray that this session will bless you as you navigate your first couple of years in Youth Ministry.

Speakers

Nathan Strickland

Youth Minister, McKnight Crossings Church of Christ

Hi there! My name is Nathan, and I started my Youth Ministry journey in October 2022. I attended Oklahoma State University for my Bachelor's degree in Marketing, and Maryville University in St. Louis for my Master's degree in Data Analytics. Lots of ministry preparation there, am... Read More →

Wednesday January 8, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Quartz

Class

11:00am CST

Supporting Parents, Supporting Teens: A Holistic Approach to Youth Ministry

Wednesday January 8, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST

Lantana III

Unlock the full potential of your youth ministry by fostering strong, supportive relationships with the parents of your teens. Learn how to empower parents with the tools they need to nurture their teens' faith journeys, while creating a cohesive and dynamic support system. Through practical tips, real-life examples, and interactive discussions, this class will equip you with the skills to build a thriving community where both parents and teens feel valued, understood, and inspired. Join us and transform your youth ministry into a holistic haven of support and spiritual growth!

Speakers

Beau Davis

Executive Minister, Singing Oaks Church of Christ

Beau Davis, Executive Minister at Singing Oaks Church of Christ, CEO and co-owner of Olive Branch Family Therapy, holds a Master’s degree in Marriage & Family Therapy, a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry and Bachelor of Science in Youth and Family from Abilene Christian University... Read More →

Wednesday January 8, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Lantana III

Class

11:00am CST

The Child in Our Midst: What Does It Mean to Receive Children?

Wednesday January 8, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST

Topaz

As the people of God seek to receive children as directed by Jesus, we have to begin by asking some important questions. What is their place in the church? How do they understand and experience God? How can we learn with and from them as we seek to become like Jesus? What gets in the way of the call to receive children as Jesus did? We will explore these questions together and think of ways that the answers to these questions might guide our practices in our communities of faith.

Speakers

Dana Kennamer

Abilene Christian University, Highland Church of Christ

Dana Kennamer, Ph.D. serves as the Associate Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Abilene Christian University where she teaches courses in early childhood education and children's ministry. Dana also serves on the board of the Children's Spirituality Summit... Read More →

Wednesday January 8, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Topaz

Class

11:00am CST

When It's a LOT: Practical Help for Ministry Wives

Wednesday January 8, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST

Lincoln 6

Kaley Ihfe serves as the Director of Lavish HOPE, a HOPE Network ministry which focuses on nurturing and encouraging the wives of ministers. She has served alongside her husband, Karl Ihfe, in ministry for 24 years first at University Avenue in Austin, TX in campus ministry and currently at Broadway Church of Christ in Lubbock, TX where Karl is the preaching minister. She has a B.S. in Communications, MEd in School Counseling, and MA in Christian Ministry from Abilene Christian University. Previously, she worked at the Volunteer Center as the Leadership Development Manager, at Pflugerville ISD as a middle school teacher and school counselor, and at Abilene Christian University as the Campus Activities Director. She also spent several years as a "stay at home" mom, working occasional temporary jobs to make ends meet. She and Karl have a son at the University of North Texas and a daughter at Lipscomb University.

Speakers

Kaley Ihfe

Director, Lavish HOPE

Women married to ministers often face a lot of expectations from the church and from themselves - IYKYK. Although we often face expectations to lead and be present, we also can feel like we are invisible sometimes - or we get more attention than we want. It's important to be grounded... Read More →

Wednesday January 8, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Lincoln 6

Class

2:00pm CST

Class

Wednesday January 8, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CST

Lantana III

Speakers

Jeff Walling

Wednesday January 8, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CST
Lantana III

Class

2:00pm CST

Healing Church Hurt

Wednesday January 8, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CST

Lantana II

A hot button topic in church culture today is church hurt. It is a justification for why many are leaving the church and for why ministers are leaving ministry altogether. Church hurt stings more than so many other hurts because of the love and safety that is naturally expected to come from the bride of Christ. What if, instead of running, we chose to face that hurt head on? What if we chose healing and redemption instead of walking away? Sometimes we have no choice, but other times God just might be creating a way for us to experience Him in a way that we never have before.

Speakers

Casey Lankford

Preaching Minister, Cinco Ranch Church of Christ

Casey is the preaching minister and spiritual director at Cinco Ranch Church of Christ in the suburbs of Houston, Texas. Casey served in youth ministry through schools for two years and in traditional church youth ministry for five years. While he now serves as a preaching minister... Read More →

Wednesday January 8, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CST
Lantana II

Class

2:00pm CST

Help for Difficult Issues

Wednesday January 8, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CST

Onyx

Speakers

Beth Robinson

Wednesday January 8, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CST
Onyx

Class

2:00pm CST

Living in the Story with Children

Wednesday January 8, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CST

Topaz

The Bible calls us to pass on the stories of God to our children. They do not need to be forgotten. We hope for them to write these stories on their hearts and to be formed by them. And we want them to know that God's word is living and active. God can always reveal new things to us when we return to the stories we have heard and know. In fact, I often see things in the text I have noticed when living in the story to prepare for time with the children. How do we join children in this lifelong journey of knowing God as we share the stories that shape our lives? In this workshop we will ask questions about our practices and explore together if even small changes might draw children to join us in the story, equipping them to listen to what God might have to say. And in the process, the children can guide us to listen as well.

Speakers

Dana Kennamer

Abilene Christian University, Highland Church of Christ

Wednesday January 8, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CST
Topaz

Class

2:00pm CST

Textual Class 3

Wednesday January 8, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CST

Lincoln 6

Speakers

Chris Seidman

Wednesday January 8, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CST
Lincoln 6

Class

2:00pm CST

The Nonverting Generation: Why Churches are Losing Their Young People and What We Can Do About It"

Wednesday January 8, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CST

Lantana I

About 25% of Americans describe themselves "Nones" (no religious affiliation). About 75% of the Nones are what Stephen Bullivant has called "Nonverts," people raised in the church who have left it. Rates of "nonverting" are increasing with each generational cohort. The session will describe why churches are failing to keep their young people and strategies for helping reverse this trend.

Speakers

Richard Beck

Senior Fellow Landon Saunders Center for Joy and Human Flourishing, Abilene Christian University

Richard Beck (PhD) is Professor of Psychology and the Senior Fellow of the Landon Saunders Center of Joy and Human Flourishing at Abilene Christian University. Richard's most recent book is entitled The Shape of Joy: The Transformative Power of Moving Beyond Yourself.

Wednesday January 8, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CST
Lantana I

Class

2:00pm CST

Visioneering Volunteers

Wednesday January 8, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CST

Quartz

Having the wrong volunteer can be worse than not having any volunteers. Who you choose to fulfill the role of a volunteer is crucial to the health of a ministry. Your next best volunteer could be waiting for you to invite them to serve, but you would never know if you didn't ask.

Speakers

Joseph Mankin

Youth Minister, Hillsboro Church

Joseph Mankin has served as the youth minister at Hillsboro Church of Christ since 2006. He is the creative director for the National Children’s and Youth Ministry Conference and a graduate of Lipscomb University. For over a decade, Joseph has traveled to a variety of organizations... Read More →

Wednesday January 8, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CST
Quartz

Class

3:30pm CST

Building Up in the Let Down: Reframing Expectations

Wednesday January 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CST

Quartz

Lower your expectations, especially for this class.

Have you ever had perfect attendance from you teens on Sundays, never had to cancel an event, always had ease in getting volunteers? If so, this isn’t the class for you. Many of us have high expectations for ourselves and our ministry and due to a number of circumstances, reality doesn’t always meet expectations which can equal disappointment. Those who attend shouldn’t look to defeat disappointment, but for how to redeem it.

Speakers

Blake Boggs

Student Minister, East Cobb Church of Christ

Blake, has been a Student Minister at East Cobb in Marietta, Georgia for over a year, but has been in Student Ministry for almost 6 years. He along with his wife Elizabeth and their dog Murf, love their city and their church. Blake is among the few who has seen both his favorite sports... Read More →

Wednesday January 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CST
Quartz

Class

3:30pm CST

Burnout

Wednesday January 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CST

Topaz

Speakers

Esther Moreno

Founder, Child’s Heart LLC

Esther Moreno, author of newly released, Children’s Ministry In Crisis, has dedicated her life to reaching the next generation for Christ. With over 20 years of Children’s Ministry experience across various churches and denominations, Esther has focused her efforts on effectively... Read More →

Wednesday January 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CST
Topaz

Class

3:30pm CST

Creating a Ministry that Helps Others Deal with Church Hurt

Wednesday January 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CST

Lantana II

Speakers

Casey Lankford

Preaching Minister, Cinco Ranch Church of Christ

Wednesday January 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CST
Lantana II

Class

3:30pm CST

Leaning into ministry

Wednesday January 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CST

Lantana III

Finding a way to lean into ministry for a sustainable form for you and your family. My experience of starting fresh and putting what I knew to be healthy into practice. The Good and the Bad.

Speakers

Aaron partlow

Youth minister, Pine Tree Church of Chrisr

Benn a youth minister for 13 years, 2 1/2 years in Washington state, 7 1/2 in Topeka Kansas, now 4 years in Longview Texas.

Wednesday January 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CST
Lantana III

Class

3:30pm CST

Mattering: Pastoral Care for the Anxious Generation

Wednesday January 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CST

Lantana I

Given the widespread mental health issues among young people, issues affected by social media and "toxic achievement culture," the session will describe the role of "mattering" in the pastoral care for the Gen Z and Alpha generations.

Speakers

Richard Beck

Senior Fellow Landon Saunders Center for Joy and Human Flourishing, Abilene Christian University

Wednesday January 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CST
Lantana I

Class

3:30pm CST

Textual Class 4

Wednesday January 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CST

Lincoln 6

Speakers

Chris Seidman

Wednesday January 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CST
Lincoln 6

Class