Workshops

You'll be able to attend two different workshops on Saturday morning. The topics and speakers will be posted here in January.

Saturday, 8:30 - 10:00

Up Close with Tim Brown

Speaker: Tim Brown, our keynote speaker

Tim Brown shares the story of First Baptist Church in Clovis, Calif., "the worst church in America."

 

Maximum Velocity: Doing Missions with the Checkered Flag in Sight 

Speaker: Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries  

How a local church can be purposeful in what it does in missions--who and what to support, mission trips, fundraising, etc.

Winning the Prize Money

Speaker: Nate Perry, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Huntington University

Have you ever wondered about the college financial aid process? Does even the name of this session worry you, especially in this economy? As a parent or a student, this informative session will help answer many of the questions associated with paying for college. Learn about the scholarships and grants that can expand your college options. Whether you are beginning your college search or wrapping it up, this session is for you.

Making Life in the Fast Lane a Joy Ride

Speaker: Charity Brown

Women are known to be master multi-taskers, but if boundaries aren’t put into place we quickly crash and burn. This session will explore how to balance fast-lane living with a joyful heart that is fully yielded to our Creator. Chocolate and laughter included!

Making a Pitstop Can Move You Ahead of the Pack

Speaker: Rick Upchurch, Director of the Huntington University EXCEL Program

Bringing change to the local church--prerequisites, key components, and barriers.

0 to 60 in a Minivan

Speaker:Jason Holliday, Pastor of Children's Ministries at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.)

We all know the importance of impressing God's Word into the hearts of children. However, many churches find that their children's ministry is in need of a tune-up. If you could use a little revving of the engines to get yourself and your volunteers excited about ministry to children, this workshop is for you. We'll share ideas to help you move forward, gain momentum and speed towards an exciting. passionate, and intentional children's ministry.

Who is Driving Your Car?

Speaker: Josh Good, Youth Pastor of Banner of Christ Church (Byron Center, Mich.)

Ministry gets messy. Somewhere between throwing the Christmas party, planning next summer's mission trip, counseling your cluster, and cleaning up the mess from the chili cook-off fund-raiser you've started to feel like things might be a little out of control (insert sarcastic tone). The life of a leader is one that must be grounded in something more substantial than a MacGuyver-like ability to invent games using only an onion, duct tape, and a pair of pantyhose. In his book, "Leadership From the Inside Out," Kevin Harney comments, "Few leaders drop out of ministry because they lack the skills. Instead, too often they lack an examined inner life shaped by the Holy Spirit."  For those of us who lead, it's time to get honest with ourselves, it's time to get serious about who we are, and it's time to get disciplined.

In the Lead to Victory Lane

Speaker: Ronita Rupert, King Street UB church (Chambersburg, Pa.)

To "lead" is to go ahead, to show the way and to inspire others to follow. Everyone influences someone. Ronita will share five principles demonstrated by Christ that he used to influence lives. What would happen if you decided to influence lives on purpose?

 

Saturday, 10:30 - Noon

Shifting Out of Neutral

Speakers: Mike Caley and Greg Voight

Several United Brethren pastors discuss what it took to get their churches moving in the right direction. 

God as Your Pace Car

Speaker: Charity Brown

The effects of a woman married to a man in ministry and to the family can be overwhelming. With “speed limits” in place we can have joy as a partner in ministry and as a unified family. Humor, candid conversation, and practical application will be the framework for this session. Fasten your seat belts! This workshop, by the keynote speaker's wife, is designed for pastors' wives.

Pastor Pit Stop

Speaker: Bob Bruce, Pastor of Spiritual Care at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.)

A look at the church and pastor working together to promote the health of the pastor--spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, social, vocational, marital, etc.

Communicating with Your Crew

Speaker: Steve Dennie, Communications Director

How a church can effectively use websites, blogs, email, Facebook, and other new media tools. You'll learn tips, techniques, and principles for using these tools effectively. And we'll look at overall strategy--how to use these tools in combination with each other--tips, techniques, tools, and principles.

Keeping Your Eyes on the Checkered Flag

Speaker: Brian Biedenbach, Pastor of Middle School Ministries at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.).

It's easy to get lost in the "How To" world of student ministry resources--How to Lead a Short Term Missions Trip; How to Start a Small Group Ministry; How to Discipline a Junior Higher without losing your mind! But beyond all the How To's, it is important for youth workers to have a solid grasp on the "why" behind our ministries. Why do we lead short term missions trips? Why are small groups important? Why do we work with junior highers? In this workshop we will dialogue about the filters we use that take us from the why to the what and eventually to the how of our ministries. 

Pam JonesHoly Spirit Driven

Speaker: Pam Jones (Minister's wife, Fort Wayne, Ind.)

Pam will share insights of walking closer to the Lord and letting the Holy Spirit drive our every decision. Learn some tips on how to have the Holy Spirit in the driver's seat of your life! (For women only)

Pit Crew Training

Speaker: Donna Hollopeter, Associate Director of Global Ministries

This workshop is a mini version of the short-term mission training sessions that Donna and Jeff Bleijerveld did last fall. The workshop provides guidelines for putting together and leading a short-term trip, including:

Staying in Your Lane 

Speaker: Pat Jones, Director of Healthy Church Ministries

It is so easy in the midst of the race to get sidetracked or slowed down by distractions. In this workshop we will examine ways to keep your church on track with what the Lord wants it to be accomplishing in your community. We will explore how to stay focused on the things that matter; how to structure yourselves for effectiveness; and how to gain the "It" factor and keep it.

Choosing the Right Racing Team

Speakers: Nate Perry and Dr. G. Blair Dowden, President of Huntington University

With over 4000 colleges/universities in the country, including 1600 private institutions, 900 religiously affiliated and 102 intentionally Christ-centered ones, with all these options, how do you even start the college search? In this session, admissions professionals will provide students and parents with practical information for preparing for the college search. Learn what questions to ask in order to make the best choice for your family. And discover why Christian colleges offer surprising value. Dr. G. Blair Dowden, President of Huntington University, will be on hand for a question and answer time.