Kids are growing up in a world of worry today. Anxiety, in fact, is a childhood epidemic, effecting 1 out of every 4 children. Kids of all ages feel pressure…from the expectations around them, inside of them, and even, unknowingly, from us. What can we do to slow the epidemic for kids, in general? And, even more importantly, what can you do to calm the worry-related meltdowns and help your child find the confidence to fight his or her own brand of Worry Monster?

In this seminar, you’ll gain

• understanding the what’s and why’s in terms of the differences between anxiety and worry, and where your child is on the continuum

• help practically with tools to overcome the worry that he or she will inevitably face

• hope as your child discovers a sense of resilience that is stronger than any worry this age of anxiety can bring

Children need understanding, help, and hope. You can make a profound difference in their journey to finding all three. You will come out of this seminar feeling not only more confident in your parenting, but in your ability to help them discover all of the courage that is already inside of them.

Kids are growing up in a world of worry today. Anxiety, in fact, is a childhood epidemic, effecting 1 out of every 4 children. Kids of all ages feel pressure…from the expectations around them, inside of them, and even, unknowingly, from us. What can we do to slow the epidemic for kids, in general? And, even more importantly, what can you do to calm the worry-related meltdowns and help your child find the confidence to fight his or her own brand of Worry Monster?

In this seminar, you’ll gain

   •     understanding the what’s and why’s in terms of the differences between anxiety and worry, and where your child is on the continuum

   •     help practically with tools to overcome the worry that he or she will inevitably face

   •     hope as your child discovers a sense of resilience that is stronger than any worry this age of anxiety can bring

Children need understanding, help, and hope. You can make a profound difference in their journey to finding all three. You will come out of this seminar feeling not only more confident in your parenting, but in your ability to help them discover all of the courage that is already inside of them.

Many of us are quietly defeated in our private prayer lives. We’ve tried praying, but it just doesn’t seem to work. Because we are in ministry we don’t feel safe to tell anyone that we stink at prayer.  We know its the fuel for the engine of ministry but the busyness of ministry siphons the fuel out and we end up relying on our own ingenuity and gifts. So we feel a combination of frustration and guilt. In this seminar, we will discuss how to begin a private life of prayer in fellowship with our heavenly Father. This seminar is not for victorious Christian, but for the Follower of Jesus who often find themselves defeated in the trenches. “Prayer is asking God to incarnate, to get dirty in your life. Yes, the eternal God scrubs floors. For sure we know he washes feet. So take Jesus at his word. Ask him. Tell him what you want. Get dirty. Write out your prayer requests; don't mindlessly drift through life on the American narcotic of busyness. If you try to seize the day, the day will eventually break you. Seize the corner of his garment and don't let go until he blesses you. He will reshape the day.” (Paul E. Miller, A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World)

Knowing the Person makes the Message Stick - The Person of the Gospel is the velcro of the Message of the Gospel. As Youth Workers and ultimately our western training has clouded our vision to see the Person of Jesus. We have the work of Christ down and rightfully so but what if our hearts as youth workers fell in love with the Person of Jesus. What might happen in our lives and ministries if we were struck with the beauty of not just what he has done but who he is. Ultimately we have to ask the questions are we preaching the message without the person? Is it sticking with us, is it sticking with our students?

Theology drives ministry – That belief must be at the heart of our approach to youth ministry. Two core theological presuppositions in the RYM Philosophy of Ministry are the church & the family.  These two foundational institutions are created by God as primary influences in God’s design for calling his elect, forming a community of faith, and passing that faith on from generation to generation. The bible shapes our view of both institutions and in the process gives us a paradigm for how we do ministry to children and youth. God cares about the next generation; He cares about our children and youth and extends His care to them through the family and the church.  In this seminar we will present a holistic paradigm for youth ministry that embraces age specific ministry, trans-generational ministry and family ministry with their unique and complementary roles in reaching youth for Christ and equipping them to serve.

This class will focus on what a philosophy of ministry really is, why you need it and how you use it to effectively minister in the name of Christ.  We will introduce you to common language and understandings to help your team minister on the same page and in the same direction.

The purpose of the RYM POM is rooted in Matthew 28 and Jesus’ Great Commission.  Ministry exists to “reach” youth for Christ and “equip” them for service of Christ.  People are “reached” when they encounter the living Christ in his Word, empowered by the Holy Spirit. People are “equipped” when they engage the living Christ among his people, through prayer, study of the Bible, the Sacraments, and fellowship of God’s people.  The POM also identifies four categories in which to define our goals. This class will unpack this material and explain/establish these important concepts.