Talking at our 2024 Children's Ministry Conference title 'The Main Thing', Ruth Hassall, Discipleship Co-ordinator at St Thomas’ Lancaster, encourages us about the importance of retreat by reminding us that if Jesus is to be the centre of our children's ministry, He needs to be at the centre of us.We offer a whole range of free training for those ministering to children. To find out more visit our website www.bdeducation.org.uk/training-and-events

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Talking at our 2024 Children's Ministry Conference title 'The Main Thing', Sharon Pritchard, Children’s Ministry Advisor for Durham Diocese, encourages us to reflect on WHY we do, what we do - HOW we do it and then challenges us to consider ‘Is what we’re currently doing still right?’. We also find out how using Lego as a tool in our children's ministry, can be a great way to share Jesus, the main thing, with children.We offer a whole range of free training for those ministering to children. To find out more visit our website www.bdeducation.org.uk/training-and-events

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Lucy Skelton led a Nuts and Bolts seminar at Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education's Youth Leader Conference on Saturday 14th October 2023. Lucy, who has been working with young people for over 20 years, discussed the three things that she discovered that she does in her youth work practise. The first thing she does with young people is trust them. She said that most adults who encounter them, don't trust them, and so, if as a youth worker you demonstrate that you trust them, it builds their self-esteem and gives them confidence. The second is that she respects the young people. Treat them as if they're going be amazing and do amazing things!The third thing is to love them. Be pleased to see them, forgive them quickly, encourage them and be their biggest cheerleader. All of our Nuts and Bolts seminars along with the Keynote talks are now available on YouTube and you can find out more about the work that the Diocese of Blackburn's Board of Education does for youth leaders by visiting our website: https://www.bdeducation.org.uk/youth/

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Liz Boland led a Nuts and Bolts seminar at our Youth Leader Conference in October 2023 on how to lead a youth group session for young people. Liz speaks about planning a session and starting by looking at the Bible passage and thinking about how to make it relevant to the young people. Think about the point you're trying to make and how to make it memorable, accessible, and useful for them. Timings are important to think about, for example, plan to pray in the middle of the session so that you don't have to cut it out at the end if you overrun. Plan your session well enough that someone else can pick it up as a starting point and run the session for you if you're unwell or can't make it for some reason. Make sure you're ready in plenty of time and have time to brief your team and pray together before the session starts, then be ready to greet the young people when they arrive. Know how you're going to start the session, you can even practise the first line you're going to say. You lead more confidently if you've planned well. What do you need to do to be more confident in your leading? It's fine to ask for help! We all need help, and we need to rely on God.All of our Nuts and Bolts seminars along with the Keynote talks from our latest Youth Leader Conference are now available on YouTube and you can find out more about the work that the Diocese of Blackburn's Board of Education does for youth leaders by visiting our website: https://www.bdeducation.org.uk/youth/If you want even more content around youth work ministry, follow us on Instagram @youthworkstateofmind where you'll find even more training, events, resources, and encouragement! or follow us: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/blackburnboardofeducation

Andy Brown led a Nuts and Bolts seminar at our recent Youth Leader Conference on how to manage behaviour in a youth work context.Andy quotes Proverbs 3: 11-12 which says, "My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." As youth leaders we need to hold the idea of discipline and love in balance. The way God loves us means that he doesn't let us stay in the same place. We want to build young people up and make them disciples and this sometimes has to happen through discipline. Sometimes we have to have challenging conversations with young people but if we're doing it out of a place of loving the young person then we're on the right path. Andy looks at preventing undesirable behaviour in youth groups. He said we need to do it as a team, and the team should decide what behaviour you are expecting from the young people. Communicate your expectations to the young people regularly; say this is what we expect from you when you attend this youth group. Talk practically with your team about how to prevent the undesirable behaviour. Set the culture yourself, build relationships with the young people and encourage the good things they're doing. When it comes to addressing undesirable behaviour, you need to know your process, communicate to the young people well, stick to your word, don't move the boundaries, and make sure processes are within safeguarding regulations. All of our Nuts and Bolts seminars along with the Keynote talks are now available on YouTube and you can find out more about the work that the Diocese of Blackburn's Board of Education does for youth leaders by visiting our website: https://www.bdeducation.org.uk/youth/For more youth work content, including new resources, the latest events and even more training and encouragement, follow us over on Instagram @youthworkstateofmind or follow: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/blackburnboardofeducation

Ali Demet led a Nuts and Bolts seminar at Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education's Youth Leader Conference on Saturday 14th October 2023. Ali showed a photograph of herself after playing hairdressers with her 2-year-old daughter. In the chaotic picture there are some truths about how we explore faith with young people. The first thing is that we need to join in with them. We need to be exploring our own faith with Jesus by reading the Bible, praying and attend church regularly. We need to model the Christian faith to the young people. The next thing is that it might look a bit messy at time; young people are working out what being a Christian looks like and the adventure can look messy. It's OK to ask questions, to wrestle with God over difficult issues, to not know all the answers. Do you leave time and space for the young people to make a mess which is sometimes the best way to learn and grow. Thirdly, there's a cost to helping young people explore faith. When Jesus talks to the rich young ruler and he walks away, it hurts. Young people can be distracted from their journey of faith by things like a new relationship or a part time job and this can be painful for a youth worker. All of our Nuts and Bolts seminars along with the Keynote talks are now available on YouTube and you can find out more about the work that the Diocese of Blackburn's Board of Education does for youth leaders by visiting our website: https://www.bdeducation.org.uk/youth/

For more Youth Work related content, events, resources and encouragement, follow us on Instagram @youthworkstateofmind Connect: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/blackburnboardofeducation

Join Rev Claire Cooke as she delivers a powerful message on the importance of being formed and shaped into the likeness of Christ. Discover how to lead young people towards a deep and transformative relationship with God while also being a disciple yourself. The Rev Claire Cooke was the second keynote speaker at our Youth Leader Conference in October 2023.Connect: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/blackburnboardofeducation

Join Josh Green, a seasoned youth leader and part of the 247Prayer Team, as he delivers a powerful message on the importance of leading young people into the presence of God. Discover why the “Seeker-Sensitive Church” model is falling short and how to create a movement that prioritizes spiritual vitality and transformation. Josh Green was the first keynote speaker at our Youth Leader Conference in October 2023.

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This recording is by Liz Agbettoh and Lisa Fenton titled, Promoting equity, diversity and justice in our churches and children’s programmes from the In Your Hands children’s ministry conference on the 25th February 2023. There is poor audio quality at the start of this recording but it does clear up.

A video version of this talk is also available on our Youtube channel ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@blackburnboardofeducation⁠

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This recording is by Susie McGibbon speaking about How churches can respond to issues of social justice that impact on the lives of children from the In Your Hands children’s ministry conference on the  25th February 2023. A video version of this talk is also available on our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@blackburnboardofeducation

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