Youth Ministry Leaders

NETWORK LEADER

Dave Patty is the founder and president of Josiah Venture, an organisation focused on training next-generation leaders in 11 countries of Eastern Europe. He dreams of a movement of God among young people in Eastern Europe, one that finds its home in the local church and which transforms society. He lives with his wife Connie and three children in Frydlant, Czech Republic.  He holds a BA in Theology and a MA in Education. He has lived and served in Europe for the past 25 years. Before moving to the Czech Republic he ministered to youth in Germany with Cadence International.

NETWORK SPEAKERS

Terry English founded and leads Fusion, a relational outreach tool which enables local churches throughout Central and Eastern Europe to reach unchurched youth through rock-gospel choir and performing arts groups. Prior to moving to the Czech Republic 14 years ago, he also worked with youth and student outreach ministries in the USA, UK, and Norway. While his focus is now on training local churches, he also continues to work with a local youth ministry in the Czech Republic so that he can keep his finger on the pulse of current trends in youth culture.

Maruska Kozlejova is the director of School of Leaders, the discipleship program run by Training Centre Kompas in Slovakia. She received her Master’s degree in Literature and Aesthetics, and is working on her PhD in Literature. Her biggest passion is discipleship. She has led six small groups, with a total of 50 people. She is the author of four books, the third of which is focused on how discipleship can work in the Slovak environment.

Day 1

The Jesus Model: How Simple Principles from the Life of Christ Can Transform Your Ministry

Since youth culture is a constantly moving target, those who work with young people are often looking for something “new”. What are the latest trends, how do we capture young people’s attention, what will make our programmes attractive and contemporary? While there is nothing wrong with being trendy, the most profound insights about youth ministry are actually very “old”. We forget that Christianity began as a youth movement. Many of Jesus’ disciples were teenagers when he called them. How did his youth group launch a movement that changed the world? If Jesus were to teach us how to lead an effective youth ministry today, what would he say? 

Maintain the Message, Modify the Method: What Are the Most Effective Ways to Evangelise Young People in Post-Christian Europe?

We live in a spiritually dark continent. Churches are museums. The young generation seems to be seeking everything but God. At the same time, we know that Christ is always calling his lost sheep, and he knows how to get their attention. And today, in our current environment, there are ways of doing evangelism that are surprisingly effective. Find out how your youth ministry can increase evangelistic fruit, and hear inspiring examples from places much like yours.

Day 2

What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: What Are the Natural Stages of Development in a Youth Ministry? How Must You Change Your Leadership to Respond to Them?

What it takes to start a youth ministry is very different from what it takes to grow one, or what is needed to expand its impact after it is healthy. Youth ministries follow certain patterns of development, and require a shift in focus from the leader at each stage. Not understanding these stages can create barriers to growth, since a youth leader will often not naturally concentrate on the right things. Looking at development of Christ’s ministry, how do we understand these stages, and how do we lead our youth group through them?

Intensive Care for Hurting Kids: How You Can Bring Health and Healing to the Hurting and Wounded in Your Youth Ministry

Broken families, distant parents, abusive relationships, betrayal, and hurt. Destructive habits, depression and guilt, loss of hope. These are just a few of the problems you will face on a regular basis when you work with young people. How can your youth ministry be a place of healing? What are ways you can personally engage with your students to bring health to the hurting?

Day 3

Teaching for Transformation: Five Secrets from the Master Teacher

A central part of a healthy youth ministry is the teaching of God’s Word. But after spending hours in school, and even more hours consuming media, the minds of young people are numb and unresponsive. How was Christ able to hold the attention of crowds for hours? Why did his teaching stick – and transform? What can we learn from Him that will make our teaching attractive, interesting, and life changing to young people who are hearing lots of noise.

The One, the Three and the Twelve: Practical Tips to Maximise Your Individual and Small Group Disciple-Making

Some of the best ministry goes on outside of the main youth meeting. One on one conversations, informal time together, and small group Bible studies are all powerful tools for disciple-making. What are practical tips that will make them better? How can the flow of normal life be a natural context for molding the lives of young people? 

Day 4

Equipping for Ministry: How to Turn Your Young People from Passive Consumers to Passionate Servants

What if you could multiply your efforts ten or twenty times?  What if your youth ministry team was more than just you and your best friend, but included a passionate group of young people who were actively sharing their faith and shepherding their peers?  Equipping young people for ministry will get them out of the stands and on to the field, but it requires something more than just another Bible study.  Find out how you can unleash the ministry potential in your young people.

Lifting Your Leadership Ceiling: How to Take Your Personal Skills of Leadership to the Next Level

Do you find yourself running out of time, or losing clarity and direction?  Do you end up doing all the work yourself, or find you are always preparing things at the last minute?  You don’t have to stay that way  – there are practical ways to lift your leadership ceiling.  Learn some key skills for youth leaders that will help you in planning, vision casting, team building, delegating, and leading yourself.