I’m so excited to be a part of the National Youth Worker Convention blogging team again this year. And this year, we’re stepping it up quite a bit! If you haven’t yet read my last post about how to follow the team this week (and beyond), be sure to check it out. In this post, I wanted to give a brief overview of the schedule and what you should expect from me throughout NYWC 2019.
It all begins on Thursday afternoon with Deep Dives, which are extra pre-conference workshops, and then a comedy night to kick off the convention. Friday through Sunday are filled with electives, Bible studies, exhibitor mini sessions, breakout workshops, movie screenings, and Big Room (main sessions with worship and speakers).
I will be at each of the Big Room main sessions and trying to get around to grab interviews and attend other electives and mini sessions were I can. I will also be attending several workshops, which I have listed at the end of this post.
Here is what you should expect from me each day of NYWC:
- Tweets throughout the event with the top quotes and ideas from main sessions and workshops. (Follow me on Twitter @stevecullum)
- Blog posts with recaps and summaries from each day’s Big Room main sessions and the workshops I attend.
- Interviews where I can get them. (Some might be recorded for future episodes of The Student Ministry Podcast.)
Again, I will do my best to keep the above commitments. Know, though, that if I get behind, I will continue posting about NYWC beyond this week. So as the event closes, and you don’t see something you thought you’d see, keep checking back over the next several days. There will be a LOT to cover, and I will work as hard as I can to get you everything I can.
Below are the workshops I will be attending at NYWC 2019:
THURSDAY
Deep Dive: First Two Years in Youth Ministry (Josh Griffin and Karl Romeus)
Doug Fields’ book, Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry, is one of my favorite books, and I’m excited to see how Josh and Karl add to its already amazing content for newer youth workers. I’m also pumped to see a room full of new youth workers raring to go make an impact on God’s kingdom!
FRIDAY
Breakout 1: Communication — Five Keys to Effectively Communicate to Students in 2019 and Beyond (Karl Romeus)
This workshop will be about using five key strategies within your teaching, social media, and other communication to better reach students.
Breakout 2: To Hug or Not to Hug: Loving Kids Well Without Crossing the Line (Mark Penner)
How do we have an impact on students today without crossing the line? How do we have appropriate boundaries with students? How do we deal with confidentiality? How do we address our volunteer leaders if they cross the line? This workshop will tackle all these difficult questions and more.
SATURDAY
Breakout 3: Leading Beyond Fumes: You – Better, Healthier, Stronger (Larry Acosta)
Have you ever been at the point of burnout? Maybe you have but maybe you don’t even know. This workshop is all about learning some rhythms for a healthier life in order to last longer in ministry.
Breakout 4: Lead a Selfie-Centered Generation (Nona Jones)
How do we lean into this socially-isolated but very digitally-connected generation? This workshop will focus on insights and advice on leading students in our world today.
SUNDAY
Breakout 5: Treating People Better than Dogs: Welcoming People with Disabilities in Church (Joel Sonnenberg)
Most of us want to be sensitive and respectful to those with disabilities, but often we don’t know how to do it well. This workshop is all about providing simple and effective tips on creating a welcoming environment for people with disabilities?
Steve Cullum 