Student Leadership Conferences
LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center: July 10-13, 2009
Schedule | Faculty
LifeWay Glorieta Conference Center: July 20-24, 2009
Schedule | Faculty
Maximizing the KNOWN strategy through a Connect3 Sunday School! Student leaders can choose from three tracks:
- New (3 years or less) or Potential Leaders
- Sessions explore basic “How to”s for leading effective Bible study, ministry, outreach, and organization for classes
- Veteran Leaders
- How to provide leadership in moving your class to community and fulfillment of the Great Commission
- How to navigate spiritual assessment of students in your care and teach on an appropriate level
- How to get student’s to bring/use their Bibles
- How to develop leaders in your group
- Encouragement and Inspiration to get you through the Long Haul
- Student Ministers
- Practical help and dialogue in Shaping, Fleshing out, or Refining the KNOWN strategy in your ministry and through Sunday School
- Tips and resources for training your Adult Leaders to walk in the KNOWN strategy with students
- Networking with other ministers
- How to choose the most effective curriculum line for your unique group
- How to motivate leaders to be influencers for a Connect3 Sunday School
- Encouragement and Inspiration to get you through the Long Haul
Ridgecrest ConferencesSaturday, July 11
8:30-10:30 a.m.
Maximizing the KNOWN Strategy Through a Connect3 Sunday School
Matt Scott, Bruce Edwards, and Sherry Spillman, leaders
Johnson Springs Azalea C
Through a true Connect3 Sunday School, LifeWay’s strategy for student development finds a perfect vehicle for the process of helping students know God, own their faith, and make Christ known. Leaders and youth ministers will explore the concepts, find practical application, and have opportunity to make implementation plans to take home. (continued at 10:45 a.m.)
10:45 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Maximizing the KNOWN Strategy Through a Connect3 Sunday School (continued)
- Rookies — Bruce Edwards, leader
Johnson Springs Azalea C - Veterans — Matt Scott, leader
Johnson Springs 3 A - Youth Ministers — Sherry Spillman, leader
Johnson Springs 3 D
2:00–3:00 p.m.
The Parent Partnership
Bruce Edwards, leader
Johnson Springs Azalea C
Teen spiritual development best occurs when parents and the church are each fulfilling their God-given roles. Discover a practical process that brings the two together.
Teen Crisis: How to Help
Matt Scott, leader
Johnson Springs 3 A
Being a teenager today is tough! Many of them live daily in a mode of crisis in their life -family, relationships, bad choices, addictions. The list goes on and on. How a youth leader engages these students and helps them through these difficult times can be a make or break deal! Youth leaders do not have to be certified therapists or counselors, but they do need to know how to help teenagers through these challenging times in their lives.
3:15–4:15 p.m.
What Students Wish We Knew
Sherry Spillman, leader
Johnson Springs 3 D
Leaders will get a snapshot of today’s student and explore 10 areas of information that our students may never verbalize about themselves; but secretly wish adults understood.
Sunday, July 12
8:30–9:30 a.m.
Rookies
Bruce Edwards, leader
Johnson Springs Azalea C
Leaders will learn how to facilitate a life-transforming Bible study.
Veterans
Matt Scott, leader
Johnson Springs 3 A
Leaders will learn how to provide leadership in moving their group from “class” to “community.”
Youth Ministers
Sherry Spillman, leader
Johnson Springs 3 D
9:45 – 10:45 a.m.
Rookies
Bruce Edwards, leader
Johnson Springs Azalea C
Leaders will explore the concept of an open group, and discover basic how-tos for ministry.
Veterans
Matt Scott, leader
Johnson Springs 3 A
Leaders will learn how to navigate the assessment of a student’s progress on their spiritual journey. They will gain tips on how to teach, minister, and challenge each student on an appropriate level for the development of the individual student.
Youth Ministers
Sherry Spillman, leader
Johnson Springs 3 D
2:00–3:00 p.m.
Rookies
Bruce Edwards, leader
Johnson Springs Azalea C
Leaders will explore basic how-tos for outreach and organization of their class.
Veterans
Matt Scott, leader
Johnson Springs 3 A
Leaders will explore common dilemmas that all workers face:
- How to build community within the class
- How to get students to bring their Bibles
- How to connect with at-risk students or students who are difficult
Youth Ministers
Sherry Spillman, leader
Johnson Springs 3 D
3:15–4:15 p.m.
All Student Leaders
Matt Scott, Bruce Edwards, and Sherry Spillman, leaders
Johnson Springs Azalea C
Monday, July 12
8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Basic Girls Ministry
Sherry Spillman, leader
Johnson Springs 3 D
You've been hearing about girls ministry. Maybe your parents are screaming for it. You may even recognize the need. But the idea of integrating another "job" into your already overbooked schedule makes your head spin. This session will provide an overview of what exactly a girls ministry will entail for your student ministry. It will offer helps for implementing a girls ministry with minimal extra man (or woman) power and time.
9:45–10:45 a.m.
Youth Are NOT the Church of Tomorrow! (They Are the Church TODAY!)
Matt Scott, leader
Johnson Springs 3 A
If students are supposedly a vital part of the body of Christ, then let’s develop them as leaders through the Sunday School and empower them for ministry within and without the congregation. This session will identify just what the student Sunday School worker’s role is in working toward that goal.
Bruce Edwards is youth ministry specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Convention in Brentwood, TN
Matt Scott is associate pastor / minister of students at First Baptist Church in Oneonta, AL
Sherry Spillman is a student ministry specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, TN
Tuesday, July 21
9:15-10:30 a.m.
Maximizing the KNOWN Strategy Through a Connect3 Sunday School
Bruce Edwards, Larry Jenkins, and Sherry Spillman, leaders
New Mexico Hall N 1-2
Through a true Connect3 Sunday School, LifeWay’s strategy for student development finds a perfect vehicle for the process of helping students know God, own their faith, and make Christ known. Leaders and youth ministers will explore the concepts, find practical application, and have opportunity to make implementation plans to take home. (continued at 10:45 a.m.)
10:45 a.m.–12:00 noon
Maximizing the KNOWN Strategy Through a Connect3 Sunday School (continued)
- Rookies — Bruce Edwards, leader
New Mexico Hall N 1 - Veterans — Larry Jenkins, leader
New Mexico Hall N 2 - Youth Ministers — Sherry Spillman, leader
New Mexico Hall L
2:00–3:00 p.m.
Youth Are NOT the Church of Tomorrow! (They Are the Church TODAY!)
Larry Jenkins, leader
New Mexico Hall N 1-2
If students are supposedly a vital part of the body of Christ, then let’s develop them as leaders through the Sunday School and empower them for ministry within and without the congregation. This session will identify just what the student Sunday School worker’s role is in working toward that goal.
3:15–4:15 p.m.
Basic Girls Ministry
Sherry Spillman, leader
New Mexico Hall L
You've been hearing about girls ministry. Maybe your parents are screaming for it. You may even recognize the need. But the idea of integrating another "job" into your already overbooked schedule makes your head spin. This session will provide an overview of what exactly a girls ministry will entail for your student ministry. It will offer helps for implementing a girls ministry with minimal extra man (or woman) power and time.
Wednesday, July 22
9:15-10:30 a.m.
Rookies
Bruce Edwards, leader
New Mexico Hall N 1
Leaders will learn how to facilitate a life-transforming Bible study.
Veterans
Larry Jenkins, leader
New Mexico Hall N 2
Leaders will learn how to provide leadership in moving their group from “class” to “community.”
Youth Ministers
Sherry Spillman, leader
New Mexico Hall N L
10:45 a.m.–12:00 noon
Rookies
Bruce Edwards, leader
New Mexico Hall N 1
Leaders will explore the concept of an open group, and discover basic how-tos for ministry.
Veterans
Larry Jenkins, leader
New Mexico Hall N 2
Leaders will learn how to navigate the assessment of a student’s progress on their spiritual journey. They will gain tips on how to teach, minister, and challenge each student on an appropriate level for the development of the individual student.
Youth Ministers
Sherry Spillman, leader
New Mexico Hall N L
Afternoon Free
Thursday, July 23
9:15–10:45 a.m.
Rookies
Bruce Edwards, leader
New Mexico Hall N 1
Leaders will explore basic how-tos for outreach and organization of their class.
Veterans
Larry Jenkins, leader
New Mexico Hall N 2
Leaders will explore common dilemmas that all workers face:
- How to build community within the class
- How to get students to bring their Bibles
- How to connect with at-risk students or students who are difficult
Youth Ministers
Sherry Spillman, leader
New Mexico Hall N L
11:00 a.m.–12:00 noon
All Student Leaders
Bruce Edwards, Larry Jenkins, and Sherry Spillman, leaders
New Mexico Hall N 1-2
2:00–3:00 p.m.
Teen Crisis: How to Help
Lynn Riley, leader
New Mexico Hall N 1-2
Being a teenager today is tough! Many of them live daily in a mode of crisis in their life -family, relationships, bad choices, addictions. The list goes on and on. How a youth leader engages these students and helps them through these difficult times can be a make or break deal! Youth leaders do not have to be certified therapists or counselors, but they do need to know how to help teenagers through these challenging times in their lives.
3:15–4:15 p.m.
The Parent Partnership
Larry Jenkins, leader
New Mexico Hall N 1-2
Teen spiritual development best occurs when parents and the church are each fulfilling their God-given roles. Discover a practical process that brings the two together.
Bruce Edwards is youth ministry specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Convention in Brentwood, TN
Larry Jenkins is minister of students at First Baptist Church in Prattville, AL
Sherry Spillman is a student ministry specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, TN