A Theology of Youth Ministry Learning Cohort
With Mike King and Erik Leafblad through Youthfront
Of the impact youth worker events have, one of the biggest based on our experience and through feedback from others is the relationships that are forged among youth workers. From late night conversations to scheduled coffee meetings, youth workers love to connect to share ideas and insights with one another. Learning, like ministry itself, is built on relationships.
With the advent of social media, relationships are taking place in different arenas. To build connections among youth workers in conversation with respected youth ministry leaders no longer requires the high cost of participation in conferences around the country. Youthfront has developed an intentionally relational, yet theologically robust learning outlet to facilitate this kind of connectivity and collaboration. Youthfront’s Youth Worker Learning Cohort is designed to foster relationships among youth workers from a variety of contexts around theologically engaging and mutually enriching conversation.
Each Cohort member will participate in 10, 60-90 minute video-conference sessions facilitated by Mike King and Erik Leafblad. Each session will have a particular topic and theme so that the intent is to further dialogue among youth workers desiring a more sustained and focused conversation on a theology of youth ministry. Relationship building will always remain central to the cohort, so that connections will happen beyond the video-conferences themselves.
Details
Cost: $375 for 10, 60-90 minute video-conference sessions with Mike King, Erik Leafblad and others in your cohort. The price includes five issues of Immerse: A Journal of Faith, Life and Youth Ministry; several books and other resources needed for the cohort. The first Learning Cohort will begin in September 2011. We will only accept five partners for this Youth Worker Learning Cohort.
Outline of Sessions:
- A Way of Life - Developing a Theology of Mission, Formation and Community for Youth Ministry
- Being Human - The Spirituality of the Youth Worker
- Formed to Participate - Traditional Practices for Christian Formation
- Thrive - Missional Living to the Full
- Formed to Conform - Non-traditional Practices for Christian Formation
- Fertile Soil, Organic Life - Nurturing Environments of Transformation in Youth Ministry
- Rhythms - Developing a Way of Life for Youth in Community
- Life Together - A Robust Connection with All of Creation
- Being Embraced - Youth Ministry as Radical Inclusion
- No One Left Out - An Eschatology of Hope in Youth Ministry
Mike King is in his 36th year in youth ministry and serves as President/CEO of Youthfront. Mike also serves as the Executive Editor of Immerse: A Journal of Faith, Life and Youth Ministry, is an Elder in his church in Midtown Kansas City – Jacob’s Well, is Co-founder of the Wild Goose Festival, serves on several boards and is an adjunct Professor at Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City. Mike’s book Presence Centered Youth Ministry: Guiding Students into Spiritual Formation (InterVarsity Press) has received widespread critical acclaim. Mike and his wife, Vicki, live in Blue Springs, Missouri, a suburb of Kansas City. They have two sons, a daughter, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law and a granddaughter. He blogs at www.king.typepad.com and you can follow him on Twitter @MDKing.
Erik Leafblad is the Director of Ministry Initiatives for Youthfront, focusing on national initiatives such as Something to Eat and the Youthfront School of Formation. Erik has written for a few publications including Immerse Journal, and prior to joining the staff at Youthfront was a Youth Pastor in Minnesota. Erik is also adjunct faculty at MidAmerica Nazarene University and holds a Master’s of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, focusing his research on the missional theologies of Karl Barth, Lesslie Newbigin and youth ministry. Erik is married to Amy, and has two young children, Soren and Svea. He blogs at www.erikleafblad.com and you can follow him on Twitter @erikleafblad.
Two spots are already filled by word leaking out about the Learning Cohort. If you are interested, there is a registration form here.
this is great stuff... truly truly great stuff!
Posted by: zac workun | May 15, 2011 at 03:48 PM