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With Rev. Jenny Bates

• Attendees have a basic knowledge of the LGBTQ+ community to create safe spaces for youth.
• Attendees feel prepared to support parents/guardians of LGBTQ+ students in a politically charged climate.
• Attendees will receive an introduction to LGBTQ+ affirming theology to support their inclusive ministry.

With Rev. Dr. Tanya Eustace Campen

• Identify key values, hopes, and challenges shaping families today.
• Consider how family systems and dynamics impact faith growth.
• Discover relational and intentional ministry tools to accompany families with grace and authenticity.
• Connect and collaborate with other ministry leaders to share insights and ideas.
• Leave with one concrete next step to strengthen family faith formation in their ministry context.

With Rev. Jen Chickering

• Explore Confirmation as a sacred milestone in the lifelong journey of faith—a celebration of belonging, calling, and commitment to Christ.
• Reframe how we talk about faith with young people, emphasizing God’s initiating and transforming grace rather than guilt or performance.
• Recognize how prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying grace (or equivalent expressions across traditions) reveal the fullness of God’s love at work in every stage of discipleship.
• Explore how introducing the language of grace earlier in children’s ministry can form a deeper foundation for faith.

With Rev. Melissa Gepford

• Explore historical context for how we got to the programmatic ministry model that folks think of when we say kids or youth ministry.
• Consider challenges with the programmatic ministry model, especially during and after COVID.
• Learn about a new ministry model that Gepford pioneered in the GPAC UMC.
• Explore share four mindset shifts necessary to do something new and innovative. 

With Natalie Nenovich

• Reimagine children’s ministry as a space of holistic faith formation rather than programmatic entertainment.
• Identify opportunities for faith formation that extend beyond Sunday morning.
• Design VBS and seasonal programs that intentionally shape spiritual practices and theological understanding.
• Develop ways to celebrate milestones and nurture lifelong discipleship within the United Methodist tradition.

With Rev. Jenny Bates

• Attendees have a basic knowledge of the LGBTQ+ community to create safe spaces for youth.
• Attendees feel prepared to support parents/guardians of LGBTQ+ students in a politically charged climate.
• Attendees will receive an introduction to LGBTQ+ affirming theology to support their inclusive ministry.

With Rev. Dr. Tanya Eustace Campen

• Identify key values, hopes, and challenges shaping families today.

• Consider how family systems and dynamics impact faith growth.

• Discover relational and intentional ministry tools to accompany families with grace and authenticity.

• Connect and collaborate with other ministry leaders to share insights and ideas.

• Leave with one concrete next step to strengthen family faith formation in their ministry context.

With Rev. Melissa Gepford

• Explore historical context for how we got to the programmatic ministry model that folks think of when we say kids or youth ministry.
• Consider challenges with the programmatic ministry model, especially during and after COVID.
• Learn about a new ministry model that Gepford pioneered in the GPAC UMC.
• Explore share four mindset shifts necessary to do something new and innovative. 

With Nuke Johnson

• Champion strategies for establishing genuine connections with youth in ministry.
• Explore effective communication techniques that foster trust and openness, allowing students to express their thoughts and feelings freely within a supportive environment.
• Learn engagement strategies that incorporate active listening and empathy, empowering youth to feel valued and understood.

With Hannah Sutton-Adams

• Participants will become familiar with the spiritual impacts of children exposed to adverse events, abuse, and neglect.
• Participants will be able to name and practice basic principles of trauma-responsive ministry with children.
• Participants will experience a trauma-informed Godly Play session, considering its application in their context.

With Rev. Jen Chickering

• Explore Confirmation as a sacred milestone in the lifelong journey of faith—a celebration of belonging, calling, and commitment to Christ.
• Reframe how we talk about faith with young people, emphasizing God’s initiating and transforming grace rather than guilt or performance.
• Recognize how prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying grace (or equivalent expressions across traditions) reveal the fullness of God’s love at work in every stage of discipleship.
• Explore how introducing the language of grace earlier in children’s ministry can form a deeper foundation for faith.

Rev. Drew Hogan

• In the face of never having a big enough budget, discover connectional and relational models that thrive amid shifting job realities and limited funding.
• Listen for the Spirit’s work across contexts and explore strategies that nurture calling, leadership, and resilience in young people and volunteers alike.
• Learn from case studies of ministries in the Greater Northwest that are leading-edge examples of where youth ministry will be 15 years from now, and learn from our mistakes.
• Go deeper and renew your passion for ministry with young people - especially when things get scrappy and you’re seeking renewal.

With Beth Johnson

• Analyze dramatic shifts that have happened in the onset of puberty and youth culture.
• Explore moving from program-based to presence-based in our ministry with youth.
• Dive into practical questions and decisions around your ministry with young teens, from program structures to volunteer roles. 

• Dive into the role of the Holy Spirit, as we move from being program-based to presence-based with our young teens transitioning. 

(Practical questions can include: "What grades should we include?" What should we label ministry in the tween years? How can we help volunteers to better prepare to be with our young teens?") 

With Natalie Nenovich

• Reimagine children’s ministry as a space of holistic faith formation rather than programmatic entertainment
• Identify opportunities for faith formation that extend beyond Sunday morning.
• Design VBS and seasonal programs that intentionally shape spiritual practices and theological understanding
• Develop ways to celebrate milestones and nurture lifelong discipleship within the United Methodist tradition

With Rev. Kathy Pittenger

• Discover how children grow spiritually and what nurtures their faith.
• Explore a variety of age-appropriate spiritual practices adaptable to many settings.
• Connect and collaborate with others to share fresh ideas and strategies.
• Leave inspired with practical resources and a clear, simple plan for moving forward.

With Rev. Brittany Watson

• Explore the power of biblical storytelling as a way to teach and preach.
• Practice this skill in fun, innovative ways.
• Leave with a Bible story ready to be shared with your community back home.

With Rev. Dr. Nelson Cowan

• Evaluate their congregation’s current worship practices by conducting an intergenerational worship audit that identifies both strengths and gaps.
• Interpret and apply recent research findings on how children and young people experience public Christian worship.
• Articulate key characteristics of intergenerational worship and explain how these differ from traditional, age-segregated models of ministry.
• Design a practical action plan tailored to their own ministry context that empowers children to take visible leadership in worship.

With Elliott Gonzale

For new and seasoned leaders alike, it’s easy to drift from purpose. This session goes back to the basics: why we exist, who we serve, and how we make data-informed decisions. Participants will identify the core metrics that matter, learn to differentiate between activity and impact, and walk away with practical tools for establishing weekly rhythms, calendaring, and creating a framework for growth.

• Clarify Purpose: Rearticulate their ministry’s mission and align current programs with that purpose.
• Measure What Matters: Identify and track ministries and events through data-informed reflection.
• Create Sustainable Systems: Develop weekly rhythms and energy management practices that foster long-term health for leaders and volunteers.
• Build a Framework for Growth: Design simple dashboards for sustainable ministry growth.

With Rev. Drew Hogan

• In the face of never having a big enough budget, discover connectional and relational models that thrive amid shifting job realities and limited funding.
• Listen for the Spirit’s work across contexts and explore strategies that nurture calling, leadership, and resilience in young people and volunteers alike.
• Learn from case studies of ministries in the Greater Northwest that are leading-edge examples of where youth ministry will be 15 years from now, and learn from our mistakes.
• Go deeper and renew your passion for ministry with young people - especially when things get scrappy and you’re seeking renewal.

With Nuke Johnson

• Champion strategies for establishing genuine connections with youth in ministry.
• Explore effective communication techniques that foster trust and openness, allowing students to express their thoughts and feelings freely within a supportive environment.
• Learn engagement strategies that incorporate active listening and empathy, empowering youth to feel valued and understood.

With Hannah Sutton-Adams

• Participants will become familiar with the spiritual impacts of children exposed to adverse events, abuse, and neglect.
• Participants will be able to name and practice basic principles of trauma-responsive ministry with children.
• Participants will experience a trauma-informed Godly Play session considering its application in their context.

With Rev. Dr. Nelson Cowan

• Evaluate their congregation’s current worship practices by conducting an intergenerational worship audit that identifies both strengths and gaps.
• Interpret and apply recent research findings on how children and young people experience public Christian worship.
• Articulate key characteristics of intergenerational worship and explain how these differ from traditional, age-segregated models of ministry.
• Design a practical action plan tailored to their own ministry context that empowers children to take visible leadership in worship.

With Elliott Gonzale

For new and seasoned leaders alike, it’s easy to drift from purpose. This session goes back to the basics: why we exist, who we serve, and how we make data-informed decisions. Participants will identify the core metrics that matter, learn to differentiate between activity and impact, and walk away with practical tools for establishing weekly rhythms, calendaring, and creating a framework for growth.

• Clarify Purpose: Rearticulate their ministry’s mission and align current programs with that purpose.
• Measure What Matters: Identify and track ministries and events through data-informed reflection.
• Create Sustainable Systems: Develop weekly rhythms and energy management practices that foster long-term health for leaders and volunteers.
• Build a Framework for Growth: Design simple dashboards for sustainable ministry growth.

With Beth Johnson

• Analyze dramatic shifts that have happened in the onset of puberty and youth culture.
• Explore moving from program-based to presence-based in our ministry with youth.
• Dive into practical questions and decisions around your ministry with young teens, from program structures to volunteer roles. 

• Dive into the role of the Holy Spirit, as we move from being program-based to presence-based with our young teens transitioning. 

(Practical questions can include: "What grades should we include?" What should we label ministry in the tween years? How can we help volunteers to better prepare to be with our young teens?") 

With Rev. Kathy Pittenger

• Discover how children grow spiritually and what nurtures their faith.
• Explore a variety of age-appropriate spiritual practices adaptable to many settings.
• Connect and collaborate with others to share fresh ideas and strategies.
• Leave inspired with practical resources and a clear, simple plan for moving forward.

With Rev. Brittany Watson

• Explore the power of biblical storytelling as a way to teach and preach.
• Practice this skill in fun, innovative ways.
• Leave with a Bible story ready to be shared with your community back home.

With Various Ministry Leaders

• Translate new content from previous workshops at PSYCM 2026 into action items and next steps.
• Develop an attainable ministry plan with new models introduced in previous workshops at PSYCM 2026.
• Coordinate new ministry partnerships sparked through networking at PSYCM 2026.
• Run ideas and concepts through leaders and peers with similar ministry portfolios.