Youth Ministry UnConferences
Gathering To Learn, Share and Create Together
Hosting Your Own UnConference
Dec 14th
The two days we had in DFW saw people of various backgrounds come together to share and be present with each other. We had more than seven denominations represented, educators, volunteers, authors, speakers, youth ministry veterans from various size churches.
I learned so much from our time together, and it was so good for me to be at an event where I was able to participate even though I was helping host it.
I’m already receiving requests from others to bring this type of event to their area. While its entirely possible to run an event like this on your own, I understand the desire to work with an experienced facilitator.
I am open to doing a couple “unconferences” in other areas of the country if there is interest. Here’s what I’m thinking. My time will be a gift, there is no cost for me to come and facilitate the event. If there is a group of five or so youth workers who would like to host an event like this let me know.
In Dallas, we as the hosts covered the expenses as a gift to other youth workers in the area. This involved some signage, office supplies, use of a facility, and lunch. We took donations for lunch for any who wanted to contribute. But basically we wanted the event to be free. In addition to those expenses, I’d ask that you cover my travel expenses, I’m more than happy to stay in a home to keep costs down.
So let me know. It would be fun to put a couple of these on the calendar in 2011.
My main request is that we keep these events commercial free and free to any youth worker who is willing to “spend” their time in community with one another.
Added 12/15/2010:
Okay so if you are interested here’s what you need to do. Form a hosting team and send me a request with your rationale and desire for doing the event “signed” by everyone on the team. Also, let me know who the point of contact is. If you have any dates that are preferred, let me know this as well. My weekends aren’t available unfortunately, so it will need to be weekdays. While we can do a one day event, I recommend two days.
Doing these together should be fun!
Monday’s Topics
Dec 7th
Here are the conversation participants hosted today (times may be off):
8:30
Tranistions From HS to College – David Grant
Are We Condemning Our Students For Not Showing Up For Our Events Or Programs? – TJ
What is the best use of a Parent Advisory Board (in a “top down” ministry context? – Jonathan
Gay Youth – Vicky
9:30
IPad Drum Circle
What you wish you had been taught or had practiced that could have prevented your most painful/difficult ministry experience? – Jim Graham
Exploring ways the principles of the Unconference transfer to our ministry – Mark Riddle
Small Group Best Practices and Worst Practices – Jonathan
Prayer – Vicky
How to deal with huge tragedy withing your church, schools, and community – TJ
Healthy Boasting – What s you best youth ministry idea or practice that seems to be making a difference in your setting OR that you are most excited about trying in the future? – Jim Graham
Unearthing Our Assumptions – Mark Riddle
10:30
Connecting With Guys, What works what doesnt? – Jonathan
How to collaborate when you are seperated by distance – Josh Meares
Aside from money, What do you need to move your ministry forward that you have been unable to find OR what’s preventing you from creating your idea within youth ministry? – Jim Graham
Here’s What We Are Talking About Today
Dec 6th
Youth Workers from 5 states have gathered today to have conversations and collaborate about how we are working with youth. Here’s the conversations being hosted today (until this morning this agenda didn’t exist, it was created live onsite with the participants)
The names of participants are those that are convening the conversations. This place is electric with conversation! Next time be sure to join us!
1:00
Ministry With Unchurched Youth, What Ways Can We Develop This? – David Taylor
Explore Ways We Unintentionally Lie To Teens – Mark Riddle
What Would The Church Look Like If We Threw Out The Old Models Of Youth Ministry And … -Tom
Implementing Non-Traditional Youth Ministry In A Mainline/Traditional Church – Joel Diaz
How Can We Get Students And Adults Involved In Mentoring Relationships? Josh Meares
How Can We Improve Intergenerational Ministry In Our Church? – Erin Jackson
Nurturing A Great Relationship With Your Sr. Pastor Or Boss – Andy
Student Leadership – Trey Grant
How Do We Break Through An “I’m Fine” Culture That Is Reinforced By Parents? – Jonathan Hunnicutt
2:00
If Money Wasn’t And Issue, How Could We Dream Big To Resource Churches In Dallas Without Youth Workers? – Lars Rood
What Are Students Passionate About And How Does That Change The Future Of Youth Ministry – Cathy Cornelison
How To Connect With Students And Parents Through Facebook? – Gabe Smith
What Are We Doing To Properly Articulate The Gospel To Our Youth? – Javier Sula
What Are They Hearing? Contextualization In The Midst Of Pluralism, Facebook, And Young Adult Drop Out Rates – Kyle Meeker
Where Do You See Youth Ministry Headed In The Next 20 Years? Aaron Gielser
How To Leverage/Train/Shepherd/ Recruit Adult Leaders – David G
What Are The Topics Youth Speakers Aren’t Talking About But Need To Be Talked About – EJ
3:00
How Men Can Help Hurting Teen Girls (What’s Appropriate?) – Ej Swanson
How To Help Parents Disciple Their Kids In Today’s Culture – Greg Wilson
What I Am Currently Doing In My Ministry That Fosters Spiritual Immaturity? – Aaron Giesler
Proactive Personal Health For Effective Ministry – Rawd B Jones
What Ways Does My Understanding Of Leadership Undermine What I Hope (God Hopes For) For In Kids? – Mark Riddle
How Do We Help Students Walk In Grace Not Moralism? – David Grant
4:00
How Do We Make And See Parents As Allies Vs. Enemies – Mark Cornelison
What Worldview Issues Are We Struggling With As Leaders And Students? – Josh Meares
Ministering To Teen Moms – Joel Diaz
Helping Students Discover, Develop And Utilize Giftedness – David Grant
How To We Recognize And Restructure “Struggling” Parts Of Our Ministry? – Javier Sula
Youth Ministry UnConference Next Week!
Nov 30th
I am very excited about the Youth Ministry UnCon next week. I hope you will be able to join us.
While I give leadership in planning and producing the National Youth Workers Convention, the UnConference is a completely different type of gathering because the experts are not a group of people who have written a book, teach in a college setting, or minister at a large church selected by conference leadership to do general sessions and seminar. The experts at the UnConference are the attendees (and yes, if you are doing youth ministry in any context, you are an “expert in the field”).
While I clearly believe in the National Youth Workers Convention devoting much of my life these past years to it’s production, The UnConference serves a different purpose.
The UnCon is designed around collaboration, discussion and relationships. It isn’t about lectures or training but rather about learning from each other, identifying and solving problems we share in the field of youth ministry.
Discussion groups or “working sessions” are governed by a set of principles and one law developed by unconventional meeting planner Harrison Owen.
The principles are:
1. Whoever shows up are the right people.
2. Whenever it starts it starts
3. Whenever its over its over
4. All that happens is all that could have happened.
And the one law, The Law of Mobility : If at any time you are neither contributing or learning from a conversation, it is your responsibility to leave and find a discussion in which you can.
Of course there is much more to it, but these are the principles that set the stage for what we anticipate will be some incredible interactions.
One question will focus the many conversations that participants will generate (yes, the agenda will be created on-site collectively!)
Our focusing question is: What do we need to learn, share, or create to meet the spiritual needs of teenagers?
Consider joining us!
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO COST TO ATTEND. The only funds you will need is for meals and housing. However, you need not spend money on a hotel unless you want to, area youth pastors have agreed to put up people coming in from out of town in their homes, if you need a place to stay, or have a home others can stay in contact Mary Ann Connor at mconnor@irvingbible.org .
When? December 6 at 10 am thru noon Dec 7
Where? Irving Bible Church
Registration? It’s free, but space is limited. Register here ->http://www.eventbrite.com/event/981743421/Email
Hosting Team: Mark Matlock, David Grant, Rawd Jones, Lars Rood, Shawn Small
Are We Like Slime Molds? The UnConference Hopes So!
Nov 9th
Slime Molds are simple organisms that create surprising results when they come together.
They spend most of their existence as separate amoebas, but come together under the right conditions to self organize, multiply and spread. The result isn’t a larger pile of slime, but something new and unexpected emerges as they collaborate. In the same way, coming together as individual youth workers, under the right conditions, has the potential to produce something new and unexpected. That’s our hope and desire.
The Youth Ministry UnConference Dec 6 2010 is free, but you must register. Come join us!
Here’s an animation that tells the story of the Slime Mold.
Here’s actual footage of slime mold:
FAQ’s about Dec 6 Youth Ministry UnConference
Nov 8th
So far there has been great response to the Youth Ministry UnConference we’ll be hosting in Dec, including youth ministers in several other cities wanting to do the same in their communities. Many questions have come my way about this event, so I’d like to answer them now (please ask more if you have them).
Is this only for youth workers in the DFW area?
No. Absolutely not. In fact, we already have registrations from youth workers coming in from other states to join us on this day. If you can make it to DFW please come.
What is an “unconference”?
If you’re like me when I go to conventions some of the best moments are not the general sessions and seminars (although I do believe they have value). Often I find the real energy at a convention to be the “in between” spaces like meals and breaks when paths cross and spontaneous meetings happen. That’s when the sparks fly! The “unconference” format attempts to build an event that is made primarily of “coffee break” energy.
There are no speakers or seminars. The event is based on a loose set of principles that allow the event to take shape based on who shows up and what is important to them. Rather than a person or committee planning the direction of the event from the top down, the event “self organizes” from the bottom up. You’ve probably never experienced anything like this, so you need to come.
What is the advantage of doing this?
The idea behind this gathering is to get around some of the limitations at other events that hinder innovation. One of the primary beliefs driving this format is that the whole of people in the room are better than one person in front of the room. So together we identify problems and find solutions rather than one person doing this from the top down. Having a diversity of experiences and talents in a focused environment allows for inovations and breakthroughs. Come prepared to be surprised.
What does the room look like in an “unconference” setting?
Chairs are arranged in circles that fill the room, people are moving from circle to circle, people are having animated conversation, others are listening, some are taking notes to share with everyone. It’s electric.
Why two days?
Sometimes the best ideas come after “sleeping on it”. So we want to be sure we give ample time to collaborate, think, play and rest too.
What happens Monday night?
I realize some people will live close by and want to go home, others may choose to stay in hotels. But many of us are planning on eating together and hanging out to keep conversations and relationships moving. If you have to go home, that’s fine, we’ll see you Tuesday morning. If not, we’ll be hanging out. Several youth pastors and local church families are hosting others in their homes so there aren’t hotel expenses. If you’d like to host or be hosted let us know.
What do you hope happens?
One focusing question will launch our work together for the day: “What do we need to learn, share, or create to meet the spiritual needs of teenagers?” My hope is that we leverage the wisdom of those attending to answer this question. While I imagine we will solve some problems on location, our time together may be the trigger for results in the days and years that follow.
Is it really free?
Yes, you must register as space is limited, but the event is free. There are no pitches or marketing messages from sponsors of any kind. Obviously any gathering costs something (including your time to attend). Irving Bible Church is graciously letting us use their building free of charge, and many people are donating their time to organize the event. So for some it isn’t free, but their gift is making it free for those who attend (meals, lodging, travel of course is your responsibility). You can register here.
More questions? Ask away.
Launching! Dec 6th Youth Ministry UnConference
Nov 8th
About a month ago Youth Specialties hosted a gathering of youth workers in the Dallas area for lunch to share with them some of the programs they were bringing to the DFW area.
Close to 70 showed up.
The events YS were bringing to DFW were exciting, but when it was over many felt we had missed something in all of us being in the room together. An opportunity had passed us.
A few of us who hung around after got to dreaming and discussing where youth ministry is going and what God might be doing in our area.
The conversation was positive. The conversation was stimulating. We wanted more conversation and more dreamers.
So let’s do this! Let’s come together with one question in mind…
What do we need to learn, share, or create to meet the spiritual needs of teenagers?
Join us as we pray and dream together.
December 6th and 7th DFW area youth pastors and workers want to invite you to join us for a day of prayer and dreaming.
There will be no advertising, marketing, or pitches. Our purpose for gathering is straightforward: We want to come together to pray for the youth in our communities and dream about how God might use us to help them know Him more deeply.
Here is how our time will be spent. We ask that you come into the meeting Monday having fasted, at 10 am Monday Dec 6th we will open with a concert of prayer.
Following that time, we will enter into group conversations using an “unconference” discussion format called Open Space. Anyone can propose a conversation; you’ll be able to choose which circles you want to join.
At noon we’ll serve lunch breaking our fast and around 12:30 our first conversations will begin.
We’ll continue until 5-6 that evening, and then break for dinner. We’ll resume at 8 am the next day to finish conversations and have a closing circle that will end around noon.
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO COST TO ATTEND. The only funds you will need is for meals and housing. However, you need not spend money on a hotel unless you want to, area youth pastors have agreed to put up people coming in from out of town in their homes, if you need a place to stay, or have a home others can stay in contact Mary Ann Connor at mconnor@irvingbible.org .
When? December 6 at 10 am thru noon Dec 7
Where? Irving Bible Church
Registration? It’s free, but space is limited. Register here ->http://www.eventbrite.com/event/981743421/Email
Hosting Team: Mark Matlock, David Grant, Rawd Jones, Lars Rood, Shawn Small