We are extremely excited about this year’s sessions and speakers who are ready to pour into you. You will have the opportunity to choose between 22 different Breakout Sessions broken up into 4 basic categories; Discipleship and Spiritual Growth, Practical Ministry Strategies, Identity and Influence, Mental Health and Soul Care, and Engagement and Outreach.

Discipleship and Spiritual Growth / Practical Ministry Strategies / Identity and Influence / Mental Health and Soul Care / Engagement and Outreach

Breakout Sessions

9:45a Sessions

Amanda Mejias

Amanda Mejias serves at Lifeway as the Specialist for girls ministry and women who lead in student ministry. She is passionate about equipping church leaders as they minister to and disciple students. She is living the dream, especially with her husband and two small kids by their side. Amanda is always down to hear a cheesy joke, grab coffee, and talk about golden retrievers.

Your Role in Discipling Teen Girls

Topic: Discipleship and Spiritual Growth – High School Suite

You have been entrusted to disciple and minister to teen girls. So how do you help girls love Jesus even after they’re no longer in your ministry? Let’s talk about how to not grow weary or complacent in stewarding this time with your girls.

Dr. Tate Cockrell

Dr. Tate Cockrell is the Director of Doctor of Ministry Studies and the Fulp Chair of Biblical Counseling at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. He has been in ministry for 34 years. He preaches and teaches on marriage, family, grief, parenting, men’s issues, and pastoral health in the U.S. and internationally. He has been married to Wendy for 31 years, and they have 3 adult children.

Understanding and Preventing Ministry Burnout

Topic: Mental Health and Soul Care – Middle School Suite

Ministry is hard. The temptation to be all and do it all causes exhaustion and emotional unhealth. Burnout can wreck the lives and ministries of staff and volunteers alike. In this session we will describe ministry burnout, recognize its symptoms, and identify helpful practices to avoid burnout or recover from it.

Kaitlyn Schiess

Kaitlyn Schiess is an author, speaker, and perpetual theology student. She is the author of The Ballot and the Bible (Brazos, 2023) and The Liturgy of Politics (IVP, 2020), and her writing has appeared in Christianity Today, The New York Times, Christ and Pop Culture, RELEVANT, and Sojourner. She is a co-host and Senior Editor of the Holy Post podcast, and the host of Curiously, Kaitlyn. She has a ThM in systematic theology from Dallas Theological Seminary and is currently a doctoral student in theology at Duke Divinity School.

Following Jesus in an Election Season

Topic: Discipleship and Spiritual Growth – Room 157

Your students are thinking about politics – and being spiritually formed by politics! – whether you like it or not. This session will equip leaders with a theological frame for thinking about politics, as well as practical resources for leading students through an election season. This session won’t help you teach your students how to vote, but it will help you identify how politics is theologically and spiritually shaping your students – and how to faithfully respond.

Doug Franklin

Doug Franklin started LeaderTreks in 1994 to see students reach their potential. For over twenty years, he has trained students and youth pastors alike, developing them into leaders serving in God’s Kingdom. Before starting LeaderTreks, Doug was a youth pastor for twelve years but discovered his true passion was discipleship and leadership development. He is married to a wonderfully creative woman named Angie, and they live in Wayne, Illinois.

How to Help Students Grow Spiritually

Topic: Discipleship and Spiritual Growth – Worship Center

Going to a youth group is good, but having a personal, intimate relationship with Christ is best. So, how do we help students develop a deep faith? Learn practical ways to equip students to move off the starting line of faith and move toward discipleship. In the breakout, Doug Franklin will walk us through how Bible study methods, prayer journaling, mission, and community work together to grow deep faith.

11:00a Sessions

Courtney Caroland, LPC-MHSP

Courtney lives in Chattanooga, TN with her husband Todd and their dog, Teddy. Courtney served as the Youth Director at Rock Creek Fellowship for 7 years while completing her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Richmont Graduate University. She and Teddy are working at the Christian Counselor Cooperative where she is a licensed counselor as part of the Elbow Tree Group. Courtney loves hiking, cooking, spending time with friends, and always up for the next adventure.

Fear, Worry & Anxiety

Topic: Mental Health and Soul Care – Middle School Suite

What do I do when one of my students is struggling with Anxiety? How should I respond? According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 1 in 3 teenagers from 13 to 18 will experience an anxiety disorder. It is certainly on the rise, especially in a post-pandemic world. It’s not a matter of if you have a student with anxiety, but when you have a student with anxiety, how will you respond? You and the leaders in your ministry need practical tools, rooted in scripture, to help come alongside students and their families who are dealing with anxiety. This workshop will aim to give you an understanding of what anxiety is and will equip you with practical tools and resources for the mind, body, and heart to help those who are struggling with anxiety.

Dr. Jonathan Six

Jonathan serves as the Vice President of Institutional Advancement for Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He completed an M.Div. and PhD in Christian Ethics at Southeastern. Jonathan has served churches in Georgia and North Carolina in various pastoral roles. Jonathan is married to Sally, and they have four children. They live in Wake Forest, NC. The Six family are members of Faith Baptist Church in the Wake Forest area.

Worldviews in Conflict: How the Bible Defines Gender and Sexuality.

Topic: Identity and Influence – High School Suite

If the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever, how does this inform our understanding of gender and sexuality. In a sex-crazed culture it is often difficult to understand how the Christian faith informs sex, sexuality, and desire. The Christian Worldview rightly orients our life to understand that identity, joy, and worship are rooted in the gospel and not sexuality. In this session, we will explore how the Christian worldview confronts the culture and displays the hope of the gospel.

Brian Housman

Brian has been working full-time with families since 1993. He has had the privilege of speaking at more than 600 conferences, schools, churches, and camps from coast to coast as well as several international locations. Brian is a prolific writer for parenting magazines, most notably Parenting Teenagers, Parent Life, and Homeschooling Today with more than 80 articles published. He is the author of four books: Engaging Your Teen’s World, Tech Savvy Parenting, How You Always Meant to Parent, and Raising Responsible Teens in a Digital World. Brian has been featured as a parenting coach on more than sixty radio shows and TV programs including FOX, ABC, and NBC affiliates.

Brian has had the privilege of being just a small part of the process as God turns the hearts of parents toward their children as well as children toward their parents. After serving for thirteen years in positions ranging from a youth pastor to a camp director to a school administrator, Brian stepped out and created 360 Family in September 2004. Most recently, he launched Screen Smarts—a one of a kind technology course for parents that now includes tens of thousands of parents!

The Sexualization of Adolescence in Technology

Topic: Identity and Influence – Room 157

Technology has changed the way this generation views their sexual expression and expectations, gender, and sexual identity. Traditional relationship norms of teens and tweens have been turned inside out by pervasive sexting and texting, the sexual coarseness of social media, a barrage of digital porn and shifts in their gender identity. These changing values should affect how we communicate God’s unchanging truth of our true identity in Him. Your effectiveness in ministry can be strengthened as we take an honest look at how you use technology to reinforce God’s design for life.

Zac Workun

Zac currently serves as the Student Ministry Specialist for Lifeway Students. Zac is also the co-founder and network lead for Youth Ministry Booster. Zac is a voracious reader, avid gamer, car-camper, folk musician, black coffee-drinker, beard aficionado. Enneagram 7 & ENFP. Zac received his undergraduate education from Oklahoma Baptist University and his Master’s of Divinity from Duke University. He loves to eat breakfast food at new places with his wife Karen and two wild boys Isaiah & Gideon.

The Art of the Awkward: The Science & Discipline Of Communicating To Middle School Students

Topic: Practical Ministry Strategies – Room 155

This is how it goes right? You have prepared your best and most Gospel message ever…The Good News For YOU!
Interrupting “Mr. Jack…”
Zac: *sigh” Yes Landon.”
Landon: “will you look up the correct region for gigantamax Pokemon? Zeke says they don’t exist”
Zac: “Sure bud, just give me 5 minutes”

With 19 years of youth ministry Zac is here to help you embrace the awkward, share the flashes of depth, and encourage you to find your voice amidst the challenges and sometimes overwhelming pressures of middle school audiences.

Natalee Barbier

Natalee Barbier has been an Educator for 22 years. She has specialized in Special Education and has used her gifts to help lead individuals and churches to better reach students with disabilities. She is dually certified in Elementary Education and Special Education.

Natalee has a heart for parents and students and wants to see them flourish in the faith. She received her education from Southeastern Louisiana University and is a native of South Louisiana. The Barbier Family moved to Tennessee in 2011 for her husband’s ministry. Natalee enjoys working alongside of her husband as he serves as Youth Specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

Natalee finds joy in travel, decorating, and Walt Disney World. She is blessed with two beautiful children, Caleb 22 and Mary-Clare 20. She also has a beautiful daughter-in-love named Whitley. Natalee has been married to Jay for almost 26 years.

Over 20 years ago she became the mother of a daughter with Down Syndrome, this impacted her and she has given her life to reaching and teaching children!

Reaching Students with Disabilities and their Families

Topic: Engagement and Outreach – Room 166

Is your student ministry reaching people of all abilities? In this session we will discuss practical ways to include all of God’s children in your student ministry and every aspect of the church. We will also explore how we can reach special needs families as a whole!

Jason Pittman

Jason and his wife Lori have served in student ministry for over 23 years. Most recently, serving as the Executive Director of PACT Ministry, a ministry that specializes in life-on-life coaching of youth pastors. Before serving with PACT he served in 2 churches over the span of 22 years in Carrollton, GA and Columbia, SC. Jason and Lori have been married for 23 years, have 4 children and 2 cats and currently reside in Columbia, SC. You will routinely find Jason and Lori traveling to new places, eating great food and reading a great book.

I got the job! Now what?! (*Youth Pastor Only Session)

Topic: Practical Ministry Strategies – Room 167

Entering into student ministry brings a host of responsibilities and expectations. Many youth leaders can quickly get overwhelmed with what to spend their time on to set the strongest foundation for fruitful ministry. Jason Pittman leads this breakout on prioritizing a few key things in student ministry to create a culture of health and fruitfulness in both your personal and ministry life.

Heather Quiroz

Heather loves Jesus, youth ministry, and laughing at silly things. She is married to her husband Rodrigo and they have one beautiful daughter. She is a gifted teacher and speaker with nearly twenty years of youth ministry experience. Heather loves helping youth leaders get better at discipleship by understanding Jesus from His Jewish context. She holds a master’s degree in youth ministry leadership from Huntington University and is the Founder of First-Century Youth Ministry, www.firstcenturyyouthministry.com.

How to Disciple Your Students Like a First-Century Rabbi

Topic: Discipleship and Spiritual Growth – Room 168

Jesus had a distinct way of making disciples. Unique to us, but common to the Jewish world of the first century. Jesus’ method of making disciples was deeply rooted in His Hebraic heritage. Therefore, understanding the Jewish roots of our faith will help us become more equipped at making disciples just like our Rabbi Jesus. In this session, you’ll learn all about Jesus’ first century method of discipleship, that’s transferable to today’s 21st century youth leader.

Chris & Wendy Trent

Chris serves as the Next Gen Catalyst at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. Wendy works as a travel agent specializing in Disney travel.

They recently wrapped up 17 years at Johnson Ferry Baptist in Marietta, Georgia where Chris served as the Middle School and Student Pastor. They have a passion for pointing teenagers to Jesus and investing in leaders and parents who are impacting the next generation for Christ.

Now empty nesters, they live in Marietta, GA. They have three grown up kids, Dillon & Sarah (married in May, 2023) and Abby. As an “old guy” in youth ministry (now 30+ years), Chris co-hosted The Longer Haul Podcast (2018-2022), and now hosts The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers. He and Wendy also co-authored The Longer Haul: A Field Guide for Longevity (YM360).

Navigating Seasons of Family Life in Ministry

Topic: Mental Health and Soul Care – Room 169

Your family may be just you and your spouse or maybe you, your spouse and kids. Regardless, you want to have a family that loves Jesus, loves one another, and loves the church. In this breakout, we’ll discuss the different stages of life and ministry and how you can best prepare for the days ahead.

Chris Hargrove

Chris Hargrove joined YM360 in 2024 as the Managing Editor of Youth Pastor Resources. Before joining the YM360 team, Chris served in youth ministry for 15 years in various church sizes, including smaller and multi-site churches. He finds joy in encouraging, equipping, and supporting youth leaders through coaching, writing, speaking, building relationships, and encouraging them as they pour into the next generation. He still loves serving students (especially those wild middleschoolers), challenging them in ping-pong, and helping them discover who God is and who God calls them to be.

Chris holds a Master of Arts in Discipleship and a Master of Divinity in Leadership from Liberty University. You can often find him enjoying a member’s only pizza slice combo from the famous Sam’s Club with his family throughout the year. Chris is happily married to his wonderful wife, Carrie, who homeschools their two daughters.

5 Key Ingredients to a Great Volunteer Leader

Topic: Practical Ministry Strategies – Room 170

Volunteers are more than just names on a spreadsheet. Volunteers are more than just people who help “pull off” student ministry events or a weekly Bible Study. Volunteers are the heartbeat of youth ministries! Volunteers are some of the key pieces to the overall success of youth ministries today. Youth groups need volunteers who know what’s expected of them and who know what being successful means as they serve and lead. In this breakout, we’ll discuss 5 key ingredients that every volunteer needs to be a great volunteer in youth ministry.

1:15p Sessions

Shane Pruitt

Shane serves as the National Next Gen Director for the North American Mission Board (NAMB). He and his wife, Kasi reside in Texas, with their five children. He has been in ministry for over 20 years as a denominational leader, church planter, lead pastor, and student pastor. Shane is also a traveling communicator, evangelist, and Bible teacher. Every year he speaks to over a hundred thousand people about the good news of Jesus Christ. He is the author of two books, 9 Common Lies Christians Believe: And Why God’s Truth Is Infinitely Better and Calling Out the Called: Discipling Those Called to Ministry Leadership, and is also one of the hosts of The Gensend Podcast.

Desperate for Truth: How to Effectively Teach the Bible to Students

Topic: Practical Ministry Strategies – Middle School Suite

Students are growing up in a world that is constantly trying to spin narratives, imposing cultural agendas, developing AI’s, and using social media filters. In a world of fake and lies, there is a whole generation that is desperate for truth. Let’s talk about how to effectively teach the Bible to students, because that is the truth they are desperate for.

Dr. Tate Cockrell

Homosexuality, Transgenderism, and the Gospel – Caring Well for the Hurting

Topic: Identity and Influence – High School Suite

With widespread gender confusion and same-sex attraction permeating culture today, adolescents and parents are confronted with the challenges of homosexuality and transgenderism in ways like never before. In this session, we will address how to rightly orient our thinking to minister well to those who might be struggling with same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria, as well as helpful tips for those who love those who struggle.

Jon Messara

SWAT was founded in 1992 by Jon Messarra out of Colbert, GA. Jon had a vision for students leading students at Disciple Now. Jon started his first Disciple Now with 15 students. 6 months later, it grew to 60 students, then 120 students, and ultimately over 200 students were attending Disciple Now weekends at Colbert Baptist Church. Jon’s vision for students leading students has now become commonplace on Disciple Now Weekends.

SWAT has grown over the years and we provide more resources than just Disciple Now for the local church. Our experience has given us the ability to launch new events to equip the next generation to live drastically different lives than what the world is telling them. Each of us has been commanded to go and make disciples (Matt 28:19-20). We want to provide the tools and resources to help individuals and the local church fulfill that commitment.

Leading Up: How To Lead When You’re Not In Charge

Topic: Practical Ministry Strategies – Room 157

Have you ever had an idea for the youth ministry but not quite sure how to present it to your youth pastor? Maybe you see a better way to lead, accomplish an event or see a needed strategic change in the youth ministry but not sure how to go about that? Lets talk about Leading Up, what that means and how you do it!

Doug Franklin

Moving Students from Participants to Leaders

Topic: Practical Ministry Strategies – Room 155

Join Doug Franklin as he shares a simple, practical, and straightforward approach to developing student leaders. This method will help you train and equip student leaders, guiding them from being participants to becoming leaders. You will learn about the five steps of the Leadership Pathway: Invite, Discover, Equip, Risk, and Sharpen. The Leadership Pathway serves as a tool to assist you in answering the question, “How can I develop leaders in my youth ministry?”

Jay Fowler & Terry Knecht

Jay Fowler – Jay grew up in Chattanooga, where he played football, basketball, and baseball at Tyner High School. In 1987, he was selected as Greater Chattanooga/Southeast Tennessee FCA Christian Athlete of the Year. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1991 and was commissioned as an officer in the Army upon graduation.

Jay served in the Army for five years and worked in business for three years before coming on staff with FCA in Middle Tennessee. In August of 2001, he was named Director of the Greater Chattanooga/Southeast Tennessee FCA and has served in this position for 23 years. Jay and his wife Beverly worship at Covenant Presbyterian Church. They have four adult children.

Terry Knecht – Terry is a graduate of Ooltewah high school and Bryan College. He got a degree in Christian Education with an emphasis in Student Ministry. He is married to Carrie Knecht and they have 3 children.

Terry served as a teacher/coach for 14 years and then transitioned into student ministry for 8 years. He currently serves as an Area Representative for FCA and has served for 2 years.

Campus Impact: Engaging our Local Schools

Topic: Engagement and Outreach – Room 166

In today’s rapidly changing cultural landscape, school campuses are challenging mission fields ripe with opportunities to make a lasting impact. In this session, you’ll discover how to effectively partner with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) to build bridges between your ministry and the campus, empowering students and leaders alike. This session will equip youth ministry leaders with practical strategies to engage their local schools, regardless of their current access to FCA and its resources. We’ll explore innovative ways to connect with students, faculty, and staff, fostering an environment where the love of Christ can thrive. Whether you’re familiar with FCA or just looking for ways to engage the campus, you’ll learn how to utilize tools and programs to create a collaborative, kingdom-minded approach to ministry on campus.

Andrew Slay

Andrew serves as the Pastor of Students and Families at Westwood Baptist Church in Cleveland, TN. Andrew is a graduate of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, with a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Apologetics and Culture from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Andrew is passionate about discipleship, biblical fellowship, evangelism, and world missions, seeking to help spur the body of Christ to walk in obedience to Jesus’ command to fulfill the Great Commission. He and his wife, Ashley, have two girls, Graysen Elyse, and Emersyn Leigh.

Created to Influence: Made in God’s Image

Topic: Identity and Influence – Room 167

We live in a culture infected with identity amnesia. We have forgotten who we are and our purpose of existence. Yet, if we go back to creation, we will discover the core truth that defines our identity and our purpose: being made in God’s image. This breakout will demonstrate that we were all created to influence others for Jesus because we have all been made in God’s image. The session will not only benefit you as youth leaders personally but also help you teach your students to understand their purpose and identity in being made in God’s image. Understanding our essence as human beings made in God’s image is essential to living out the ethics God created us to exhibit and teach to others. To fulfill the Missio Dei and influence others to follow Jesus, we must first understand the Imago Dei.

Joshua Reaves

Joshua (Lazrus) Reaves is a full-time Fortnite streamer and creator who has 10 years of student ministry experience. Josh first started gaining traction on TikTok as the “God in Fortnite Terms guy” where he has made videos explaining God, Jesus, and salvation in Fortnite terms. Josh’s unique approach to becoming a full-time streamer and creator has led him to partner with the Christian Ministry Alliance on a groundbreaking initiative to empower Christian gamers and streamers as fully funded digital missionaries, providing them with the support and resources to spread the Gospel online.

Josh currently resides in Chattanooga, TN. He has been a drummer for 15 years and has served in the area of worship since he was 18 years old. He loves to spend time with his family, watch the Dune movies, and read the Red Rising series by Pierce Brown.

He is married to Rebecca Reaves and they have two beautiful children: Maverick and Nova.

You can find Josh’s streams and watch his content on Youtube, TikTok, and Twitch.

How Gaming is the Greatest Tool for Expanding the Gospel with Your Students

Topic: Engagement and Outreach – Room 168

Gaming holds immense potential for spreading the Gospel, continuously reigniting passion for Jesus in your students’ hearts. Unlike the fleeting excitement from camps or mission trips, gaming keeps the Gospel alive in their daily lives, transforming screen time into a powerful ministry tool. Gaming is a regular social setting for all students, not just for nerds. We are going to uncover gaming’s untapped potential, listen to compelling stories of transformation, and receive practical insights on leveraging gaming to engage, disciple, and empower your students. Discover how the world of gaming can become your ministry’s greatest ally in expanding God’s Kingdom.

Chad Poe

Chad has been speaking biblical truth into students’ lives for years. He believes in the importance of relationships and seeks to get to know people when he is away from the stage. Ultimately, Chad hopes to see students moved into a deeper relationship with Christ through the power of God’s Word. In turn, those students will impact their community and world for Christ’s sake. Chad is currently the Teaching Pastor at Grace Bible Church. He is the co-host of the Hold On Podcast and is the founder of Through-line Cohort – a ministry that exists to develop communicators of the Bible. He is married to Hope and they have three sons (Shepherd, Charlie, and Alder) and a daughter (Noli).

Prayer Infused Disciple-Making

Topic: Discipleship and Spiritual Growth – Room 169

How does your personal prayer life affect the people you lead? In this session, we will uncover the ways prayer can infuse every aspect of your ministry, creating a culture of spiritual depth and see how scripture-guided prayers not only affect the people we lead but affect us as we do.

Kerry Ray

Kerry is the Director of Publishing for YM360.com. Prior to joining the YM360 team, Kerry was a youth ministry veteran with 27+ years of experience serving and leading in churches of various sizes, denominations, and multi-site strategies. After nearly 3 decades immersed in all things youth ministry, Kerry is quick to tell you that he still finds immeasurable joy and life in every opportunity he has to engage teenagers and youth workers whether that be in the form of camp/retreat speaking, writing, content creating, coaching youth workers, developing young leaders, enlightening parents on adolescent development, church consulting, or training youth ministry teams. Kerry and his wife Stefanie live in Birmingham, AL, with their two children. You can connect with Kerry on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook at @kray2u.

Ministry To Parents: 3 Unique Roles Youth Pastors Can Embrace To Prevent “Ostrich Parents” (*Youth Pastor Only Session)

Topic: Practical Ministry Strategies – Room 170

Parenting a teenager is many things, but easy isn’t one of them. Stress, anxiety, busyness, confusion, fear of failure, and the emotional exhaustion that comes with raising a teenager are just a few of the things creating growing numbers of “ostrich parents”—those who disengage and bury their heads in the sand; waiting for the storm of adolescence to pass. As a youth ministry leader, you know your ministry will never reach its true potential while focusing solely on the students. You also know that part of your role includes “partnering” with the parents, but what does that even mean? How are you supposed to encourage or equip parents on top of all the other spinning plates of ministry? How are you supposed to be a legitimate voice when you don’t have any kids of your own? Instead of living in frustration or throwing in the towel, let’s discuss three unique roles you can embrace that will help you engage, encourage, educate, and equip parents to understand their teenagers better and participate in their spiritual growth.