Youth Leadership Training Nashville is the ultimate gathering for youth ministry leaders who are passionate about serving the church through reaching and equipping youth for Christ. Established in 2008, Youth Leadership Training has empowered countless youth leaders to find encouragement in the Gospel, deepen their understanding of ministry, and form strong bonds with fellow leaders who share a common ministry philosophy.
Ashley Belknap, Executive Director, will contribute two seminars to the training:
Discipling and Enfolding Students With Disabilities
Thursday, January 30
9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Part 1: Discipleship
Every student in your youth ministry needs the opportunity to hear and understand the good news of the Gospel and be able to grow in their understanding of who God is, what He has done, and how He is at work in the world and our lives today. This seminar will teach you the foundations for discipling students with unique learning needs (diagnosed and undiagnosed). We will cover topics such as profession of faith in students with disabilities, how to break down Bible content so that every student can grow in Christ, as well as how to engage and motivate students who have learning challenges related to learning disabilities, ADHD, screen addictions, and disabilities.
Part 2: Relationships
Every student in your youth group needs the opportunity to experience genuine fellowship and friendship in the body of Christ. Relationships are an integral way that God works in the lives of his people, and yet students with unique needs and diagnosed disabilities often have great challenges related to developing and maintaining friendships as they transition into youth ministry. In this seminar, we will cover topics such as how to support differing social skills, the role of executive functioning skills in games and ice breakers, how to educate youth on unique needs present, how to encourage the development of relationships across youth ministry, and the role of “extras” (retreats, outings, activities, etc.) in the development of friendships with ways to adapt for unique needs.
Supporting Students With Challenging Behaviors
Thursday, January 30
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
One prominent goal in student ministry is effective discipleship of every student. Students who exhibit challenging behaviors in youth ministry—as a result of their growth and development or unique needs related to a disability—are often left behind in their growth spiritually and relationally. In this seminar, you will learn ways every student ministry leader or volunteer can positively support challenging behaviors in youth ministry. We will discuss how to understand behavior as communication. You will receive strategies for increasing appropriate communication, reducing problem behaviors, and helping all students grow into emotionally strong young adults. You will also learn ways to frame motivation through the lens of the gospel.
