February 11, 2016
 
Youth Pastor's Connection - Feb. 18
What do evangelism and discipleship look like with this generation of adolescents?
 
Tim Ciccone
Tim Ciccone, Director of Youth Ministry for the Evangelical Covenant Church, will lead a discussion about changing cultural trends in youth ministry, specifically focusing on evangelism and discipleship, and how this is lived out in our context. Come ready to wade into the conversation.

Bring your lunch to Salem Covenant Church (New Brighton, MN) from noon to 3 p.m.
 
Spring Connection dates:
March 17 - College and Young Adult Ministry with Andy Abramson from Verge Ministries

April 21 - Understanding the Old Testament in an Afternoon with Jennifer Scott from Bethel University

May 24 (note date change) - Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.!! All the Connections are gathering for one massive end-of-the-year celebration! Special guest storyteller, comedian, writer Bob Stromberg on "Mastering the Craft of Story Illustrations."
 
 
Feb. 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Salem Covenant Church in New Brighton, MN
 
This seminar is a "must-go-to" for anyone in leadership in youth ministry and it's free!

Mark is a leader in the conversation about LGBTQ adolescents. He's the author of "Understanding Sexual Identity: A Resource for Youth Ministry"(Zondervan/YS) and presents to packed-out rooms at the National Youth Workers Convention. Bring your youth ministry leaders (not students) as well as other pastors, ministry staff members and key influencers in your church.
 
Even if you went to hear Bill Henson, you don't want to miss Mark Yarhouse. Bill laid a good foundation and Mark builds on it. We'll be discussing how people of faith navigate sexual identity questions in their lives. Sexual identity refers to the labels people use to discuss their sexuality-labels like gay, lesbian, bisexual and straight.
 
In the morning we will discuss two of the most frequently asked questions: "What causes homosexuality and can it change?" and, "What are the experiences and challenges encountered by people of faith who are navigating sexual identity questions in their personal lives?" Then, in the afternoon we turn our attention to practical ministry tools for helping individuals and families, as well as strategies for positioning faith communities to engage and provide ministry in a dramatically changing culture.
 
This event is free of charge. However, refreshments and a box lunch will be provided for a suggested minimum donation of $10.00/person.
 
Please RSVP with how many people are planning to attend from your church or ministry by Monday, Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. to Jessa Anderson at the NWC office by phone (612-721-4893) or by e-mail at jessa@northwestconference.org. We strongly encourage you to make use of this valuable resource.
 
 
MOVE: Unsung / April 15-16 
Minnehaha Academy 

In this culture of Instagram fame and Snapchat celebrities, God still uses the average person to do amazing things. Bring your high school students for this incredible life-changing two-day event focused on compassion, justice and service.

Hector Saucedo (remember him from CHIC Basecamp?) is our speaker and Blue Oaks is leading worship. Cost: $30 for students and $20 for adults. Registration materials are online on our MOVE 2016 page.
 

Adventures in Leadership / June 28-25 
 
Who is the student in your ministry that the other students look to for leadership? Nominate that person (or two) for Adventures in Leadership, the NWC's transformational, weeklong leadership development experience.

AIL is for select high school students (completing grades 9-11) and is based at Adventurous Christians camp. It's a powerful time of exploring Christian leadership principles and putting them into practice, all in a guided, challenging environment. Information and materials are available on our AIL 2016 page.
 

Youth Ministry News

Zach Klein is moving from Maywood Covenant Church, Foley, MN, to United Covenant Church in Clear Lake, WI.
 
Nathan Nelson has moved from the Evangelical Covenant Church, International Falls, MN, to Mission Covenant Church, Poplar, WI
 
Joshua and Lindsey Hodgson (Joshua is the youth pastor at Community Covenant Church in Upsala, MN) celebrate the birth of Brynna (Bryn) Noelle Hodgson on Jan. 22, 2016. Brynna was born 12 weeks premature. She weighed 1 lb. 15 oz. at birth, and was 13 ¾ in long.

She is in the NICU at St Cloud Hospital. Pray that she grows and develops and has strength to overcome any problems that will come up!


 Upcoming Youth Ministry Events in the Area

Inclusion on this list doesn't imply endorsement.
Do your homework to make sure these events fit you or your group.
 
Megarally: What Social Media Can't Tell You About Your Social Life
Feb. 28, 6-8 p.m. / Bethel University
 
Craig Sanborn (Plymouth Covenant) and Heather Flies (Wooddale Church) are speaking and Seventh Hour is leading worship. $5 per person by Feb. 14; after that it's $8. Bethel.edu/events/2016/megarally
 
YS Team Training
April 8-9 / Minneapolis
 
Early bird registration ends Feb. 12. YS Team Training will give your entire youth ministry team the tools and knowledge to effectively lead, mentor and engage teenagers. Ysteamtraining.com

Breaking News

To get the latest updates on these and other youth ministry events for the NWC follow us on Facebook: Northwest Conference Youth Ministry page or on Twitter @nwcym 
  
To see the full NWC Calendar, visit northwestconference.org/events/

Feb. 18, 2016
Youth Pastor's Connection - Salem Covenant Church, New Brighton, MN
 
Feb. 27, 2016
Dr. Mark Yarhouse Workshop - Salem Covenant Church, New Brighton, MN
 
March 17, 2016
Youth Pastor's Connection - Salem Covenant Church, New Brighton, MN
 
April 15-16, 2016
MOVE - Twin Cities

April 21, 2016
Youth Pastor's Connection - Salem Covenant Church, New Brighton, MN
 
April 28-29, 2016
Ministerial Association Annual Meeting - Lakeview Covenant Church, Duluth, MN
 
April 29-30, 2016
Northwest Conference Annual Meeting - Lakeview Covenant Church, Duluth, MN

May 24, 2016
  Youth Pastor's Connection - Salem Covenant Church, New Brighton, MN
 
June 18-25, 2016
Adventures in Leadership - Adventurous Christians, Grand Marais, MN
 
August 4-6, 2016
MUUUCE - Crossroads Church, Woodbury, MN

Northwest Conference, 3106 47th Ave. S.  |  612.721.4893  |  northwestconference.org