E3 Youth Ministry Training

Hurt Seminar
May 17, 2008

Our goal is to help bridge the gap between changing youth culture and the church. Our youth are changing and it is not like it used to be. We wanted to find a way to equip ourselves for this new generation of youth. Doing some research, we eventually landed on what is called the “Hurt” Seminar. It is based off the book Hurt: Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers written by Dr. Chap Clark from Fuller Theological Seminary. The need is to help equip our youth leaders within the Ohio Conference and broader church to effectively reach our youth in a new and shifting culture. We live in an era in which youth culture is moving and changing so fast, it is hard to keep up. Youth are dealing with many issues and life crisis that we never had to face as young people. So Darrin and I came up with a three-year plan to host a one-day seminar once a year for the specific training of youth leaders and others who work with youth as well. We call it “E 3” (Equip, Encourage, Empower).

Here is a description of the Hurt Seminar taken from their Web site: This seminar provides churches training and tools they need to understand the adolescent experience and help them to more fully assimilate and integrate their students into the full life of the church family.

Grounded in a solid theology of church life and community, the seminar helps men and women to grapple with their own fears regarding our changing world, and allows for them to recognize and address how these fears get passed down the kids that God is calling each of us to serve, nurture, embrace, and love. Specific application strategies and tips will provide the hope that adults in today's society so desperately need in learning how to serve this so highly misunderstood and abandoned generation.

The speaker for the event is Duffy Robbins. He has spoken at Mennonite Youth Conventions in the past. Here is a brief biography: Robbins is a ssociate professor of Youth Ministry at Eastern University, St. Davids, Pa. He is a 24-year veteran of youth ministry, having gained extensive experience as a youth minister in both para-church and local parish positions. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Duffy graduated magna cum laude with a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass. He is an Associate Staff member of Youth Specialties, the CORE training team and serves at the National Youthworkers Conventions. Duffy's speaking schedule also takes him each year to a number of college and university campuses as part of the Staley Distinguished Christian Scholars Lectureship. Duffy is the author of numerous books on youth ministry including his most recent book, a youth ministry textbook, This Way to Youth Ministry: An Introduction to the Adventure (Zondervan/Youth Specialties). Duffy lives in Valley Forge, Penn., with his wife, Maggie. They have two daughters, Erin (now Erin Lima) and Katie. Duffy presents the ParenTeen and HURT seminars.

This event is currently scheduled for Camp Luz near Kidron, Ohio, on Saturday, May 17, 2008. It will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please mark your calendar if you or your youth workers are interested in attending. This is also a great event for school teachers and administrators as well.

Registration Form (PDF)

If you need a place to stay the Friday night before the event, contact Kelli at Camp Luz. They have beds available for $5.

Camp Luz
152 Kidron Road
Orrville, Ohio 44667
(330)683-1246
campluz@zoominternet.net

If there are any questions, please contact Joe Troyer at 330-316-2045 or Email: joe@ hartvillemennonite.org