Youth Summit Focuses on strengthening Youth Leaders

The leaves are falling and students are back to school! Sports and extracurricular events are dominating their lives while youth leaders try and vie for time slots in their schedules! How do we best lead this generation? How do we make the most of the time we have with them in our ministries? How do we care for ourselves as leaders as we minister to students? The 2023 Youth Summit is a place where youth leaders can bring all of those questions and more!

This year’s summit will be held at Weems Creek Church in Annapolis, MD, on Tuesday, October 10, from 5:30-9 PM and feature two youth ministry specialists from Tennessee and Kentucky.

Jay Barbier serves as the youth specialist with the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. His desire is to help engage people with the Gospel and for them to know the love of Jesus Christ. Jay believes that the message of Jesus changes lives and provides hope. This means so much more to him because he is a cancer survivor. He has worked at churches in Louisiana and Tennessee and travels throughout the U.S., speaking and leading conferences.

He also leads Youth Summer Camps and the Youth Evangelism Conference (YEC) for Tennessee Baptists. Jay holds a degree from Leavell College of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He will be sharing about personal care as a youth leader and what it looks like to follow simple steps that can help change the course of every person and family to focus on discipleship. Discipling your students happens when youth leaders walk with Jesus in their everyday lives. Accountability must be at the forefront of our lives through honesty and vulnerability. You will hear the heart of Jay as a husband, father, and minister!

Matt Flanagan has served as the children and youth ministry consultant. for the Kentucky Baptist Convention (KBC) since 2018. He served in student and discipleship pastor positions at four churches for 27 years prior to joining the KBC. He is passionate about equipping and encouraging leaders in student ministries and helping churches reach and disciple the next generation. Matt graduated from Centre College with a BS in mathematics and physics and a Master’s in Theology from Campbellsville University. Matt will be sharing about retaining the next generation. Learn essential ministry strategies for middle and high school students to reverse the trend of young adults leaving the local church. 

You will undoubtedly be blessed by hearing from both of these men! We’ll also share a catered meal (not Chick-fil-A!) and have a panel discussion featuring several BCM/D youth leaders, as well as Matt and Jay. This will be a great time to bring your questions and engage in meaningful discussions surrounding youth ministry.

Registration is available on the BCM/D website!

 

Kris  Buckman serves as the BCM/D Children’s & Youth Ministry Missionary

 

Feature Photo: Adobe Images