Developing Intentional Discipleship

Developing Intentional Discipleship

Sat. October 1, 2016

Liverpool UMC

9:00am -2:30 pm

UNYUMC Christian Education Teachers, Leaders, Pastors, Small Group Leaders, and others interested are invited to join in a day of sharing together and learning how to move forward BEING the Church.

In the Church Today WE Need to Create Discipleship Systems to:

-Connect people exploring Christ

-Grow people who are new in Christ

-Encourage people to go deeper in Christ

--- THERE ARE 10 WORKSHOPS FOR ALL INVOLVED AGES ---

ONLINE REGISTRATION

COST: $10.00 (includes 2 workshops and lunch) No Registration cost more than $50.00 for a Church

9:00am Gathering Registration

9:30 Worship

9:55 Aaron Bowens ReVital Info

10:45 Workshops

12:15pm Lunch

1:00 Workshops

2:30 Depart from Workshops

AM WORKSHOPS:

--Creating an Intentional Discipleship Plan--

Before the classes are scheduled. Before the content of classes are determined. Even before the small groups are formed. An intentional discipleship process needs to be clear about the foundation being built upon. The delivery systems and content will depend on the context. Still each context will need to make allowance for three baseline principles within the discipleship plan. Through this workshop participants will dig deeper into the principles of connecting with people who are exploring Christ, new to following Christ, and growing deeper in Christ.

Aaron Bouwens,Aaron serves as Director of Vital Congregations for the Upper New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. He provides leadership to the Conference revitalization process, “Hand to Plow”, as well as the Illuminate Preaching Academy, Leadership Academy, and various projects throughout the Conference. He lives in Homer, NY with his wife Sarah and three daughters, Rachel, Leah, and Hannah.

--Christian Education in this Century to reach people of today--

Bringing the Bible to life and getting away from doing worksheets at a table in Christian Education opportunities. Let’s bring Sunday School into the 21st century. Why do kids love VBS? How to use the VBS model as the new Sunday School model. It is important to get away from programming and focus on being in relationship with children, youth and adults.

Carol Douchette, Carol has been involved with children’s and youth ministry since she was 15 years old. She has volunteered at James Street UMC and Bellevue Heights UMC. Carol has been on staff at Immanuel UMC in Camillus for the past six years as the Christian Education Coordinator where she is responsible for the nursery, the acolytes, the Sunday School, the Youth program, Vacation Bible School and assists with Confirmation.

--Building better Worship experiences,

presentationsBulletins--

The church today needs to invite and offer opportunities to provide quality worship experiences where people can connect with community and God. It’s important for us to think theologically about our use of technology in Worship; then to implement technology to live out the mission of the church in our connected culture.

Rev. Phil Phaneufis Pastor at Queensbury UMC, Phil loves to preach and teach using media and technology. He has an interesting viewpoint on using technology to share our historical roots of Wesley with our future ways of reaching people in worship and engaging people on the journey. Phil loves to teach all ages and hang out with youth.

--Revitalizing Religiously Ambiguous Youth--

I’m Spiritual but I’m not religious. Moral therapeutic deism. Secular humanism. Benign whateverism. Apatheism. These are all phrases used to describe the ambivalence many youth have towards religion. This workshop will highlight why revitalizing youth ministry means returning to a holy—a "set apart"—foundation. Anyone working with youth needs to come and experience this workshop.

Mike Mullinis a Licensed Local Pastor and Youth Minister at Asbury First United Methodist Church. Mike grew up in The United Methodist Church and has been working in youth ministry for 10 years. A highlight of his past year in ministry was leading a mission trip for 45 senior high youth and adults to Cuba.

--Designing an Older Adult Ministry--

The next decade will bear witness to the greatest increase of older adults in the history of the United States. As (Baby) Boomers turn 70, this massive and influential cohort will be responsible for the growth of the older adult population from 35 million to over 75 million people by 2030. While there will be many challenges posed to our health care system, this “Silver Tsunami” of older adults presents itself as the church’s greatest opportunity in over 200 years to share the gospel with those in need, to reach out and make disciples out of this very significant grouping, including those claiming to be “spiritual but not religious,” and to enhance the quality of senior living through older adult and intergenerational ministries.

This workshop will focus on how to catch the Boomer wave and design an older adult ministry unique to one’s ministry context.

Preparatory Field Research:

Come to class with the following research/data points from your ministry context (eg. church, hospital, not-for-profit):

Older adult demographics for your town/community (eg. population size; income; race/ethnicity; own or rent place of residence; household size—anything you can find available)
Older adult programs offered in your town/community
Demographics by age for your ministry context with a focus on the older adult population. Statistics should reflect active participation by the following categories for age:
Under 21 years
21 to 42 years
43 to 64 years
65 to 75 (young old)
76 to 84 (middle old)
84 and older (old old)
A listing of ministries/programs from within your context and how they do or do not pertain to older adults

Deacon Becky Naber, M.Div., has been involved with caring ministry for over 17 years and is a Deacon in the Upper NY Conference of the UMC. Called to pastoral care, her journey began at First United Methodist Church of Springdale, Arkansas as a Stephen Minister and Leader, and as a Christian counselor at The Bread of Life Food Pantry. Upon returning with her family to Upstate New York in 2014, she served as a student palliative care chaplain at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and is appointed as Pastor of Congregational Care at Baker Memorial UMC. In addition, Becky is Professor of Older Adult Ministries at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School and continues to serve as the chair of Older Adult Ministries of the Upper NY Conference. Becky and her husband, Eric, reside in East Aurora, NY with their two young adult children.

PM WORKSHOPS:

--Creating an Intentional Discipleship Plan--

--Reviving Wesley Class Meeting in the Connected Age--

This workshop will explore ways to create opportunities for discipleship and friendship development in the church using the computer or technology to deepen discipleship by using the foundations that started Methodism.

Rev. Phil Phaneufis Pastor at Queensbury UMC, Phil loves to preach and teach, enjoys youth ministries, and to experience mission opportunities. He has an interesting viewpoint using our historical roots of Wesley with our future. Phil uses technology and media to bring the Gospel to life.

--Children's Ministries, the Heartbeat of our Churches--

Based on the book of Ephesians; "Children's Ministries; the Heartbeat of our Churches" Workshop is designed to revitalize, equip and implement Christian Education Opportunities with a fruitful vision and mission in Children Ministries. Topics will include: God's Vision, My Mission, Building Unity, Creative Programming and Equipping the Team.

Lynne Kimplandis the Director of Children and Youth ministries at the Endwell UMC.Lynne enjoys children’s ministries inspiring children and youth to seek and embrace their God given gifts while becoming disciples of Jesus Christ. Along with her husband Mark, she has been involved in children and youth ministries for over 30 years. Throughout her ministry, she has written and implemented Sunday school, Children’s Church and youth programs as well as her passion of creating fun family community events. Her certification in Life Coaching and personal training has complimented her gifts in children’s ministries.

--A Place to Belong – Meeting the Needs of Unchurched Youth--

We live in a society based on the need to belong. Our technologically advanced world allows us numerous ways to connect without actually building meaningful relationships. Youth today are hungering for authentic relationships that make them feel that they have a place to belong, a place where they are loved for who they are. The church has a unique opportunity to become this place of belonging and real, loving relationships. Join us as we discuss ways that as the church we can provide space for youth to belong and methods for building Christ centered relationships with young people in desperate need of community.

Shari Schuck, Pastor of Youth and Family Ministries at Bergen UMC and the winner of the 2016 Harry Denman Evangelism Award, will share her experiences in leading an afterschool program for youth in her community and provide space for other leaders to dream and plan for ways they can provide a place to belong for the youth in their own communities.

--Resources to Connect, Grow, and Strengthen Relationships with Christ--

In this workshop you will:

Learn about your Conference Media Resource Center (a free lending library supported through ministry share dollars) and all that it has to offer to help you make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Learn about resources that support your vision, mission, and ministry
Ask questions and receive ideas on what might best work for you
Put your hands on and preview resources available to borrow

Diane Mineris Director of the UMC Conference Resource Center in Endicott NY. She has volunteered and worked in many aspects of Christian Education over the years.
She is especially passionate about connecting people to resources that help them grow in their relationship with God as well helping churches in their vision, mission and ministry.