What is NextGen?
Hosted by Katoomba Christian Convention, NextGen is a conference which exists to train existing and upcoming leaders in youth and children’s ministry.
Since 1990, our world-class training model has been used to equip a new generation of Christian leaders across Australia and beyond. NextGen’s wholistic and interactive program is designed to help delegates to grow in their love and knowledge of God, while gaining key skills to read and teach the Bible to others.
Planning for a new era of NextGen
Times are quickly changing, so in 2022, NextGen will return in a new and improved format, so that more people can be served by our ministry.
We have heard your feedback and we want to acknowledge that the previous format posed some challenge which prevented groups from receiving the full benefits of the NextGen program. Such challenges include:
- Geographical difficulty of getting to NextGen in Katoomba – especially for delegates living in regional areas.
- Financial difficulty of affording a week-long conference over three years.
- Scheduling difficulties especially for time-poor delegates who were unable to complete the three-year program.
In the coming year, our team will come together to brainstorm ways in which we can transform our challenges into opportunities, with the aim to relaunch in 2022 in a new and exciting format!
In the meantime, we’re keen to continue serving delegates who trained with us last January.
Training Kits
For 2021, we’ve designed NextGen Training Kit which allow you to “do-it-yourself” and to replicate the training experience with convenience and ease.
Each kit will include:
- Access to 8 powerful Bible talks just for NextGen 2021, by Tim Blencowe (Pastor, Macquarie Baptist Church) and Gary Millar (Principal, Queensland Theological College).
- Printed Trainee’s Strand Booklet or Trainer’s Booklet Guide.
- BONUS! Inspiring masterclasses and electives to further equip your group in practical ministry skills.
- Plus, extra supporting materials for your ministry.
2020 may have put a discouraging pause on church gatherings and events, so why not kick start 2021 with your ministry team and allow our Training Kits to refresh and encourage your group for the year ahead.
Want to find out more about Strand Material? Click below.
Meet our speakers virtually:
Tim Blencowe
Bio:
Tim will be teaching from the book of Ephesians.
Gary Millar
Bio:
Gary has been the Principal of QTC since the start of 2012.
Gary travels widely throughout Australia and beyond, seeking to encourage local churches. He is also the co-founder and Chair of The Gospel Coalition Australia. Gary is married to Fiona, and they have three daughters, Lucy, Sophie and Rebekah.
Gary will be teaching from the book of Numbers.
After studying chemistry in his home city of Belfast, Gary moved to Aberdeen in Scotland to study theology, before completing a D.Phil at Oxford on Deuteronomy. Gary worked as a pastor for the next 17 years in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and was involved in both church revitalization and church planting, before moving to Brisbane to lead the team at QTC.
Gary teaches Old Testament, Pastoral Ministry and Preaching, and preaches every Tuesday morning in college chapel. Gary has written on Deuteronomy (Now Choose Life in the NSBT series, Time and Place in Deuteronomy JSOTS 174), 1, 2 Kings (ESV Expository Commentary), Prayer (Calling on the name of the Lord: A Biblical Theology of Prayer also in the NSBT series) and Preaching (Saving Eutychus, written with Phil Campbell), and contributed to several other works (New Dictionary of Biblical Theology; The Trustworthiness of God (ed. Paul Helm and Carl Trueman); Jesus Betrayed and Crucified in His Mission: Jesus in the Gospel of Luke (ed. D.A. Carson and K. Nielsen), and the ESV Men’s Devotional Bible). At the beginning of 2020, the Good Book Company published his book ‘Need to Know’ on the Christian life. He is currently working on a major commentary on Deuteronomy and 2 Corinthians for You is set to be released later this year.
Free Downloadable Content
Whether it is your first, second or fifth time attending NextGen, we would like to offer you these resources to help you during the planning process. Click on the links to access these free resources, and feel free to share them with your friends and family!
We’re here to help! If there is anything else you need, please reach out to us at nextgen@kcc.org.au or 1300 737 140.
NextGen marketing materials for your church
Tune in to our Playlist on Spotify
A Leader's Guide
We understand that planning for NextGen is a new experience for you, so we’ve put together some program ideas to help you with planning your training days.
We hope these sample program ideas will help you to embrace the flexibility you have to be able to complete the NextGen training at your own pace, in your own time.
Suggested Timings and Guidelines:The following times are a guide to understand how much time to allocate for each type of session. This is especially helpful if you are a church leader and are responsible for putting together the program timings.
- Sermon Talks: 45 minutes to 1 hour, 8 slots – each talk is roughly 30 minutes in length, the extra time allocated can be used if you’re having worship, announcements, bible readings or other segments.
- Strand Group Training: 1.5 – 2 hours (slot suggestion below). This will depend on how big your group is, or if you’re doing the training by yourself. We’ve allocated 2 hours in the program samples below.
- Workshops: 1.5 – 2 hours (2-3 slots). This allocated time is dependent on which electives you’ve chosen to complete, whether you’ve organised for your own live workshops or whether you would rather mix things up and use workshop time for reflection, discussion or Q&A.
Strand Group Guidelines:
The following is the minimum slots needed to be able to complete the training for each strand material:
- Rising Leaders: 5 slots
- Strand 1 Youth & Kids: 4 slots
- Strand 2 Youth & Kids: 4 slots
- Strand 3A: 6 slots
- Strand 3B: 7 slots (note: traditionally, Strand 3B use workshop time to go through the Strand Material)
Editable Excel File
Promotional Videos
Info Night
NextGen Info Night will be perfect for anyone wanting to know what the ministry will be offering for the year of 2021, join us on Zoom when we answer all your questions about our “Training Kit” and how you can use this opportunity to connect with your home churches as well as churches in your community.
During the Info Night you’ll be able to:
- Hear from us about how NextGen 2021 can look like in your home church.
- Explore ways to accelerate your ministry training.
- Live Q&A time!
Invite your church and friends to learn more about NextGen 2021.
Please RSVP your attendance to the following night:
Monday 26 October from 7pm – 8pm
Pricing
The Training Kit will cost $64pp for trainees and trainers. The cost of your ticket will be used to cover our production cost and to ensure that NextGen will continue into 2021 and beyond.
Trainee ticket access includes:
- 4 talks from each of our plenary speakers (8 talks total).
- Relevant strand booklet including specific reflection questions, talk outlines and more!
- A range of masterclasses curated just for you
- Resources and tips
Trainer ticket access includes:
- 4 talks from each of our plenary speakers (8 talks total).
- Relevant trainer booklet including, specific reflection questions, talk outlines leader’s materials and more!
- A sample program and day-to-day set up suggestions for your group.
- Marketing resources to help you gather a group.
Register
Register today with your group!
Not sure on group numbers?
Use our Sign-Up Sheet template to organise and plan ahead.
We recommend that you read about our electives and masterclasses before you register for your kit.
FAQs
Got Questions?
Hosted by Katoomba Christian Convention, NextGen is a conference which exists to train existing and upcoming leaders in youth and children’s ministry.
Since 1990, our world-class training model has been used to equip a new generation of Christian leaders across Australia and beyond. NextGen’s wholistic and interactive program is designed to help delegates to grow in their love and knowledge of God, while gaining key skills to read and teach the Bible to others.
Each Training Kit contains 8 talks and a physical strand material booklet to work through.
The kits will allow you and your group to complete the 3-4 days of youth or children’s ministry training at your own pace and location.
You can choose to work through the material anytime during January and February 2021, making the most out of the summer holiday by replicating the training experience at your local church with convenience and ease.
We will provide sample programs that will suit your group’s availability and structure.
You will require trainers to teach the strand materials using the Trainer’s Booklet as a guide, lead discussions, and prayer time. Please don’t forget to also abide by any COVID-19 safety protocols and procedures!
We’re here to help you. If you have any concerns or would like help with additional resources please email or call us. You can also join one of our FREE Info Night Sessions here.
Each Training Kit includes:
- 4 Bible talks from Gary Millar and Tim Blencowe (8 talks in total)!
- Printed Trainee Strand Booklet or Trainer’s Booklet Guide (at your own selection)
- BONUS! A range of masterclasses and electives to choose from
- Plus, extra supporting materials for your ministry
Registrations will remain open until January 2021.
However, we recommend that you register by Thursday, 19th November 2020 in order for all your kits to arrive for the new year.
Please feel free to get in contact with us if the date above does not work for your group.
Sign me up for NextGen updates!
Our Sponsors
Platinum
With a heritage spanning 160 years, Anglicare is a Christian organisation with a mission to serve people in need, enrich lives and share the love of Jesus.
CRU is a Bible-based, interdenominational Christian organisation whose mission is to help the kids and youth of Australia to know and follow Jesus! We do this through our core ministries; CRU Educational Camps, CRU Holiday Camps, Schools Ministry, and through our CRU Galston Gorge and CRU Lake Mac campsites.
Gold
As one of Australia’s biggest grassroots movements, ACL intercedes for the cause of God’s truth, righteousness and justice in public. ACL – truth made public.
Since 1856, Moore College has been training people to be passionate about Jesus, and to equip them with the knowledge and skills to do ministry and mission.
Convention
