Kit Barker who will be preaching and unpacking the book of Psalms. Kit teaches Old Testament at Sydney Missionary and Bible College. When he’s not at college, he’s with his family on the Northern Beaches of Sydney where he spends his down time fishing and surfing. Kit also serves on the leadership team at Narrabeen Baptist Church. We can’t wait to hear the talks he’s bringing to NextGen.
Dr Louise Gosbell is the Principal at Mary Andrews College in Sydney. Louise writes academically in disability theology and has been involved with training churches and Christian organisations in disability inclusion for over 10 years. This workshop will provide you with practical tips and strategies for including kids and teens with diverse skills and abilities in kids and youth programs, especially kids/teens with disability and those who are neuro-atypical (on the autism spectrum). The workshop will address a biblical rationale for inclusive practices, as well as practical suggestions for multi-sensory activities, increasing visuals and timetables to support the creation of safe spaces, buddy systems, and tips on low-sensory breakout spaces. In addition, we will address what churches can do to better support families of kids/teens with disability, as well as ways to gather helpful information from families to help ensure kids/teens programs are places of welcome and belonging for all participants.
Shelley Ligtermoet has been in ministry (as a vocation) for over 16 years in various roles from high school chaplaincy through to her current roles as a Service Pastor and Youth Pastor at CityLife Church in Melbourne. She holds a Master of Divinity from the ACT and has a passion for systematic theology and biblical studies.
For fun: In another life she would love to be a full time Pokemon trainer in Pokemon Go
Reaching Gen Z
This session will equip and empower you with the knowledge and tools to be able to identify the key needs of Generation Z in order to maximise your impact for this next generation for the Kingdom of God.
We will be covering:
Mike Dicker is a tradie who became the children’s and youth minister at All Saints Petersham in Sydney’s Inner West for 14 years, and is currently Principal of Youthworks College in Sydney. He’ll be presenting a workshop at NextGen on the foundations of Youth Ministry that will help you start and continue an effective youth ministry for whatever context you’re in.
Quiz Worx is a creative, children’s ministry that exists to share Jesus with kids everywhere. The main way that we love to share Jesus with kids is in schools, by encouraging them to read the Bible and further explore Jesus for themselves. We also love to partner with churches by resourcing and equipping others from the wider Christian community to faithfully proclaim Jesus to children. Training others in sharing Jesus with kids is a great privilege and we are excited to be able to do that through Next Gen 2022.
Jesus said “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them. For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14) What a wonderful truth! Jesus wants kids to come to him, trust him and be part of his Kingdom forever! This is why Quiz Worx is so passionate about helping kids come to know Jesus from the Bible. It’s also why they love equipping others to share Jesus with kids from the Bible. And so, for Next Gen 2022, Quiz Worx will be running a workshop called “From the Bible to a Kids’ Talk”. This practical workshop will unpack the most important steps needed to take a Bible passage and turn it into an engaging and faithful Kids’ Talk or lesson. With their 20+ years of practical experience in children’s ministry combined with their unique creativity and flair, Quiz Worx hopes to equip, excite, and inspire many Next Gen delegates to faithfully teach the Bible to kids everywhere!
Graham is a lecturer in Practical Theology at Ridley College in Melbourne. He’s been teaching in spiritual formation over many years, first while the youth minister at St. Michaels Wollongong, again during his years as Principal of Youthworks College, and now in his current role where he coordinates the Ridley programs in Guided Spiritual Formation. Born and bred in Sydney, Graham misses proper beaches and the Illawarra escarpment, but loves Melbourne life and is looking forward to Carlton playing finals footy in 2022. Graham and his wife Kate are members of St. Jude’s Anglican church in Parkville. Apart from Jesus, his personal heroes include Bruce Springsteen and Leslie Knope.
In the workshop he’s presenting for NextGen 2022 we’ll think about the specific challenges to spiritual life and health faced by Christian leaders, and make plans for how to pursue practices that keep us connected to the presence and promises of Christ.
Stuart is the co-founder and Lead Pastor of Soul Revival Church, which is a 10 year old multi site Anglican Church in Sydney. Before church planting Stuart was the youth minister of Soul Revival Youth Community at Gymea Anglican for 20 years. Stuart is currently studying a PhD in Intergenerational youth ministry and church planting. He co-hosts the Shock Absorber Podcast that explores intergenerational ministry and foundered Soul Revival Berea that specialises in intergenerational training. Stuart has been practicing, speaking and writing about intergenerational ministry since 1992. He is married to Louise and has 2 sons Ethan and Elijah. Stuart loves football, surfing and is the chaplain to the Cronulla Sharks NRL Club for the past 5 years.
Tim Beilharz is a Children’s Ministry and SRE Advisor for Youthworks as well as the Children’s Pastor at Soul Revival Church. He is passionate about helping churches have effective children’s ministry where our youngest brothers and sisters can grow in their knowledge, love and obedience to King Jesus and share that faith with others.
Tim’s workshop is on the ‘Foundations of Children’s Ministry’. In it, we will explore the biblical foundations for passing on the faith to children, as well as the basic principles that ground an effective children’s ministry in the local church. Questions and discussion guides will be provided to help you start to put these principles into practice in your local ministry.
Trinette Stanley is part of Anglicare’s Family and Life Skills Education team, and works with local Churches to equip them with knowledge and skills to lovingly care for those who wrestle with mental health concerns.
This workshop will provide guidance and practical tips on your role in supporting kids and youth with mental health struggles and illnesses, as well as a discussion on the importance of a holistic approach.
George Statheos has worked as a Chaplain and a Youth Minister for the past 30 years. Several years ago, George spoke at a youth conference on the book of Ecclesiastes. He has since spoken at several other churches and schools on Ecclesiastes and received encouragement to further elaborate on the theme of the book, “remembering your Creator in the days of your youth”. Currently, George is working as a Chaplain at Mamre Anglican school; he has previously worked as a youth minister and as a lecturer in Youth Ministry. He is married with two teenage children.
The purpose of this workshop is to reflect on how best to connect teenagers in their Christian journey. Whether they are from a State School or a Private School. Sadly, many youth fall through cracks when moving from one group to another never to be seen again. We must help youth make transitions in life from one group to another and ultimately be active members in their local church.
Matt has been in youth and 20’s ministry for over 30 years. He completed 10 years with Belrose Anglican in 2003, finished his degree at Morling College and is now ministering full-time for Soul Survivor NSW since 2004.
He is married to Emma, and dad to Joel, Laura and Ben.
Follow @mattgelding
Workshop: “Action: the Practical Side of the Gospel in the Community”
What can it look like for our youth to be serving like Jesus does in their local community?
We will look at the Bible, some examples from the last 20 years in NSW and how we can apply to our own context.
A former atheist who came to faith, Mary Jo Sharp has experienced two worlds of American culture: the post-Christian culture of the Pacific Northwest and the evangelical culture of the Bible Belt. She first encountered apologetics in her own spiritual search while seeking answers. Mary Jo is now an assistant professor of apologetics at Houston Baptist University and the founder and director of Confident Christianity Apologetics Ministry which focuses on addressing the hard questions of Christianity with love and logic through research, writing, training, and debate. The author of several studies including Why Do You Believe That she recently released her book Why I Still Believe. A clear communicator with a heart for people, Mary Jo finds great joy in sharing the deep truths of her Lord and Savior. Mary Jo lives with her husband and family in Portland, Oregon. Connect with Mary Jo via her website maryjosharp.com.
In this session, you will discover three practices to help you model Jesus’ response to those with doubt, focusing on applying those practices when engaging children and students.