STUDENT MINISTRY: The Case for Conferences and Continuing Education

      This past week, our church took a group to the Sing! Conference again in Nashville, Tenn. This was my fifth year attending, and I would recommend this event to anyone, not just those involved in the church’s music leadership. It was a time of worship, learning and fellowship with my church members. There is nothing like spending time with others to build relationships and memories. Our group plans to go back again.

      As those working with students, we often think about youth conferences. We don’t think about events for the church or even for ourselves. We need to be thinking about continuing education for ourselves. John Piper told vocational ministers, “We are not professionals.” While true, we must act professionally and utilize continuing education opportunities. My wife is a professional counselor and is required to log 12 hours of continuing education every year. It allows her to keep her licensure and do her job better. Conferences and continuing education opportunities do the same for us. While we don’t have to log hours to keep our ministry licenses, we do need to continue to grow and learn as we serve the people God has placed in our lives. In addition, conferences are places for connections. You can meet others who serve and reconnect with your ministry friends. There are many reasons to find the time and money to go.

      One of the biggest issues is selecting the conferences you might attend. You want to be a good steward of the resources God has given, so attending an event where you don’t learn or find refreshment can feel like a waste. Let me recommend some of my favorites:

         • Sing! — This annual conference in the Nashville area provides attendees with sound biblical preaching and glorious times of theologically sound worship. Under the direction of Getty Music, the event began in 2017 out of a desire to bring biblically sound and theologically rich worship back into the church. To understand their philosophy, you can read Sing! by Keith & Kristyn Getty. This conference is great for worship leaders, pastors, youth workers, children’s workers and more. It falls around the Labor Day weekend, and registration information can be found at gettymusicworshipconference.com.

         • For the Church — This conference is sponsored by Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary of Kansas City, Mo. It is a time of encouragement and exhortation for all those connected to the church. With theologically rich messages and great worship, it is one I return to year after year. It doesn’t hurt that it is relatively inexpensive. A couple of pluses to attending are Kansas City BBQ and the free books they give away. You can register at ftc24.events.mbts.edu.

         • Student Pastor Summit — It is the perfect companion as a pre-conference event to the “For the Church” Conference. Come early, and you can learn and connect with others focused on serving students. You can register at ftc24.events.mbts.edu/preconferences.

         • The Student Ministry Workers Retreat — (and now for a little self-promotion) I would love to have you join us for our annual Student Ministry Workers Retreat at Central Baptist College. This year’s event is focused on discipleship, with Dr. Jimmie Decker as our featured speaker. We provide goody bags, snacks, worship, lunch, breakout groups and more. If you have any questions, be sure to reach out. We have intentionally made this a one-day event so it is more accessible to volunteers and bi-vocational student ministry workers. You can register at SMWR2024.eventbrite.com.

      Besides choosing an event, there is one other major concern. How do I fund these conferences? Even inexpensive events like the Student Ministry Workers Retreat require a fee. One, talk to your pastor. He may simply be waiting for you to bring this to his attention. See if there is some funding available. Two, do some fundraising. We raise money for camps and conferences for our students. Why not apply the same effort and energy to something that will benefit you and your students? Three, save. Even a few dollars a week can provide what you need. Fourth, start with one conference. Don’t try to cram them all in.

      Take time to invest in yourself and your ministry. Don’t put it off. Your ministry and spiritual well-being will benefit from a few days away.