The worldview of today’s teenager will be the focus of Youth Ministry 2010 (YM 2010), Jan. 8-10 at the J.W. Marriott Hotel at the Galleria, in Houston.
LCMS District and Congregational Services — Youth Ministry sponsors the annual symposium designed for church professionals and volunteers “who 
are serious about youth ministry,” according to Dr. Terry Dittmer, director of LCMS Youth Ministry.
He explained that pollster George Barna defines a worldview as “that which serves a person’s decision-making filter that enables them to make sense of the complex and huge amount of information, experiences, relationships, and opportunities people face.”
Dittmer said the 2010 symposium will address a related “challenge” and “the basics.”
Concerning the challenge, Dittmer said, “These days most people don’t know what they believe or why, and that includes teenagers. What does it mean for a teenager who says he or she is a Christian? And in a post-modern world, when everybody is spiritual but religion means little, how do we equip a teen to know what he or she believes, and actually filter [their] decisions through [their] worldview.”
For the basics, he posed two questions: “What does it mean to a teenager to be a Christian? And how do we equip a teen to be able to negotiate faithfully through life?”
Scheduled presenters are:
- Dr. Adam Francisco, a faculty member at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., who will help participants explore what a worldview is and to identify “the competition today when it comes to worldviews.” An expert on Islam, Francisco is the author of three books from Concordia Publishing House: One God, Many Gods; Faith on the Edge: The Quest for Spirituality; and Heroes of the Faith.
- Brad Alles, a faculty member at Milwaukee Lutheran High School. A popular youth speaker and Bible study leader, he will guide symposium participants in understanding how to help teens to develop a Christian worldview and use it to define their life and make decisions.
- Dr. Craig Oldenburg, executive director of Mt. Cross Lutheran Camp, Felton, Calif., who will help attendees identify ways they can adapt symposium presentations to their own settings, “making the whole program real for back-home ministry with youth,” Dittmer said.
Symposium registration is $200, which covers program costs, two lunches, and a breakfast.
Download the conference brochure with complete registration information at http://www.lcms.org/?13712.
For room reservations at the J.W. Marriott, call 800-228-9290 and note that you are with “Youth Ministry 2010” for the special rate of $99 per night (plus tax).
The symposium begins with lunch on Jan. 8. Those who arrive early may participate in a youth ministry practicum that morning at the hotel.
For more information, e-mail questions to youth.ministry@lcms.org.
Posted Aug. 18, 2009
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