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KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Tim Barnett
Tim Barnett is an apologist and speaker with Stand to Reason (STR), an apologetics ministry dedicated to training Christians to think more clearly about their faith. Tim travels across the US and Canada, speaking to thousands of people each year. He’s also a frequent guest on podcasts and YouTube channels.
Jason Ballard
Jason is the lead Pastor of The Way Church in Vancouver British Columbia and the Director of The Pastorate (formerly The Canadian Church Leader Network). He is one of the Hosts of the Alpha Youth Series and The Pastorate Podcast. He is Married to Rachael and they have three kids: Hudson (11), Mary (9) and Millie (7). You can find out more about him on Instragram @jasonaballard
Sid Koop
From camp speaker to local youth pastor to youth ministry professor, Sid draws from over 25 years of youth ministry experience. Sid Koop is the Executive Director of the Youth Worker Community where he and his team are dedicated to equipping, empowering, and relationally supporting youth workers to help the next generation follow Jesus. YWC is shaping ministry to adolescents in Canada through Digital Resources, The Coalition, Youth Worker Training Events, and Youth Ministry Coaching, and Consulting, equipping and encouraging thousands of youth workers each year. Currently, his "most important" contract is working for his wife at Green Bay Bible Camp as the Director of Leadership Development and Discipleship).
Emma Narayanan
Emma is the co-Lead Pastor of Avant Life Church which she planted in 2018. She is passionate about leadership development, church planting, worship ministry and teaching. She loves encouraging leaders to step into the calling they have received with bold faith, spiritual authority and humble surrender to God. She has served as a Youth & Young Adults Pastor, Worship Pastor, and Events Manager and now has the privilege of serving as Lead Pastor alongside her husband, Ben.
MAIN SESSION TEAM
Aliza Latta | Host
Aliza Latta is a writer, artist, and pastor who is a huge fan of telling stories. She creates content for Canada’s largest youth conference, Change Conference, and is a church planter and pastor in Ontario.
Ben Woodman | Host
After ten years as a youth pastor and speaker, Ben joined Alpha Canada to create and host the Alpha Youth Series. He currently devotes his time to coaching youth workers, speaking, and creating content to help make faith come alive for youth, kids, and adults. Ben has a joy and enthusiasm for life that is infectious. He and his wife, Melissa live in Vancouver with their daughter, Livia. Find him on Instagram at @benwoodman.
Joshua Leventhal | Worship
Joshua Leventhal is both an artist and worship leader in a local church in Chilliwack, British Columbia. He sees music as one of the most beautiful ways to see us love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, all at once. He writes both devotional music as well as congregational songs meant to make much of Jesus from as true and honest a place as possible. He lives in Chilliwack with his wife Kaitlyn Rose, and their dog Luna.
2024/2025
VENUE MAP
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
FRIDAY SCHEDULE
Time
Event
9:00am - 4:30pm
6:00pm - 7:00pm
Registration Opens
7:00pm - 9:00pm
9:00pm - 10:00pm
After Party
SATURDAY SCHEDULE
Time
Event
8:15am - 8:45am
Morning Worship & Prayer
9:00am - 10:15am
Main Session #2
With Tim Barnett
10:15am - 10:45am
Snack Break
10:45am - 11:45am
Breakout #1
12:00pm - 1:15pm
Lunch Break
1:15pm - 2:15pm
Breakout #2
2:15pm - 2:45pm
Snack Break
2:45pm - 3:45pm
Breakout #3
4:00pm - 5:00pm
Main Session #3
With Emma Narayanan
Track 1
LEADERSHIP
Help! I'm Struggling With All the Administration and Planning That My Ministry Requires | Breakout 1 Responsible Digital Discipleship | Breakout 3
Equipping point leaders to bring out the best in their teams and ministries.
Track 2
YOUTH CULTURE
Q&A on the Deconstruction of Christianity | Breakout 1 Who I Really Am | Breakout 2 The Problem of Pornography | Breakout 3 Creating Redemptive Communities for Adolescents Wrestling With Gender, Sex, and Sexuality | Breakout 3
Understanding and engaging new cultural norms.
Track 3
MINISTRY TOOLS
Helping Hurting Kids | Breakout 1 How to Lead Your Teenagers to Christ | Breakout 1 10 Essential Practices for Every Youth Leader | Breakout 1 When High School Isn't a Musical: Helping Kids in Hard Relationships | Breakout 2 How to Lead a Great Small Group | Breakout 2 Spotify Habits: Finding the Best Christian Music | Breakout 3
Equipping volunteers with practical skills & tools for effective ministry.
Track 4
MOVING STUDENTS TO MISSION
Equipping High School Students to Lead with Biblical Competency and Character | Breakout 2 4 Chair Discipleship 101 | Breakout 2 Short-Term Missions: Making the Most of Life-Changing Experiences | Breakout 3 4 Chair Discipleship 201 | Breakout 3
Equipping volunteers to help students engage in mission.
Track 2 | Youth Culture
Q&A on the Deconstruction of Christianity
Presented by: Tim Barnett
Location:
Tim Barnett is an apologist, speaker, and YouTuber that reaches millions of people very month through his ministry Red Pen Logic, which assesses bad thinking on social media by using good thinking. He sits at the forefront of many ideas people have when deconstructing Christianity. Join him for a live Q&A where you can bring questions from your specific context.
Track 3 | Ministry Tools
Helping Hurting Kids
Presented by: Marv Penner
Location:
With his decades of experience and thousands of hours of counselling in the most difficult of situations, Dr. Marv Penner will provide a wide range of appropriate interventions and fundamental people-helping skills for youth workers as we attempt to minister to kids who are experiencing all types of pain and hurt. He’ll also help us recognize our limitations and learn the principles of effective referral.
Track 3 | Ministry Tools
How to Lead Your Teenagers to Christ
Presented by: Aliza Latta
Location:
In this session, explore how God can use you to lead teenagers to Christ, whether one-on-one, in a small group, or through a call to decision from the stage. Be equipped as a leader who can passionately point youth to Christ and effectively help them cross the line of faith.
Track 3 | Ministry Tools
10 Essential Practices for Every Youth Leader
Presented by: Jason Ballard
Location:
In this session, Jason is going to unpack 10 essential and accessible youth ministry practices that you can easily put into action. These essentials will help you to be more effective, joyful and faithful in youth ministry. This session will include lots of time for Q and A with Jason.
Track 1 | Leadership
Help! I'm Struggling With All the Administration and Planning That My Ministry Requires
Presented by: Jeremy MacDonald
Location:
Does the administrative side of ministry leave you feeling overwhelmed? You’re not alone! Many leaders find that balancing ministry with the constant demands of planning, emails, messages, receipts, and all the meetings can be challenging. Join us as we dive into practical strategies and tools that will help you remain passionate about your calling while managing the details — all without stress! Or at least less stress.
Breakout 1
Friend or Leader?
Presented by: Emma Narayanan
Location:
Can I build authentic relationships and hold the influence of a leader at the same time? This breakout discusses how to invest in the next generation with friendship and leadership converging.
Track 3 | Ministry Tools
When High School Isn't a Musical: Helping Kids in Hard Relationships
Presented by: Steve Zacharias
Location:
When you hear your students talk about their “bullies” or the ups and downs of their friendships break your heart? In the good and the difficult, your students need skills in working through hard relational dynamics. In this session we’ll work through how to help our youth to grow in self-awareness, identify harmful patterns, and discover healthy boundaries in their relationships.
Track 4 | Moving Students to Mission
Equipping High School Students to Lead with Biblical Competency and Character
Presented by: AJ Crocker
Location:
How do you develop Christian leadership in lives of high school students? As we raise up the next generation, are we developing the character and competency of our high school students? How do we foster a calling to leadership in those same students? In this session, AJ will walk through practical examples of how mentorship was a key to unlocking that type of leadership. AJ will also introduce you to a free digital resource from Youth Quake & Briercrest called Leadership Essentials: An 8-month ministry training program designed for high school aged leaders.
Track 3 | Ministry Tools
How to Lead a Great Small Group
Presented by: Ben Woodman
Location:
Small groups are foundational for a healthy youth ministry. But sometimes small groups just feel like chaos. Not controlled chaos. Just chaos. But it doesn’t have to be that way. This workshop will teach you how to create an environment where friends become family and faith puts down deep roots.
Track 2 | Youth Culture
Who I Really Am
Presented by: Rick Hiemstra
Location:
In this session, Rick will look at how our anthropology (or how we think about ourselves) has changed in recent decades and why that makes it hard for people to receive Jesus. And we'll talk about what we can do about that so more people will choose to follow Christ.
Track 4 | Moving Students to Mission
4 Chair Discipleship 101
Presented by: Jeff Smyth
Location:
Jesus recognized that the people he encountered were at different stages of growth and development, and he worked to challenge each of them to the next level. In the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar, you'll get a clear and simple picture of how to follow in Jesus' footsteps and do the same thing. Who then should attend the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar? Anyone who wants to be encouraged with practical skills to be a disciple who makes disciples!
Breakout 2
Track 4 | Moving Students to Mission
4 Chair Discipleship 201
Presented by: Jeff Smyth
Location:
Jesus recognized that the people he encountered were at different stages of growth and development, and he worked to challenge each of them to the next level. In the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar, you'll get a clear and simple picture of how to follow in Jesus' footsteps and do the same thing. Who then should attend the 4 Chair Discipling Seminar? Anyone who wants to be encouraged with practical skills to be a disciple who makes disciples!
Track 2 | Youth Culture
The Problem of Pornography
Presented by: Sid Koop
Location:
This conversation is critical when you realize how pervasive and how destructive pornography is within your youth ministry. Teenagers' brains are being rewired, their understanding of intimacy is being hijacked, and their time is being filled by this powerful addiction. Unfortunately, the shame that porn brings often diminishes the ability to have honest conversations so that teenagers can find hope and healing. This session will walk through the importance of talking about pornography as well as practical and healthy ways to do so in your local context so your students can find hope and healing.
Track 1 | Leadership
A Practical Guide To Responsible Digital Discipleship
Presented by: Josh Woodcock
Location:
Everyone wants to know how to stay safely connected with their students and leaders when they go home. This breakout is a practical guide to continuing responsible, ethical, and effective communication when your group goes home, as well as an introduction to the FaithSpark app as the answer. Attendees will leave with resources and strategies they can implement in their ministry right away and feel confident in their ability to expand their ministry online.
Track 3 | Ministry Tools
Spotify Habits: Finding the Best Christian Music
Presented by: AJ Crocker
Location:
Christian music has never been better, and it has never been easier to find Christian music to fit your vibe. In this seminar AJ will show you where to look and how to find Christian music that you will love. More importantly, he will walk through how our listening habits impact our faith by directing our hearts and minds towards God. Directing our thoughts to God through what we listen to is easier when the music is incredible.
Track 4 | Moving Students to Mission
Short-Term Missions: Making the Most of Life-Changing Experiences
Presented by: Tristan Kruse
Location:
Are short-term mission trips ethical? How can we do them in a way that blesses those we go to serve and leaves a lasting impact on our kids' lives? Join Tristan as he unpacks a step-by-step strategy for effectively leading your kids on a short-term mission trip. Youth mission trips can be transformational to our kid's spiritual lives, and they can also be done in an ethical way that can leave a lasting impact on the lives you serve.
Track 2 | Youth Culture
Creating Redemptive Communities for Adolescents Wrestling With Gender, Sex, and Sexuality
Presented by: Kyla Gillespie
Location:
There are very few students who are not personally wrestling with issues of gender, sex, and sexuality (or don’t have close friends who are). It seems to be the most pervasive issue in current adolescent culture. Is there a way to care for, lead, shepherd, and love all teens in our community when it comes to these complex realities? This breakout will walk through ideas to help you as you point these students to Jesus.
Breakout 3
Meet our dynamic speakers for this year's conference! Each presenter brings a wealth of experience and passion for equipping youth workers to impact the next generation. From leadership development to understanding today’s youth culture, they’ll be guiding breakout sessions that dive into essential ministry tools and strategies for empowering students to step into their own ministry roles. Get ready to be inspired and equipped to lead with greater purpose and insight!
Presenters
Tim Barnett
Tim Barnett is an apologist and speaker with Stand to Reason (STR), an apologetics ministry dedicated to training Christians to think more clearly about their faith. Tim travels across the US and Canada, speaking to thousands of people each year. He’s also a frequent guest on podcasts and YouTube channels.
Jason Ballard
Jason is the lead Pastor of The Way Church in Vancouver British Columbia and the Director of The Pastorate (formerly The Canadian Church Leader Network). He is one of the Hosts of the Alpha Youth Series and The Pastorate Podcast. He is Married to Rachael and they have three kids: Hudson (11), Mary (9) and Millie (7). You can find out more about him on Instragram @jasonaballard
Sid Koop
From camp speaker to local youth pastor to youth ministry professor, Sid draws from over 25 years of youth ministry experience. Sid Koop is the Executive Director of the Youth Worker Community where he and his team are dedicated to equipping, empowering, and relationally supporting youth workers to help the next generation follow Jesus. YWC is shaping ministry to adolescents in Canada through Digital Resources, The Coalition, Youth Worker Training Events, and Youth Ministry Coaching, and Consulting, equipping and encouraging thousands of youth workers each year. Currently, his "most important" contract is working for his wife at Green Bay Bible Camp as the Director of Leadership Development and Discipleship).
Emma Narayanan
Emma is the co-Lead Pastor of Avant Life Church which she planted in 2018. She is passionate about leadership development, church planting, worship ministry and teaching. She loves encouraging leaders to step into the calling they have received with bold faith, spiritual authority and humble surrender to God. She has served as a Youth & Young Adults Pastor, Worship Pastor, and Events Manager and now has the privilege of serving as Lead Pastor alongside her husband, Ben.
Josh Woodcock
Josh lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick, with his wife, Melissa, daughter, Claire, and their golden retriever, Banjo. With a background in camp, youth, and digital ministry, he completed his Master’s in Theological Studies with a focus on Youth Ministry from the University of Waterloo. Now, as the Director of the FaithSpark app for One Hope Canada, Josh channels his experience and passion into reaching the next generation of digital natives.
Marv Penner
Marv is a veteran youth worker who has given his life to serving the next generation and to caring for those who love them. An author, professor, trainer, mentor, consultant, advocate and thought leader, Marv has travelled the world to invest in students, leaders, parents, and decision makers at every level. As a registered clinical counselor, he continues to work each week with hurting teens and their families. Marv is the Founder of The Coalition for Youth Ministry Leadership, a unique apprenticeship based vocational ministry training program based in Kelowna, BC. Marv and his wife, Lois, live in Lake Country, British Columbia. They have three adult children and five energetic grandkids.
Aliza Latta
Aliza Latta is a writer, artist, and pastor who is a huge fan of telling stories. She creates content for Canada’s largest youth conference, Change Conference, and is a church planter and pastor in Ontario.
Ben Woodman
After ten years as a youth pastor and speaker, Ben joined Alpha Canada to create and host the Alpha Youth Series. He currently devotes his time to coaching youth workers, speaking, and creating content to help make faith come alive for youth, kids, and adults. Ben has a joy and enthusiasm for life that is infectious. He and his wife, Melissa live in Vancouver with their daughter, Livia. Find him on Instagram at @benwoodman.
Jeremy MacDonald
Jeremy has been a youth pastor in a large church with 100s of teenagers, in a small church where things grew from a couple volunteers and 6 teenagers, and in a multi-site church with six different youth groups. He is now the Director of Operations at the Youth Worker Community, Professor of NextGen Ministry at Kingswood University, and the Teaching Pastor at Moncton Wesleyan.
Steve Zacharias
Steve’s passion is to be an encourager and catalyst for emerging leaders. His ministry adventure has spanned over a couple decades and has taken him around the globe, supporting leaders in camp and youth ministry on four continents. The teams he’s served with have pioneered dynamic ministries that reach hundreds of thousands every week. He deeply loves connecting with Jesus, people and good pizza.
AJ Crocker
AJ Crocker has worked at Briercrest for 15 years leading things like Youth Quake, High School chapel program, Recruitment teams and Marketing departments. AJ has a BA in Youth Ministry and an MBA in Digital Marketing. He currently serves as the Vice-President of External Relations for Briercrest Christian Academy, College, and Seminary.
Rick Hiemstra
Rick Hiemstra is Director of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada's Centre for Research on Church and Faith (CRCF). Prior to coming to the EFC, he served as a Wesleyan pastor and as a high school mathematics and computer science teacher. Rick speaks on Canadian church and cultural trends, including the recent Parenting Faith, Significant Church and Renegotiating Faith studies. He holds a BMath from the University of Waterloo, a BEd from Ottawa University and an MTS from Tyndale Seminary.
Sarah Stanley
Sarah is a follower of Jesus, adventure seeker, and a novice-coffee drinker. She lives in Kelowna, BC with her fam and serves as a NextGen Pastor - overseeing kids, youth, young adults and family ministries. When not hanging out at YWC, she can be found exploring new hiking trails, having coffee with a friend, or practicing her triangle playing skills.
Tristan Kruse
Tristan Kruse is a husband and father to three beautiful kids. He is currently serving as the National Director for Christar Canada, an organization that focuses on reaching out with the Gospel to those who have yet to hear the good news of Jesus. He has been active in youth ministry both in Canada and overseas and has a heart to see this next generation equipped to fulfill Christ's call on their lives, wherever that might be.
Kyla Gillespie
Kyla Gillespie's deep desire is to help Christians be better equipped to love the LGBTQ+ community. Kyla has been a contributor to The Center for Faith, Sexuality and Gender, and is a speaker and writer—often speaking about her own experiences with same-sex attraction and gender dysphoria. She currently lives in Coquitlam, B.C. www.kylagillespie.com @kylagillespie.14 renewedtransformed@gmail.com
Jeff Smyth
Jeff is passionate about engaging young people in an encounter with the living Christ and equipping leaders with disciple making priorities and practices. Jeff works in Scarborough with Youth Unlimited where he leads leaders and teams focusing on making disciples that make disciples of Jesus. Jeff is a youth ministry veteran of two decades in Canada and the US. He and his wife Heather live in Toronto and they have one son, Nate and a dog named Dodger.
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How to Process this Event with Your Team
This is a crazy, intense, completely full, brain boggling weekend of learning and community building for you and your youth ministry team. We know there’s not a lot of time to sit back and reflect on what you’re hearing and learning much over the course of the weekend, and that can make things feel overwhelming.
So what do you do once the event is finished?
Check out these 3 steps to help you pull what you’ve learned this weekend into your ministry.
1. Book the FollowUp Meeting Today!
Before you leave, compare calendars with your team and set up a time to review the weekend. Meet up over coffee or a meal with everyone and then go over notes and talk through things you learned and the experiences you shared on the weekend. If you can’t get everyone together at once, then meet one on one or in small groups.
2. Identify One Action Item for Now and One for Later
Simplifying to two action items helps keep things moving and frees you from being overwhelmed with all of the things you feel you need to do RIGHT NOW
3. Meet with Your Supervisor/Senior Pastor
If meeting with a senior pastor is a stretch or will take too long then write a report. When your church or ministry has financed you to go to a conference, a great way to say “thank you” is to put into words what you learned. Talk about things you learned, experiences you had, and what you’re doing moving forward to use what you learned. Keeping one another informed and on the inside of what’s happening with you and your youth team will build trust and create open communication lines that will be to everyone’s benefit.
Collaboratively shaping the future of youth ministry.
Coalition students experience a dynamic way of learning that fits their life and ministry.
The Coalition could be right for you if your current situation sounds like...
"I feel called to be in youth ministry one day, but I have little to no training or experience."
"I am currently in a youth ministry leadership role but haven't had the opportunity to be formally or comprehensively trained."
"I have an undergraduate (Bachelors) degree and am currently in a youth ministry leadership position but would love to upgrade to a Masters degree without having to leave my current situation."
Experiential Learning
Spiritual Formation
Intentional Community
Academic Excellence
