Flagler Forum on Youth and Family Ministry

Dr. Michael Paul Cartledge

What is the neurodiversity paradigm? What can ministry leaders learn from the stories of neurodivergent young people? This session will introduce the concept of neurodiversity and explore practical ways to welcome autistic young people, as well as young people with ADHD, learning disabilities, and emotional and behavioral challenges
 

Dr. Nate Stucky 

We live in a world marked by deep and interconnected exhaustion — environmental, social, political, and spiritual. Christian faith offers a response by inviting us to embrace our limits, our interconnectedness with all creation, and our dependence on God’s grace. Scripture reveals a God who rests and calls all creation into rest, pointing us toward a way of being rooted in renewal rather than endless striving. This workshop invites us to explore rest as central to God’s identity and as a faithful, life-giving practice for a weary world.

Kyla Salmond

This transformative class is designed to help you assess your personal self-worth and move towards the future you truly envision for yourself. By identifying limiting beliefs, lies, and negative thought patterns, you’ll begin to replace them with empowering truths that align with your values. As you lean into these truths, you will be able to lead others from a place of strength and resilience. Discovering your self-worth is foundational as a leader and minister and will give you the tools that you need to continue to pour into others’ lives. 

Marc Craddock

We will briefly explore the historical and Christian roots of meditative practice. Instruction will be provided on meditation techniques. Participants will be guided in several practices. Group discussion will follow the instruction and practice period. 

Rev. Dr. Justin Forbes

You signed up to volunteer with youth, children or families - now what? Join Rev. Dr. Forbes, Director of the Youth Ministry Program and the Center for Religion and Culture, at Flagler College, for a time of learning some relational ministry skills that will help you on your volunteer journey. Don’t worry- you can do this! 

Bentley Stuart

We will explore how we co-create a container for children and young people that nurtures contemplative spirituality; following the developmental theorists who claim that “play is the work of childhood.” Building on that assertion, we will work with the assumption that play is the modality through which children engage in spirituality. However, not all play is spiritual. So, for me, the task is co-creating a container, with a child, or children, that can hold our playful explorations of spirituality.

Dr. Lakisha Lockhart 

In this interactive workshop participants will not only learn about the theological, spiritual, and neurological dimensions and benefits of play, but they will also engage in various play practices. Participants will have fun, dig deeper into play, and even leave with additional play practices to use. So come open and ready to learn about and embody what can occur when you Play, on Purpose.