| REKINDLE Breakout Presentations in Children's Ministry Maureen Berger - KidZ at Heart "Children & Prayer" Be engaged in the practice of Scripture prayer, reflect and discuss a variety of prayer practices, and try out some age-appropriate tools designed to help children speak to and hear from God. "Beyond Information to Transformation" Help kids get to know God, not just know about him. Learn to balance the knowledge-based focus of your curriculum with practices that help kids build a personal relationship with Jesus. Youth Ministry Nathan Miller, Friendship Church "Discipling Youth Toward Digital Discernment" The way we use our smartphones and devices shape us profoundly. If we are to live “in the world,” but not “of the world” as Christians, how do we monitor our digital diets? And how do we guide students on this journey, as they grow their discernment muscles? In this workshop, we’ll look at the concept of “digital liturgies,” or the way our digital habits form us. And we’ll explore ways to help youth honor God in their digital lives. "Whole-Life Student Ministry" If our students never miss youth group, but are failing in school, it’s a problem! Effective ministry to students touches more than their “church life.” It addresses their “whole life.” In this workshop, we’ll examine our biblical call to minister to students in all aspects of their life and discuss ways we can live into that calling. Leadership Thomas Bush, Bayside Baptist – Superior WI “Leadership Training and Development in the church” Healthy leadership is vital for ministry and church growth. Creating a way to train and develop leaders in the church can change the momentum for our churches and lead us into the future vision and mission we desire. But where do we start? What can leadership training look like in your church? “Effective Team Building” You've heard it said, you can't go it alone. Teams get the job done. Churches flourish when people work together as a team to accomplish the purpose and mission that God has for them. Learning how to build teams can help the church be more effective in ministry and releases individuals to serve where they thrive. Marriage & Family Natt E. Miller II--MCMA "The Place of Biblical Marriage in an Unbiblical World" In an era of shifting values, this workshop explores the timeless design of biblical marriage, equipping couples to build God-centered relationships, navigate cultural challenges, and reflect Christ's love in a world rejecting God's blueprint.
"Strengthening the Founcation" This workshop empowers couples to build rock-solid marriages on biblical truth, equipping them to cultivate spiritual unity, resolve conflicts, and prioritize intimacy, reflecting God's love and design for lasting relationships and spiritual growth. REKINDLE FACULTY MAUREEN BERGER My lifelong walk with Jesus Christ began shortly before I turned 5 years old through praying parents, faithful Sunday school teachers, and traveling children’s ministers. Since then, God has developed in me passions for kid's ministry, discipleship, missions and training. All these areas of interest are linked as I serve with KidZ at Heart! Though not the longest KidZ recruiting story, my journey took 16 years. God was preparing me with personal and professional skills through many experiences during those years by serving with CEF and in my local church as well as taking numerous trips overseas to visit and encourage missionaries. I was warmly welcomed into the KidZ community in January 2020. As VP of Programs (North America), I oversee the ministry of KidZ in the United States and Canada. It is my joy to train and encourage the North American church to see their kids deeply love Jesus. Home to me is many things! The building I call home is in Minneapolis (Bloomington), Minnesota, USA. The people I call home are my family including my parents and my brother’s family (2 nephews, 1 niece). The church I call home is Berean Baptist (Burnsville) where I worship, serve and fellowship. Two spiritual practices I feel at home in are silence/solitude and scripture prayer. NATHAN MILLER Nathan Miller is the Lead Youth Pastor at Friendship Church, located in Prior Lake and Shakopee, Minnesota. He grew up in Owatonna, Minnesota, and graduated from Crown College. He has served at Friendship Church since 2017 and has had impact on youth and family ministry, in preaching, teaching, and leadership training. Nathan values culture, leadership development, and effective communication in his pastoral work. He comes to the ENGAGE program with the recommendation of senior youth leaders who see him as a model for excellence in his generation. THOMAS BUSH Pastor Thomas Bush of Bayside Baptist in Superior Wisconsin has served initially as youth pastor in the church and now for a season as senior pastor. He has brought significant leadership to the church bringing about a rewrite of the church’s constitution and by-laws and introducing a number of ministry developments in his time. He has dedicated himself to several leadership issues that he is addressing in the REKINDLE program. The testimonies of some of his people include: “Pastor Tom welcomed my family and I into his church with open arms. His services on Sun are very passionate and heart felt. I had fell into a very dark spot in my life and was losing my way to Jesus. Pastor Tom has helped my find my way back into my faith and gave me comfort in reassuring me that I am God’s child.” “Every sermon Pastor Tom begins with a question to set your thoughts on the focus of the message and then relates it to the scriptures that really hit home from Gods word! He uses real life experiences and also will shed a tear and is not embarrassed to do so and can also have the congregation in tears! He’s a Vikings fan but I won’t hold that fact against him!” From nominator: “You are an amazing Pastor and your words are very powerful. Had I not joined Bayside I feel like I would have lost my way to Jesus. I am beyond grateful to you and everyone at Bayside guiding me back to Jesus.” “Pastor Tom is REAL! No flakyness or fakeness! What you see is what you get! The motto we’re not perfect but we’re real!” NATT MILLER Natt Miller in the MCMA Associate Director and is pastor of the House of Wisdom in Philadelphia. He leads the Leadership Empowerment Forum and the Marriage School along with his wife Veronica. Rev. Miller ministers in MCMA Africa, as well, travelling with Executive Director Timothy Johnson. His strengths in teaching, preaching, mentoring, and networking prepare him well as he ministers powerfully in many different kinds of settings. He and Veronica are parents to three outstanding children. He comes with great perspective on marriage and family as he leads his sessions at ENGAGE! TIMOTHY A. JOHNSON Tim Johnson is Executive Director of Minnesota Church Ministries Association and has served in that capacity since 1984. Before that he served as an Associate Staff member at Central Free Church in Minneapolis. He has travelled to Africa 50 times doing leadership training and networking in 12 different countries. He continues his work of networking and training in Churches across Minnesota. He is the author of several books and is married to his wife of 45 years, Mary…and has been blessed with two children and 8 grandchildren. |
