Pre-Conference & Post-Conference Intensives/Workshops

Ministry by Strengths

with Sue Nilson Kibbey

Wednesday, October 21, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Ministry by Strengths is Ginghamsburg’s signature approach to leadership development and unleashing church attendees into powerful personalized ministry. If you struggle with motivating and exciting your church family for mission, using your own strengths for greater personal ministry effectiveness, and identifying and deploying the right people for the right roles, Ministry by Strengths will bring you a whole new paradigm. When you register, you’ll also receive information on how to take the online StrengthsFinder survey. Bring the results with you.

Through this intensive, you will be resourced with:

  • information for understanding your own God-given strengths and talents
  • strategies for maximizing your current ministry setting
  • ideas for using the Ministry by Strengths approach in your church

*To create quantum leap changes across your staff or unpaid leader team, be sure to take advantage of the group discount and bring the entire team with you!

(more about how to register)

Taking it to the streets: the revitalization of an urban church

with Campus Pastor Dave Hood

Wednesday, October 21, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Spend a day at the Fort - Ginghamsburg's newest worshipping community - and our mission outpost into Dayton, named by Forbes magazine as one of the 10 fastest dying cities in America. Just over 18 months ago, Fort McKinley United Methodist Church averaged 40 people in weekend worship. Now this vibrant church of nearly 300 urban missionaries, which merged with Ginghamsburg in July '08, is bringing new life and hope to its "at risk" urban community.

Key strategies you'll explore with Pastor Dave and his team are:

  • Project Neighborhood - a commitment to rebuilding the city one block at a time
  • Hot breakfast - designed to reach the neighborhood AND supported by spiritual growth opportunities for all ages
  • Intentional community outreach - including a food pantry, Clubhouse after-school program and an exciting partnership with the neighborhood's local pulbic school

…plus more. If God can do it through Fort McKinley, he can do it through your church, too!

(more about how to register)

Walking a mile in other's shoes: A Poverty Simulation

with Partners in Hope

Wednesday, October 21, 1-4 p.m.

Serving with the poor effectively or with genuine love is tough when you don't know what it feels like to BE poor. This half-day simulation, led by the community outreach agency Partners in Hope, will help you experience poverty and understand the tough realities faced by low-income people every day. To begin, you will be placed in a "family" that is facing the stresses of poverty - whether it's because you are newly employed, recently deserted by the breadwinner, homeless, disabled or raising your grandchildren. Your "family" will then be tasked to provide for basic necessities and shelter over four 15-minute weeks, attempting to work through the typical, "simulated" community resources that are supposed to stand in the gap for those in economic need. At the end, debrief your experiences with others about what it means to live in poverty. You will leave never seeing the people who need our "hand up" in quite the same way again.

(more about how to register)

Designing Student Worship

with Ginghamsburg Student Ministry Team

Wednesday, October 21, 4-9 p.

Arrive early for the conference and watch the Student ministry team in action as they put together that night's "Merge" - the weekly Wednesday night worship experience for students in grades 6-8 that culminates with students growing together in small group community. Your evening includes sitting in the tech meeting and tech run-through, band rehearsal, dinner and Merge worship, followed by Q&A time and a facility tour. Also, plan to meet with the Student Ministry team over lunch on Thursday to eavesdrop in on (and contribute to ) the debrief of the night before. We are always about improving Merge for the next time around!

(more about how to register)

reDesigning Worship Workshop

with Kim Miller

Saturday, October 24, begins 9 a.m. & concludes after the 5 p.m. worship celebration

Do you wake up Sunday mornings thinking "oh my- no…." or "hey- let's go!? Creating engaging worship celebrations week after week is not for the faint of heart. No matter what the size, budget or demographic of your church family, however, powerful weekly worship experiences are entirely possible right in your midst! Bring your entire team for a customized workshop where together you'll gain insight and practice in dreaming, developing and deploying powerful worship experiences. This one-day session will equip your team to:

  • Address the felt needs of your unique congregation.
  • Brainstorm creative pieces around a specific message theme.
  • Maximize the mix of who and what you have to work with
  • Dream new direction for alternative worship venue possibilities

Receive a copy of the newly-published reDesigning Worship to read in preparation. Don't miss this opportunity to transform your church's worship into the very best part of the week!

(more about how to register)