July 13–15, 2006
Prince Conference Center, Calvin College
Grand Rapids, Michigan

See the schedule

Christian families, schools, and churches feel they are becoming culturally irrelevant to youth. How can discipling institutions, especially churches and schools, nurture faithful youth amid the tensions that divide, discourage, and confuse them? This conference will explore youth culture on behalf of those who teach, mentor, and disciple youth. Topics will include:

• What do today's youth want in life, and why?
• Why do so many youth see schools and churches as irrelevant?
• How does spiritual development take place among youth?
• Why is charter and other "moral" education becoming popular?
• What can Christian schools learn from successful church education programs, and vice versa?
• What should be the role of worship in Christian education—and of Christian education in worship?
• How do youth actually learn who they are and who they should be like?
• What modes of teaching are most needed in today's culture?
• What is Christian discipleship, and how might it be practiced effectively today?

This conference will draw together those involved in discipling youth—educators, school board members and administrators, parents, pastors, youth leaders—to consider how to more effectively approach the spiritual growth and formation of young people in contemporary society. The conference will include a range of concise expert input from pastors, educators, and scholars who are engaged with the issues surrounding the discipleship of young people. It will also include substantial time devoted to interaction among the different groups of people present. Our aim is better mutual understanding and cooperation that can lead to more effective ministry. For this reason, mixed teams of people are encouraged to register for the conference at a highly reduced rate as compared with individual registrations. Participants will work together to gain wisdom, skill, and hope for the journey ahead.

• Single: $245 per person*
• Group: $75 per person*

*Price includes breaks and all materials. Participants may purchase a boxed lunch for Saturday (July 15) at the time of registration for an additional $5. Grants are available for college-age students to attend; download instructions for applying. Deadline for registration is June 30, 2006; after this date, a late-registration fee will apply.

In order to encourage interaction between those involved in different aspects of the spiritual formation of young people, the sponsors of the conference are offering a subsidized registration rate of $75 per person to groups of 3–4 registrants drawn from at least two of the following categories:

Students currently preparing to serve in one of the above categories are welcome to register.

Lodging must be arranged independently; a block of rooms is being held at the Prince Conference Center. Please mention this conference when making reservations to get the double-queen rate of $73 (plus 13% tax) per night. Continental breakfast and wireless Internet access are included.

Questions may be sent to kuyers@calvin.edu.

This conference is being sponsored by

• the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
• Calvin Workshops in Communication
• the Center for Excellence in Preaching (Calvin Theological Seminary)
• Christian Schools International
• the Kuyers Institute