Youth Ministry &
Mental Health 
Online Training

Equip your ministry to support teens when they struggle

September 28, 2023
9:00am - 1:00pm PT

Youth Ministry Speakers

Registration is closed

Feeling lost as teens in your ministry struggle with stress, depression, anxiety, trauma, and despair?

Often youth leaders are the first to see and respond when young people are in crisis. We know you want to help. And we know getting answers on how best to support them can be a challenge.
Join our online Youth Ministry & Mental Health training event, where you’ll hear from experts and gain valuable insights so that you can feel confident as you care for your hurting teens and create a mental-health-friendly youth ministry.
This 4-hour online training event features keynote training with Dr. Chinwé Williams and Will Hutcherson, authors of Seen, and Dr. Kara Powell, author of 3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager. 
You’ll also get to attend breakout sessions with ministry experts and choose from practical topics such as: 
  • Trauma-Informed Discipleship
  • Simple Practices for a Mental-Health-Friendly Youth Group
  • Partnering With Parents for the Long Term
  • Resilience for Stressed-Out Youth Leaders

In just half a day, you’ll gain tools that will help you:

  • Understand the factors that are leading to increased anxiety, depression, and despair in today’s young people.
  • Identify the strategies your ministry needs in order to support young people struggling with mental health. 
  • Help struggling teenagers in your community feel seen and supported.
  • Learn about ways you can equip and partner with families as they care for their hurting teens.
  • Come away equipped with turn-key solutions to create a mental-health-friendly youth ministry.
YMMH Mockup

Youth Ministry & Mental Health

Date: September 28, 2023
Time: 9:00am Pacific Time - 1:00pm Pacific Time
Cost:
$69/person

Registration is closed

Preview the schedule

Registration closes September 25, 2023 at 11:59 pm Pacific Time

Keynote Speakers


Chinwe Williams

Dr. Chinwé Williams

Chinwé Williams, PhD is a Licensed and Board-Certified therapist, speaker, author, and consultant. She is a former graduate counseling professor, college and high school counselor, and executive coach. She is currently a trainer and consultant for K-12 schools, non-profit, faith-based, and corporate work settings. Her expertise lies in areas of adolescent, family, and women’s wellness, stress/anxiety management, and trauma recovery. Dr. Williams is a frequently invited speaker, blogger, and podcaster on topics related to anxiety management, adolescent mental health, and trauma recovery. She is the owner of Meaningful Solutions Counseling & Consulting, where she maintains a growing private practice in Roswell, GA. Dr. Williams is the co-author of Seen: Healing Despair and Anxiety in Kids and Teens Through the Power of Connection and Beyond the Spiral: Why You Shouldn’t Believe Everything Anxiety Tells You. Dr. Williams is a wife and mother to three beautiful kids. She and her family can be frequently found on nature trials, eating at yummy restaurants, or cheering on the Georgia bulldogs!


Will Hutchinson

Will Hutcherson

Will Hutcherson is an author, speaker, and pastor. Will has been a Next Gen and Student Pastor for over 15 years. Over the past several years he has become increasingly passionate about finding practical ways to bring hope to kids and teens who are facing increasing amounts of anxiety, depression, and despair. This led to him starting Curate Hope, a non-profit that focuses on suicide prevention, mental health awareness, and partnering with schools, churches, and parents to help heal despair in teens. Will seeks to build a bridge between the local church and the schools and families that are navigating this mental health crisis. Through Curate Hope, Will speaks in public schools across the country, letting students know that there is always hope. Will is a co-author of two books: SEEN: Healing Despair and Anxiety in Kids and Teens Through the Power of Connection and Beyond the Spiral: Why You Shouldn’t Believe Everything Anxiety Tells You. He lives in the sunshine state with his wife Arianne and three kids.


Kara Powell

Dr. Kara Powell

Dr. Kara Powell is the Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI), a faculty member at Fuller Theological Seminary, and Fuller's Chief of Leadership Formation. Named by Christianity Today as one of “50 Women You Should Know,” Kara serves as a Youth and Family Strategist for Orange, and also speaks regularly at parenting and leadership conferences. Kara is the author or coauthor of a number of books, including 3 Big Questions that Change Every Teenager, Growing Young, Growing With, The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family, Sticky Faith Curriculum, Can I Ask That?, Deep Justice Journeys, Deep Justice in a Broken World, Deep Ministry in a Shallow World, and the Good Sex Youth Ministry Curriculum. Kara lives with her husband Dave and their three children, Nathan, Krista, and Jessica, in Southern California.

Breakout Sessions

Partnering With Parents for the Long Term
Chuck Hunt

Parents and caregivers have an essential role in supporting young people's mental health. Yet they often feel overwhelmed and untrained. In this breakout, you will walk away with practical ideas to equip parents as they journey with their teenagers.

Trauma-Informed Discipleship
Lenmarie Pascall

Many teenagers in our communities have endured hard circumstances. This workshop will teach you the skills you need to disciple young people in a way that cultivates authenticity and trust.

Resilience for Stressed-Out Youth Leaders
Roslyn Hernández & Zach Ellis

Ministry is difficult. We know! In this breakout, you'll learn research-based factors and spiritual practices that will equip you for resilience and healthy, long-lasting ministry.

Simple Practices for a Mental-Health-Friendly Youth Group 
Rachel Dodd & Andy Jung

This breakout will empower you with language and tools to respond to young people in your care, linking anxiety and depression with conversations about discipleship and faithful living.

Breakout Speakers and Facilitators

Rev. Charles (Chuck) Hunt, D.Min has been ministering to adolescents, young adults, and their families for more than 30 years. He was born in Virginia and grew up in Huntington Beach, CA where his love for adventure developed. He has a BS from Hampton University in Aviation as well as an M.Div and D.Min from Fuller Theological Seminary. Chuck is passionate about Christ’s call to restore our relationship with God and with each other, thus he advocates for righteousness and justice. He has a proven record of building teams in the church and fostering partnerships with organizations in the community. Read more about Chuck.

An image of Chuck Hunt the person who said this quote.

Chuck Hunt

Senior Director of Training and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

Roslyn Hernández is DEI Manager and Content Producer at the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI). She produces The FYI on Youth Ministry podcast, manages resource production, and provides support for research projects. Roslyn lived in México City as a child and grew up in the Central Valley of California. She holds a BA with majors in Film & Media Studies and Spanish, and a minor in Art History from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB); and an MDiv with an emphasis on Youth, Family and Culture from Fuller Theological Seminary. Roslyn is also a Spiritual Director and writer. She is passionate about decolonizing, public theology, pop culture, culinary traditions, nature, and tea.

An image of Roslyn Hernández, MDiv the person who said this quote.

Roslyn Hernández, MDiv

Spiritual Director, FYI Diveristy, Equity, and Inclusion Manager and Content Producer

Lenmarie Pascall is a child of God, a sister, friend, aunty and leader. She is passionate about spiritual freedom, women in leadership, juvenile justice, and the next generation of leaders, or as she likes to say, “this generation of leaders”. She is currently the Learning and Development Supervisor at Just Us 4 Youth and Facilitator for the Urban Youth Worker Institute’s Certification Program. She received her Master of Divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary and has served as a youth leader and minister in the Church of the Nazarene for over 10 years. In 2020, Lenmarie founded Rest by Len, a company birth out of the importance of rest, and rejection of burnout. Her mission is to love others well, seeking the shalom of God in every city she is called to. Lenmarie enjoys spending time with family and friends, being a plant mom, and attending shows, parks and museums.

An image of Lenmarie Pascall the person who said this quote.

Lenmarie Pascall

Learning and Development Supervisor

Rachel Dodd is a spiritual director, writer, and Managing Editor at the Fuller Youth Institute. She has a BA in Church Music and Youth Ministry from Point Loma Nazarene University, an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary, and is currently finishing a DMin in Spiritual Formation and Direction. Having served students and families in the UK and US for over 20 years, Rachel loves writing to share stories and equip those following their own calling in ministry. She and her husband, Carl, now live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, and have two daughters. Connect with Rachel at racheldoddwriter.com. Read more about Rachel.

An image of Rachel Dodd the person who said this quote.

Rachel Dodd

Spiritual Director & Managing Editor

Andy Jung is the Senior Director of Church Engagement and Business Administration at the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI), where he oversees the church engagement strategy. He leads cohorts and other training initiatives, develops relationships and networks with church and denominational leaders and ensures effective systems and processes to execute all these efforts effectively and efficiently. He has served as a youth minister for 20+ years and a senior pastor for five years. In addition, Andy also served as a state executive leader for Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of NC for two years. Read more about Andy.

An image of Andy Jung the person who said this quote.

Andy Jung

Senior Director of Church Engagement and Business Administration

Zach Ellis is the Church Training Manager at the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI). Zach holds an MDiv from Nazarene Theological Seminary and a PhD from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is ordained in the Church of the Nazarene and is an active volunteer in his church’s youth group. Before joining FYI, he was a youth pastor in Eastern Oregon. In his free time, you’ll likely find him hiking with his wife and two kids or watching Sporting Kansas City score goals. Read more about Zach.

An image of Zach Ellis, PhD the person who said this quote.

Zach Ellis, PhD

Church Training Manager

Youth Ministry + Mental Health Training Schedule

9:00–10:00 am PT  |  3 Big Questions that Change Every Teenager & Mental Health: Dr. Kara Powell

10:00–10:45 am PT  |  Breakout Rooms (Choose 1)

  • Partnering With Parents for the Long Term
  • Simple Practices for a Mental-Health-Friendly Youth Group
  • Resilience for Stressed-Out Youth Leaders
  • Trauma-Informed Discipleship

10:45-11:00 am PT  |  Break

11:00-12:00 pm PT  |  Seen: Despair and Anxiety in Kids and Teenagers and the Power of Connection: Dr. Chinwé Williams and Will Hutcherson

12:00pm-12:45 pm PT  |  Breakout Rooms (Choose 1)

  • Partnering With Parents for the Long Term
  • Simple Practices for a Mental-Health-Friendly Youth Group
  • Resilience for Stressed-Out Youth Leaders
  • Trauma-Informed Discipleship

12:45-1:00 pm PT  |  Closing Session
 

    YMMH Mockup

    Youth Ministry & Mental Health

    Date: September 28, 2023
    Time: 9:00am Pacific Time - 1:00pm Pacific Time
    Cost:
    $69/person

    Registration is closed

    Preview the schedule

    Registration closes September 25, 2023 at 11:59 pm Pacific Time

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How can I view this event?

    Youth Ministry & Mental Health is an online training event that you can attend from your internet-connected device. After registering, the FYI team will email you a zoom link in advance that will allow you to join when the training starts.

    Can I bring a group?

    Yes! Bringing your team with you will allow every participant the opportunity to contribute to a mental-health-friendly youth ministry. Please register each individual who will be participating in the training event. We recommend that each participant join from their own screen.

    Will this event be recorded?

    At FYI, we plan training events to be a safe space where you can interact with trainers and ministry leaders, talk about your experiences, and ask your honest questions. For this reason, recordings of the event will not be made available.

    My plans have changed and I can’t make it to the event. Can I get a refund?

    We will offer a 100% refund for any cancellations on or before September 21st. After that, we will be unable to offer any refunds.
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