Redesigning Ministry for Rising Generations

Friday, October 18, 2024 | 9:00 a.m. — 3:00 p.m. | Ken Olsen Science Center at Gordon College

We believe God is empowering rising generations of students who are uniquely equipped "for such a time as this" in New England and beyond.

We would like to extend an invitation to you to join us for a special day focusing on “Redesigning Ministry for Rising Generations” with keynote speaker Sharon Galgay Ketcham and workshop presenters including Ellie Beatty, Ken Boa, Eugene Kim, and Bryan Wilkerson.

Schedule of Events

Registration, Coffee and Continental Breakfast
8:30 — 9:00 a.m.

Welcome and Large Group Session
9:15 — 10:15 a.m.

Break
10:15 — 10:30 a.m.

Workshop Session 1
10:30 — 11:30 a.m.

Lunch and Connection
11:30 a.m. — 12:45 p.m.

Workshop Session 2
12:45 — 1:45 p.m.

Participate in a Designed Sacred Experience together
1:45 — 2:30 p.m.

Closing Session
2:30 — 3:00 p.m.

Workshop Descriptions

Nurturing Children’s Spirituality: Foundations for Lifelong Faith
Ellie Beatty

Jesus said: “Unless you change and become like little children you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). How can we work with children’s natural curiosity, wonder and spiritual sensitivity to facilitate their connection to Jesus?
At this workshop you will:
1. Review research, both secular and sacred, on the nature of children’s spiritual development,
2. Learn practices of spiritual accompaniment and listening to children that foster their connection with Christ,
3. Prepare to equip others who care for children to do the same, including ministry workers and parents, and
4. Explore how these practices fit with more traditional approaches to children's ministry.

A New Framework
Ken Boa

While our discipleship programs want to yield the fruit of personal and corporate Christlikeness, they often do not. To address this problem, a new framework is required. This suggests the need for a new, non-programmatic approach to discipleship. Jesus tells us that at the heart of things are the Great Commandments to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. In other words, discipleship is relational. Spiritual excellence comes from loving God completely; and moral and relational excellence comes from loving ourselves correctly and loving others compassionately. In this workshop, we will explore 10 principles that can help guide us through this process.

Don't Just Innovate... Collaborate!
Eugene Kim

Join us for a dynamic workshop for ministry leaders passionate about empowering the next generation. Discover why innovation is more than just a buzzword but a crucial practice in today's church and ministry landscape. Learn practical strategies to leverage the power of collaboration in implementing creative, impactful change. This workshop will offer tools and insights that can help you engage your young people and teams to move forward together toward new possibilities.

ReImagining Church
Bryan Wilkerson

According to The Great Opportunity research, more than a million young people are walking away from church every year. But the same research suggests that they are less like rebels, rejecting their faith, and more like refugees, looking for a spiritual home. What kind of churches will welcome them, and offer a compelling reason to re-engage? With a balance of hard-hitting realism and biblically-inspired optimism, we’ll identify 5 values that need to shape the church of the future.

Meet our Speakers

Ellie Beatty, M.S., Ed.

Ellie Beatty, M.S., Ed. has taught young children for many years in private and public-school settings, helping children develop the dispositions of lifelong learners and followers of Jesus. Ellie currently serves as a Spiritual Accompanist (formerly known as a Spiritual Director) for children ages 3 through 13. She meets with children one-on-one as a listening companion and non-anxious, prayerful presence, helping children to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit and nurturing each child’s connection to Jesus. Ellie also assists Lacy Borgo in online classes through the Companioning Center to train others from around the world to become Spiritual Accompanists for children.

Ellie is mom to two adult sons and lives with her husband Dave in southern New Hampshire.

Ken Boa, PhD

Dr. Ken Boa is engaged in a ministry of relational evangelism and discipleship, teaching, writing, and speaking. For 40 years, Ken has shared Scripture-based truth to help people view life from God’s perspective. He holds a BS from Case Institute of Technology, a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary, a Ph.D. from New York University, and a DPhil from the University of Oxford in England.

Eugene Kim, MDiv

Eugene is an ordained minister with over 25 years of experience in local church ministry. For 17 years, he played a pivotal role in growing a church from its early stages into a thriving, multi-location community. However, recognizing the need to rethink traditional models, Eugene discerned that it was time to step beyond the familiar and reimagine what it means to be and do “church” from the ground up. He left his pastoral role in 2020 to establish New Wine Collective—a church innovation think-tank and R&D lab.

Since founding New Wine Collective, Eugene has been learning, ideating, and convening conversations about the evolving spiritual landscape and future of the Church. He speaks, facilitates, and consults with churches and organizations interested in exploring change and innovation, all while remaining a pastor at heart who loves walking alongside people in their journeys. Eugene’s passions lie in systemic change and designing new ways of being the Church that can help heal the world and give everyone a place to belong.

Eugene grew up in Queens, NY and Seoul, Korea, and now lives in the Boston area. He loves hanging out with his three children, enjoying good food, cooking, and watching Korean dramas with his wife.

Bryan Wilkerson, MDiv., DMin.

Bryan Wilkerson is Pastor Emeritus at Grace Chapel, a multi-site church in greater Boston. Bryan served as Senior Pastor at Grace Chapel for 24 years, having previously served for 16 years as Senior Pastor at Shelter Rock Church in Manhasset, New York. In addition to preaching and conference speaking, Bryan offers coaching and consulting to pastors and churches, including work with The Ascent Leader group.

Bryan is a graduate of Wheaton College and Denver Seminary, and holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Bryan is the author of Living God’s Story, and serves as Adjunct Faculty and a Trustee at Denver Seminary.

Bryan’s life mission statement is “to lead as many people as possible to a joyful and growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church.” He is passionate about communicating God’s truth with clarity, warmth, and relevance to our daily lives.

When he isn’t preparing messages or hanging out with pastors, Bryan can be found running or biking the back roads and trails of New England. He and his wife, Karen, have four married children and a growing number of grandchildren.

Map pin

Directions and Campus Map
Getting to Gordon

Have any questions?

For more information, contact:

Andrew Breton
Director of Dokes Ministry Scholars & Strategic Partnerships at Gordon College
E: [email protected]
P: 978 867 4364

Gordon College, 255 Grapevine Road, Wenham, MA 01984
978 867 4000 | [email protected] | [email protected]

Gordon College is New England’s top Christian college, located on the North Shore of Boston in Wenham, MA.

866-665-1780