QUESTION: What is a Building Faith That Lasts Seminar?
ANSWER: The Faith That Lasts Seminar was created to assist youth workers and parents build strong youth ministries that will cultivate faithful families who will nurture teenage disciples in a lasting faith.
 
QUESTION: Why is it a seminar for both youth workers and parents?
ANSWER: Doug Fields and Duffy Robbins are good friends who have shared two amazing journeys: both are youth workers and Dads! Together they have spent over six decades in youth ministry while, at the same time, raising teenagers in their own home!

As veteran youth workers they share a growing concern that much of youth ministry seems to be designed on the model of setting teenagers up for a “date” with God, arranging delightful evenings that involve music, laughter, food and light conversation. Unfortunately, Scripture never calls us to a “one-night stand” with God, but a life-long, whole-hearted devotion to God; a love that endures. So, they’ve created the Faith That Lasts Seminar to help parents and youth workers create homes and youth ministries that become places that nurture a life-long, faithful devotion in teenagers.
               
As veteran youth workers who also happen to be Dads, they share a common conviction that the very best place to nurture that kind of lasting faith is in families. Their concern is that sometimes in youth ministry, we’re like short-sighted gardeners who pluck teenage plants out of the native soil of families so they can be taken into youth group green houses where the “experts” can do all the pruning. It’s an approach that is leaving young people separated from vital family root systems and wilting under the pressure of teenage temptations and pressures. Duffy and Doug have developed this Faith That Lasts Seminar to encourage and equip parents and youth workers to create the kinds of family root systems that nurture life-long, faithful devotion to God.
               
The goal of the Faith That Lasts Seminar is to get BOTH parents and youth workers in the same room, at the same time, to hear the same vision, and to think about ways that together they can share this important ministry of nurturing the spiritual lives of teenagers.

 
QUESTION: How is the seminar structured?
ANSWER: The Faith That Lasts Seminar is broken into three fast-moving, fun and informative 1:15 segments (with two short breaks). Saturday seminars begin at 9:00am and finish at 1:00pm. Sunday seminars begin at 2:00pm and finish at 6:00pm (times can be adjusted on request).

 
QUESTION: What will be learned?
SESSION ONE: Teenagers and God: What Does Lasting Faith Look Like?
The burden of parents and youth workers alike is to see teenagers grow strong in their relationship with Christ. But what does that look like? Does that mean kids will act like little adults? like little saints? like junior varsity disciples? What does real life discipleship look like in the life of a teenager? This session will talk about teenage discipleship in practical, real-life terms that can guide both parents and youth workers as they work together to nurture growing faith.
 
SESSION TWO: The Morning Sickness Principle and Other Words of Encouragement
The ministry of nurture begins with some basic principles about what it means to mentor a teenager--as either a parent or youth worker. In this encouraging session, we identify seven basic principles for building lasting faith in the life of a teenager.
 
SESSION THREE: Beyond High School: Habits That Stick
Genuine nurture can never be reduced to snappy ideas and strategies, but we want participants to walk away from this seminar with more than good intentions and sincere resolutions. So, this third segment is a fast-paced session in which we’ll offer several practical ideas that help form a personal faith and build the habits of life-long discipleship.