2019 Symposium On Youth Ministry

Risk in our Midst: Empowering Teenagers to Love the Unlovable

Wednesday, April 24
9 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Gordon College
255 Grapevine Rd
Wenham, MA

Guest Speaker: Scott Larson

Dr. Scott Larson is president and founder of Straight Ahead Ministries, an international faith-based organization working with juvenile offenders in more than 400 juvenile detention centers in 15 states and five countries with a myriad of aftercare programs when youth return home.

Scott has authored 13 books on working effectively with troubled youth and has been a speaker to youth, parents, teachers, social workers and youth workers since 1983, and is an adjunct professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary’s Center for Urban Ministerial Education, Eastern University and at Gordon College.

He was part of founding the Every Youth, Every Facility initiative, focused on partnering with ministries to reach every youth in the 1,300 juvenile detention centers in the United States.

Scott and his wife Hanne reside in Worcester, Massachusetts and have two grown two children, Sarah and David. He can be reached at [email protected] or his website is www.straightahead.org.

Reaching Kids on the Fringe: The U.S. Government estimates that 1 of every 4 youth is “at risk” of not entering healthy adulthood without some significant intervention. How can a youth ministry be a truly transformative place for kids exhibiting issues like drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, sexually acting out, and the effects of violence and abuse—all while also trying to care for others in the ministry? This workshop will give practical solutions from Scott Larson’s book “Risk in our Midst: Empowering Teens to Love the Unlovable."

1. Participants will understand the most common external and internal risk factors that put adolescents into the at risk territory and the abhorrent behaviors kids tend to exhibit when adults start to work with them.

2. Participants will gain general strategies for how to intervene with at risk youth in ways that bring more healing and wholeness to those have experienced trauma.

3. Participants will learn how to equip youth groups to become more transformative communities for those who are otherwise marginalized.

You are invited to join us as we look at how to identify and best minister to those at risk. We are delighted to welcome Scott Larson as our guest speaker. The symposium will take place in the Chairman's Room of the Ken Olsen Science Center on the campus of Gordon College. Reserved parking will be available in the Chapel Parking Lot, which can be entered directly off Grapevine Road. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. The symposium will begin promptly at 9 a.m. A complimentary lunch will be served and the symposium will conclude by 1:30 p.m. to get you home in plenty of time for your Wednesday evening programs.

All of those in attendance will receive a free copy of Scott's book, “Risk in our Midst: Empowering Teens to Love the Unlovable."

The symposium is offered free of charge as our way of thanking you for reaching students with the love of Christ! To assist us in our planning, please complete the following registration form. Multiple members of the same staff are invited to join us. We ask that you register each person individually.

Symposium Schedule
8:30 a.m.	Registration opens; beverages available
9 a.m.	Opening Session
10:30 a.m.	Morning Break
10:45 a.m.	Session continues
12 p.m.	Complimentary Lunch
12:45 p.m.	Afternoon Session
1:30 p.m.	Symposium concludes