Parenting Programs

There is no job in the world more important than that of a parent. With the state of our world today that responsibility has become all the greater as well as difficult to fulfill. That's where we can help out. These workshops dial in on the key issues of adolescent development and have been used by hundreds of groups all over the country to transform family relationships.

...bridging the digital divide between you and your child

Did you know 9 out of 10 student aged 8-18 have viewed Internet porn? Did you know 31% of all adolescents lie about their age on the Internet? Did you know more than half of parents fear their child being contacted online by a stranger? In this informative workshop we look at current research into gaming systems, internet activities, and online communities. We guarantee you will leave this workshop not only with a working knowledge of the web culture but also with specific step you can take as a parent to safeguard your home and child's life. We will also equip you to talk about touchy subject as Internet pornography, cyber bullying, online integrity, and many more.

(duration 1.5 hours)

...shaping your child's heart and life from the beginning

This contains many of the same principles as Touching Your Teen's Heart except that all of the illustrations, stories, and life application is geared for parent of elementary age children. Everyone responds better to someone when they feel loved by them. The same is all the more true for child. If your neverending struggle is interacting with your child in a way that they see, hear, and feel your love for them, then this is the seminar for you. During our time together you'll discover your child's personal shape, love language, and learning style. You will also learn to discern whether you child is willfully challenging authority or simply trying to understand boundaries. The greatest part of our time together is you will leave knowing three relational principles on how to lead and love your child according to who God has made them.

(duration 1-1.5 hours)

...communicating with your life

Everyone responds better to someone when they feel loved by them. The same is all the more true for teenagers. If your neverending struggle is interacting with your teen in a way that they see, hear, and feel your love for them, then this is the seminar for you. During our time together you'll discover your teen's personality style, love language, and the four core needs of their heart. The greatest part of our time together is you'll leave feeling it is possible to have a healthy influential relationship with your child.

(duration 1-1.5 hours)

...an inside look at your teen's world.

Shock is a very appropriate word because that's how you feel during this informative session. During our time together we'll take a look at the inner workings of the most common trends in teen culture. The most damaging part of their culture is not the content of the music, movies, TV, and Internet, but the worldview it holds up as normal. We'll take a critical look at this worldview as well as identify steps to make you a relevant part of their culture.

(duration 2.5 hours)

...leading them on the greatest adventure of life

Every parent, including you, wants to have a spiritual relationship with their teenager. The problem is you don't know where to start and it can be incredibly intimidating. When was the last time you prayed with your teen? When did you last engage your teen in a spiritual conversation? This workshop will give you tools to create a spiritual dialogue and help guide your teen in their walk with Christ. Learn how to pray together, create accountability, set spiritual goals, and lead them toward spiritual maturity. Your teen's spiritual journey is the greatest adventure of their life and now you get to be a part of it!

(duration 1.5 hours)

...creating a lifelong relationship with your child

There is no one that cares more about your child’s spiritual well-being than you as a parent. As your child moves into the tween and teen years, maintaining an active spiritual presence in their life can become difficult. When we stop doing the hard work of spiritually connecting with our growing children, that relationship is strained and other influences can take root instead. Although the job of a parent can be unheralded, the reward is amazing when we see God using our children for His glory. Regardless of where your child is spiritually, God wants you to partner with Him in shaping your child into the person God made them to be. There is no greater invest you will make in your life than the time and love you pour into your children to understand who God is and their place in His world. Come and join us other parents as we learn together how to create a lifelong spiritual relationship with your children.

(duration: 60-90 minutes per session)

...setting them free to be who God made them to be

Everyday you encounter a culture your teen is a part of whose values, morality, and beliefs are different from your own. Many of your responses to this world are reactive and rooted in fear, blame, or anger. But there is a response that gives both grace and understanding without compromising holiness and wholeness. How you respond to your teen's world will largely determine the healthy of your relationship with them. Teens can seem irrational at times when it comes to making decisions. They do things that would make any parent question, “What were you thinking?” In reality, their decisions are rooted in a system of values not unlike your own. Unfortunately, many times they don't know how to have God-given needs met and end up making choices that take them further away from who God meant for them to be. Now you can understand and help shape those values and how their needs are met At the end of the day, being a great parent is not so much about your own ability to lead or instruct your teen. It comes down to your willingness to lay down control and rely on the Holy Spirit. Letting Him speak through and guide your words and actions as mom/dad. This series works best as a five to seven week series as part of a parenting class or retreat. Each topic can be taught independently, if you are looking for only one of the many topics. Feel free to download this PDF overview of the topics covered in each session.

(duration: 60-90 minutes per session)

Student Programs

You have a limited amount of time to influence, lead and teach the students in your group. With that time, it's important to know what are the key truths you want to teach them. This is a list the most sought after series that Brian has taught. Each series focuses on one of those key truths.

...becoming the one God will use Unstoppable-Background

The Scriptures are filling with stories of people who did displayed extraordinary feats of courage, faith, and risk to be a part of something greater than themselves They lived to bring glory to God's kingdom. In every generation, Scripture says, there will be a remnant that will remain faithful; people that God will use to make His name known. They are the "Unstoppables" of this generation and God is calling you to be among them. Will you answer the call?

[USAGE: Camp, Retreat, or DNow]

...seeing the world through the lens of your faith Welcome-To-My-Life

Every day you get up, get dressed, scarf down some breakfast, and head out the door to face the world. And everywhere you go during the day their are voice telling you how you should live your life. From the music on the radio, to the websites on your phone, to your friends in the cafeteria, and even your teachers...they each have a message to say. How often do you stop to see how your faith can shape your decisions, your culture, your influence with people, and your dream for the future. For most teenagers, their faith is something that matters on Sunday mornings but God meant for our walk with him to be a part of all we do. And if we let Him he can transform all we are into Him image.

[USAGE: Teaching Series, School Chapel Series, Retreat, or DNow]

...finding the real Jesus among all the imaginary ones.

There are "Imaginary Jesuses" all around us. Some are found in our universities, some in pop culture, and some even in our churches. They are cardboard caricatures that contain a veneer of Jesus but not the real thing. When we don't understand the real Jesus, it is impossible to truly understand the Christian faith or the life God wants for us. This series peels back all the layers we've made Jesus into and allows you to see the one--the Jesus who changed hearts and set history on fire. It is only this Jesus to whom it is worth committing your life.

[USAGE: Teaching Series, Camp, Retreat, or DNow]

...counting everything else as rubbish Not-Gonna-Fold

If you've ever watched a Texas Hold'em poker tournament on TV, you know how easily it is to get sucked in (and you're not even there). There is always a table full on players, all vying for the same pot of chips in the middle. Before the game really gets started, a few of them look at their cards then walk away. Several more players will stay around awhile increasing their bet with each card that is given. But then for some inexplicable reason, they too fold and walk away. In the end one player will take all of his chips and shove them toward the middle. Too many times in the Christian life we get distracted looking at our own circumstances or abilities (our cards), decide that God couldn't "use someone like me" and we walk away. We never get to experience the thrill--the rush--of riding everything on one hand that God wants to do something great in our lives. Their is nothing more exciting, risky, and rewarding than joining with the Apostle Paul in saying, "I consider everything else as rubbish compared to following Jesus."

[USAGE: Teaching Series, School Chapel Series, Discipleship Retreat, or DNow]

...i can't fight these feelings any longer". The-Talk-Logo

We live in a culture driven by sex. We use representations and distortions of it to sell everything from cars to soft drinks to potato chips. But is that really what God meant for sex to be? Nothing more than a cheap tool to sell products? And somewhere along the way, we equated meaningful teens relationships with dating. So we buy into the lie that if you're going to have fun as a teenager, then you need a boyfriend/girlfriend. If you're going to be fully fulfilled and discover the real you, then you need to have sex. But this too is a lie--distortions of what God meant for love, sex, and healthy relationships. This series will walk you through the cultural lies and pitfalls we get into when it comes to the opposite sex and how you can honor God with your body, mind, and time with others. This is one of those issues that no one can make for you. Your parents can hark on it, your church can teach it, and even your school guidance counselor can scare you from it, but in the end your choices about love, sex, and dating are ones you'll have to make and own. But the only way to truly "find the right one" is by falling in love with The One and letting him change the way you love others.

[USAGE: Teaching Series, Camp, Discipleship Retreat, or DNow]

...the world as it was, the world as is is, and the world as it will be

Did you know 9 out of 10 student aged 8-18 have viewed Internet porn? Did you know 31% of all adolescents lie about their age on the Internet? Did you know more than half of parents fear their child being contacted online by a stranger? In this informative workshop we look at current research into gaming systems, internet activities, and online communities. We guarantee you will leave this workshop not only with a working knowledge of the web culture but also with specific step you can take as a parent to safeguard your home and child's life. We will also equip you to talk about touchy subject as Internet pornography, cyber bullying, online integrity, and many more.

[USAGE: Teaching Series, School Chapel Series, Leadership Retreat, or DNow]

...setting tech boundaries for a lifetime My-Wired-Life

It is inescapable. From the time you get up in the morning until you lay your head down to rest at night, technology will be all around you. The typically teenager now spends eleven hours of his/her day "plugged in" to some type of tech. Technology is not a bad thing, but rather how we use. And for many teens it's the first place the wheels start coming off the track in their life. From bullying, to sexting, to video chatting, to internet pornography...it's increasingly difficult to honor God and avoid the trap of letting technology control you. This workshop will help you think through your choices and how you set your own boundaries to use technology in an honoring way.

[USAGE: Stand along workshop or presentation, appox. 50 min.]

Family Programs

As much as Brian enjoys working with parents and speaking to students, what he enjoys most is speaking to families. There is a shift of sorts taking place in churches all across the country as ministries are realigning themselves to consider the needs of the whole family. Whether your family is nuclear, single parent, or blended these programs will help both parent and child connect with one another.
...s'mores, laughs, and meaningful conversation Family-Camp-BannerEveryone responds better to someone when they feel loved by them. The same is all the more true for teenagers. If your neverending struggle is interacting with your teen in a way that they see, hear, and feel your love for them, then this is the seminar for you. During our time together you'll discover your teen's personality style, love language, and the three core needs of their heart. The greatest part of our time together is you'll leave feeling it is possible to have a healthy influential relationship with your child.

(duration 1-5 days)

...a day to champion the family in your church Leaving-a-LegacyThis day is like a spiritual powder keg for your family. The focus for the entire day at church is on bring the family together. There are many different options you can use to craft an unforgettable day for families. Brian is available for a workshop for families during your church's training hour, then preaches in the AM service on Leaving a Spiritual Legacy in Your Family. Afterwards you can host a family luncheon afterwards with a short presentation to parents/teens, plan an afternoon workshop for parents, or throw an evening event for families that involves leadership, encouragement, and trust in family.

(duration 1 - 1.5 hours)

...you've never seen a conference like this before. 360-Family-Conference-Web-AdShock is a very appropriate word because that's how you feel during this informative session. During our time together we'll take a look at the inner workings of the most common teen culture. The most damaging part of their culture is not the content of the music, movies, TV, and Internet, but the worldview it holds up as normal. We'll take a critical look at this worldview as well as identify steps to make you a relevant part of their culture.

Teacher's InService Programs

Let's be honest––teachers don't typically enjoy inservice hours. Brian's presentations for teachers will bring a pop and energy back into your inservice days. We have worked with public and private schools, large and small to equip teachers to better understand the hearts and minds of teenagers.
...teaching truth to a new generation of students I'm sure you've had the pleasure of teaching a classroom full of students who seems to be tracking with your every word. In reality, they are all nodding but not buying what you're saying. It doesn't matter if it's history, science, sociology, or politics. The problem isn't that you're not teaching the truth; it's that students (even Christian school students) don't see the world through the same lenses you do. In order to educate students through the lense of a Christian worldview, you must first understand that they live in a postmodern culture. This require a different approach to truth. We don't change truth, but we do need to be able to illuminate it in a way that a postmodern student can grasp it.

(duration 1 - 1.5 hours)

...being more than an educator Teaching-Dark-DaysStudents today struggling with depression is at an all-time high. Even many of those who do not deal with daily bouts of fear--fear of the economy, fear of evil, fear of their future. This is the first generation in the history of America that believes their future will be worse than that of their parents. This is what your students are dealing with everyday when they walk into the classroom. As Christian teachers, you have the privilege of instilling much more than facts of science, history, and mathematics--you get to be salt and light. Even Christian students need to be reminded of the light they are a part of and the hope that comes only from Christ. This presentation will help you examine your role as a educator, mentor, friend, and fellow child of God.

(duration 1-1.5 hours)

...how pop culture shapes the worldview of teens Culture-Shock-LogoShock is a very appropriate word because that's how you feel during this informative session. During our time together we'll take a look at the inner workings of the most common teen culture. The most damaging part of their culture is not the content of the music, movies, TV, and Internet, but the worldview it holds up as normal. We'll take a critical look at this worldview as well as identify steps to make you a relevant part of their culture.

(duration 1 - 2 hours)