The Abundant Life: Empowering Youth as Agents of Change

November 13-15

$90 Registration (includes meals)
$55-$65 Lodging per night

Human Trafficking. Discrimination. Sustainability. Poverty. Teen Pregnancy. These are but a few of the many issues that ignite youthful passion for making the world a better place. But how do we help young people turn their passions and conviction into real change? And how does the Christian Gospel empower and guide their efforts?

The Abundant Life brings youth ministers together with leading philanthropic thinkers — people who want to support youth with practical resources and relationships that empower them to be real agents of change in their communities. Participants will engage these leaders and one another around these issues as they discover resources and ways of helping young people become agents of change in their communities and in the world.

Leaders

Derek Smith is a leading philanthropist who believes in the power of young people to change the world. In 2008 Derek founded GivingPoint, a nationwide community-based youth development organization that involves over 7,000 youth, nonprofits and donors to unleash the energy and imagination of youth to create a more compassionate, connected, and socially responsible world. GivingPoint’s online resources have helped to create a more than $1.8M charitable impact in just the last three years.

Derek is the former Chairman and CEO of ChoicePoint, a leading provider of decision-making technology and information and a recognized leader in corporate citizenship, information security and personal privacy protection. ChoicePoint’s philanthropic initiatives and employee volunteer efforts won the company recognition from groups as diverse as the US Department of Justice, the US Chamber of Commerce, Hands on Network and Points of Light Institute. Learn more about Derek Smith and GivingPoint:

Kenda Creasy Dean, Ph.D. is Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church, and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary and an ordained United Methodist pastor. Along with Mark DeVries, she has founded Ministry Incubators, an organization designed to help creative people turn hare-brained ideas into sustainable ministry. The author of several books on youth and the church, Kenda’s current projects include A More Excellent Way: How Youth Ministry Is Changing the Way Churches Prepare Leaders (with Christy Lang Hearlson) and a book on innovation and missional entrepreneurship with Mark DeVries.

David P. King, Ph.D. is the Karen Lake Buttrey Director of Lake Institute on Faith & Giving. He also serves as an Assistant Professor of Philanthropic Studies within the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Pairing on-the-ground knowledge of religious traditions with the Lilly Family School’s up-to-date research and scholarship from across the country, the Institute translates statistics into practical tools and strategies for use by faith communities. The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy is supported by the Lilly Endowment, which is well known for its support programs designed to cultivate young Christian leaders. Learn more about David King and the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

Miranda Hocevar is the Executive Director of GivingPoint, where she oversees the organization’s youth development programs, unique online platform and overall operations. Prior to her role with GivingPoint, she was the Senior Director of Communications at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta (BBBSMA) where she oversaw community outreach, public relations and marketing. While at BBBSMA, Miranda also honed her fundraising skills as campaign manager for the agency’s $7 million Capital Campaign. Learn more about Miranda and GivingPoint:
Schedule: November 13-15