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Someone has contacted you for help, whether formally or through a conversation with a friend. They begin to pour out the issue. As you hear the story of the problem, you are thinking “How should I respond? What do I need to know to provide some sort of assistance? How do I discern whether they even want help?” These are the kinds of thoughts many of us have when we hear people’s problems but don’t know where to start. This workshop will explore how to sort through someone’s story in that first contact, learn what information might be most helpful to garner so you can assist, long with the practical steps to offering both real help and gospel hope.

The armor of God (Ephesians 6:11) is clearly superior to anything that the spiritual forces of evil can use against us! Then why do we find ourselves struggling so much in the relationships that matter to us? Perhaps it’s because we’re not using the armor as God intends it to be used. We’ll learn more about His armor and how to “forgive one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Our kids are growing up in a world struggling with conflict. Conflict begins in the heart, and God’s answer to the problem in our hearts is found only in Christ Jesus. This workshop will equip you with concepts and materials you can use right away to engage God’s Word and His world with hearts filled with the hope of the Gospel. Building on simple language and visual cues, even younger learners can understand and apply the good news of peace through Jesus in the home and classroom. Activities build toward adult peacemaking materials as more complex concepts are introduced. Designed to help parents and teachers keep in mind the distinction between God’s Law and Gospel and how they impact the heart, workshop participants will receive some printable materials and a resource list to help them as they encourage kids to practice peace!

We've all learned a particular structure for how to conduct mediations. Many of us might use the GOSPEL process, others may use something else. This workshop is going to explore the issue of when we might "flex" what we normally use by way of process, because of the particular case we are doing. Is there a place for a break time after the parties tell their stories, for prayer, reflection and to prepare possible apologies? Is it always best to ask parties to put up their positions first in response to an issue? Is brainstorming always better than letting the parties talk first about an issue? And where is the Holy Spirit in all this? This will be a highly interactive session as we share and learn from each other's experience and wisdom!

Do you ever feel challenged by the way people in conflict communicate (or don’t communicate) in the midst of a dispute? In this workshop we’ll identify strategies to encourage effective grace-filled communication, how to use our words to foster understanding, and delve into how our choice of words can either de-escalate tensions or unwittingly exacerbate disagreements. Based on God’s word to us through the Bible, we can effectively help ourselves and others to communicate in way that brings healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation in our families, homes, churches, and workplaces. Whether you are a conciliator, counselor, ministry leader, pastor, coach, parent or student this workshop will equip you with the tools to use your words effectively.