In this heartfelt "Nuts and Bolts" session from the Youth Leaders Conference, Ali Demet explores one of the most profound questions young people carry: Do you like me? Drawing on insights from the Netflix series Adolescence, neuroscience, and scripture, Ali challenges youth leaders to build ministries rooted in love, emotional safety, and belonging.

With practical reflections and powerful stories, this talk invites leaders to reframe their approach—putting love at the centre of everything. Because when young people know they are loved, transformation begins.

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00:00 – Introduction: Adolescence & the Deepest Question

01:00 – “Do You Like Me?” – The Heart Cry of Young People

02:48 – Seeing Youth Ministry Through the Lens of Love

03:38 – God’s Gentle Love vs. Loud Cultural Voices

05:00 – Creating a Culture of Love in Youth Spaces

06:13 – Practical Questions to Evaluate Your Ministry

06:57 – The Power of Being Known by Name

07:36 – Reordering Priorities: From Behaviour to Belonging

08:35 – Love on Repeat: The Greatest Gift We Can Give

09:37 – Final Blessing: You Are Loved

In this heartfelt and practical "Nuts and Bolts" session from the Youth Leaders Conference, Susie Mapledoram shares essential strategies for maintaining mental wellbeing in youth ministry. Using the metaphor of an elastic band, Susie explores how stress affects us, how to spot the signs of burnout, and how to build rhythms of rest, joy, and resilience.

Drawing from her experience as a Youth Mental Health First Aid and Suicide First Aid instructor, and the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19, Susie offers a compassionate call to care for ourselves as we care for others.

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#YouthMinistry #MentalHealth #SusieMapledoram #BurnoutPrevention #SelfCareTips #ChristianLeadership #NutsAndBoltsTalks #YouthWorkerWellbeing #1Kings19 #FaithAndWellbeing

00:00 – Introduction

00:50 – Elastic Band Metaphor: Recognising Stress & Stretching Too Far

02:30 – Survival Mode & Mental Health Impact

04:16 – Biblical Wisdom: Elijah’s Story in 1 Kings 19

04:47 – Naps, Snacks, God, Friends – The Wellbeing Cycle

05:35 – Practical Tips to Avoid Burnout

07:00 – Boundaries, Sleep, Fun & Gratitude

08:26 – Staying Connected & Eating Well

09:47 – Talking About Mental Health in Church

10:30 – Final Encouragement: You Are Not a Failure

In this short and impactful "Nuts and Bolts" session from the Youth Leaders Conference, Ni-cola Scott shares practical insights on how youth leaders can lead with love through a lens of racial justice. Drawing from her work with the Shades Project and personal experience, Ni-cola explores cultural humility, belonging, and how to support young people from diverse backgrounds.

This talk is essential viewing for anyone committed to building inclusive, compassionate, and Christ-centered youth ministries.

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#YouthMinistry #RacialJustice #NiColaScott #ShadesProject #CulturalHumility #InclusiveChurch #YouthWorkTips #ChristianLeadership #NutsAndBoltsTalks #RacialJustice

00:00 – What Is the Shades Project?

01:53 – Leading with Love Through Racial Justice

02:30 – Personal Story: Experiencing Racism in School

03:39 – The Beauty of Anti-Racism

04:30 – Understanding Cultural Humility

05:55 – Challenges Faced by Diverse Young People

07:30 – How Youth Leaders Can Create Belonging

08:30 – Shades Project Workshops & Resources

09:30 – Final Encouragement & How to Connect