The following post is from Fran Patterson, minister to youth at Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Tx.

ChurchWorks, the conference formerly known as True Survivor, is something I look forward to every year.  In the eleven years that it has been in existence, I have only missed one time.

As a youth minister who arrived at my calling in a non-traditional way, this gathering of Christian educators is a time for me to get away, listen to folks who are much wiser than I, swap stories with kindred spirits and laugh and cry with people who understand the joys, challenges and complexities of youth ministry.  I have made important contacts at ChurchWorks, but maybe more importantly, I’ve made some lasting friendships with people who are always available to encourage and support me.

The speakers and topics for each conference are always different.  Some of my favorites have included: Staff Relations and Nurturing Your Church with Bo Prosser, The Emergent Church with Brian McLaren, Caring for Ourselves with Dave Odom, Using Improv for Leadership Development with Allison Gilmore and Congregational Transformation with Diana Butler Bass.

Bo Prosser knows how to find great musicians for our time together.  We’ve enjoyed Ken Medema, Kyle Matthews, Pat Terry and Jamie Prosser.  While in Nashville, Tn., we even had a group of singer/songwriters from the famous Bluebird Café come in for a concert.

Magical moments at ChurchWorks for me include leading a workshop with Dale Tadlock as we overviewed “Becoming Like Christ: Grounding Youth in Jesus,” a spiritual formation resource we helped write and my winning the Jack Naish Distinguished Christian Educators Award.

ChurchWorks has something for everyone and in 2013, I am proud to welcome everyone to Broadway Baptist in Fort Worth, Texas.  There will be lots of great workshops, Tex-Mex and BBQ and Kenda Creasy-Dean!  Get your boots and head to Texas in February!