About MORE Conference 2021: Growing Through It
We’ve made it through 2020, the year that made us roll our eyes at the terms ‘unprecedented times’, ‘new normal’ and ‘team of 5 million’. Although the phrases are overused, we can’t deny the truth they hold—we did go through something pretty wild together. It was messy and hard, and in many cases, it still is. It’s been two years since we’ve come together as Children’s and Youth Ministry leaders, and this year we’re focussing on ‘Growing Through It’. We want to acknowledge what we’ve been through retrospectively while simultaneously looking to the future through a lens of growth. There are always challenges arising, whether they’re related to COVID-19 or not, and in these challenging times we’re forced to innovate, create and grow. Let’s learn from each other, share stories and knowledge, support one another and grow through it together.
We can’t wait to see you at MORE Conference 2021!
The Territorial Children’s and Youth Departments
Keynote Speakers
Mike Dodge
Mike has been involved in ministry since he met Jesus at a camp and started running the Christian group at his high school and looking out for the fringe kids in his youth group at the age of fifteen!
He spent ten years cutting his teeth with Youth for Christ before becoming youth pastor at St Albans Baptist Church in Christchurch in the early ‘90s. Mike then took on the role of regional consultant for Canterbury. He and his team established a trust called Canterbury Youth Services to work with churches in the region, and they started running combined Easter Camps which most youth groups in the region attend.
Mike currently coaches leaders at all levels and is passionate about helping churches and youth organisations do youth work and ministry well.
Kylie Tong
In her role as the Territorial Candidates Secretary, Kylie gets to spend her days encouraging people to consider what God is asking them to do with their lives and working closely with those who want to explore Salvation Army officership.
She’s married to Stu, and they have three kids, all still living at home.
Kylie loves getting out in nature and travelling to new places, and she’s passionate about being a follower of Jesus, her family, and living life to the full.
Seminar Presenters
Carol Brieseman
Carol has 30 years' teaching experience and loves tapping into kids’ curiosity and helping them use that curiosity to discover more about the world around them. She believes "It's so important for them to be able to make scientifically-informed decisions at this age, and right through life,” and that “As a Christian, it’s a wonderful way to learn more about our Creator God!”
Carol was presented with the 2018 ‘Prime Minister’s Science Teacher Prize’ for her ability to engage students with science in the classroom and the many ways she supports science education locally, nationally, and internationally.
Sam Bloore
Sam Bloore is passionate about the intersection of faith and culture, in particular how individuals establish and enhance a personal spirituality that is stable and sustainable. Sam grew up in Dargaville and has a deep appreciation for small town and city life. After graduating from medicine and bioethics at Otago University, he worked as a doctor for five years in Emergency Medicine and Psychiatry.
In 2002, he began a gradual career change, and over the next few years Sam joined the staff of his local church and completed a Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology. He is now working towards a Doctorate of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary. Sam and his wife Julia oversee the residential life of the Venn Foundation’s Fellowship programme and are committed to developing the conversations and community practices that provide opportunities for growth and formation. Their three young children, Eden, Benjamin, and Sophia, take up most of their spare time!