On May 7th, Windham Christian Academy will be hosting a conference addressing life controlling issues from a biblical worldview.  What follows are the workshops.

 BODY IMAGE VS. GOD IMAGE:  CHRISTINA ERDE

Do you or someone you know struggle with the way you look and feel like your diet is the only part of your life that you can control?

At this workshop, hear the personal story of how a young woman overcame an eating disorder and what God revealed to her through it all. We’ll also discuss topics such as the “disease to please” and “body image vs. God’s image.”

Come see what the Lord wants to speak into your life and the lives of your loved ones and how He can transform any situation into something amazing for His glory!

Session 1: Room 5;               Session 3: Room 4

 

 

 

LOST AND FOUND: MARK AND CANDY ALLEN

The Allen’s son was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at the age of eight years old when he was suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  The Allens will be discussing how their son became suicidal at the age of 10 and how it affected their family and how God got them through this emotional time in their lives.  They will discuss how, with the help of Christ, anything is possible. Especially geared towards parents.

Session 1: Room 12

 

 

 

 

ADDICTION:  TEEN CHALLENGE, AUGUSTA

Teen Challenge is a Christian residential drug recovery program that is part of a network of 10 Teen Challenge centers across New England and New Jersey.

The program has a strong faith-based approach and offers spiritual, academic, and vocational training that equips individuals to return to society as responsible citizens. A number of our graduates have experienced complete recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. They have told us that the key to their success was developing a personal relationship with God and putting into practice all that they had learned while in our program. In this workshop, men from the Augusta campus of teen challenge will be discussing addiction and freedom.

Sessions 2 & 3:  Room 13

 

 

 

 

CRISIS PREGNANCY, A GODLY RESPONSE:  HOPE HOUSE, LEWISTON

Hope House is a pregnancy center, with lots of ongoing support for struggling families and support for life-giving options. Hope House provides weekly assistance to about 60 parents a week. We so appreciate Lewiston's Mayor Larry Gilbert dropping by the center to encourage us. 

Representatives of Hope House will be presenting in this workshop for those who know someone dealing with a crisis pregnancy.

Sessions 1 & 2:  Room 7

 

 

GOOD GRIEF!:  THE FOLD FAMILY MINISTRY

The Fold Family Ministries provides affordable Christ-centered residential care for up to 26 troubled teens and their families in crisis. Our slogan is "Restoring families, one Son and one Daughter at a time". Since 1968 nearly a thousand at risk teens have turned their lives in a new direction and distraught parents and fractured families have reconciled. Many parents have found The Fold to be the answer to their prayers as they proudly watched their children find hope and healing and move on to successful careers, marriages and lives within our communities.

In this session participants will seek a better understanding of adolescent grief and how grief is necessary and can be good.  We will identify signs/signals of a teen who is working through grief, and learn about the normal stages a person experiences when encountering loss.  Actual life stories will be discussed as we learn how to sensitively reach out and support a young person dealing with loss and grief.    

Sessions 2 & 3:  Room 5

 

 

A CHRISTIAN’S RESPONSE TO THE PRODIGAL:  REV. DONNIE BROWN

Until accepting a position on the staff of his home church, Rev. Brown was the chaplain at the Sununu Youth Development Center in Manchester, N.H.  where he was responsible for the spiritual care of youth offenders as they served out their sentences.  He will be discussing anti-social behaviors, and how parents, professionals and the church at large can best minister to the young people who are too often defined by their behaviors.

Sessions 2 & 3:  Room 6

 

 

 

 

 

MY FRIEND’S IN CRISIS, WHAT DO I DO? :  PASTOR JON WELLER

Jon Weller is a youth pastor at Windham, Maine, Assembly of God.  Teens often confide in their peers when they are in crisis instead of getting adult support.  Jon will be leading a round table discussion for teens and young adults who know of a peer in crisis, but don’t know how to help.

Sessions 2 & 3:  Room 12

 

 

 

SELF MEDICATION; NOT WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED:  DR. ALAN BEAN

Sometimes drug and alcohol abuse are the results of rebellion, experimentation or peer pressure.  Other times, though, teen substance abuse is an attempt to medicate themselves due to depression, anxiety, or grief.  This workshop will help define, identify and help those who are self medicating through substance abuse.

Session 1:  Room 6;              Session 3: Room 7

 

 

 

FROM DEPRESSION TO JOY:  MRS. REBECCA WELLER

Rebecca, “Re” Weller grew up going to church and Christian school.  As a teen, she began to deal with depression.  This is her story of healing and recovery meant to be encouragement to those who know someone in a similar situation, as well as a challenge to those who teach, counsel, pastor or otherwise are in leadership of groups of young people.

Session 1:  Room 13

SELF INJURY; WHAT TO LOOK FOR, HOW TO HELP:  DR. VALERIE CLEMONS

Teens and young adults nationwide are intentionally inflicting physical pain upon themselves.  Valerie Clemons, a licensed therapist, will be speaking to parents, professionals and concerned friends about why young people inflict injury on themselves, what to look for, and how to help.  If you work with or are a parent or friend to someone who self injures, don’t miss this workshop.

Sessions 1 & 2:  Room 4