•  Deeper Learning Tracks: This revolutionary training format offers a “topic umbrella" of four progressive two-hour sessions, for a total of eight concentrated hours in a subject area presented throughout the weekend. Seating is arranged in round tables for small-group interaction, as the innovative track format allows time for deeper exploration and understanding.
• Half-Tracks & Hands-on Workshops: If you want depth but desire a bit more variety, you can choose a Half Track, which meets in two consecutive sessions for a total of four hours on that subject. Or, you can choose from dozens of practical hands-on workshops to widen your scope. It’s flexible—pick what suits you and hop around,
• REAL Learning: In all of the training sessions our leaders practice Group’s R.E.A.L. learning strategy — it stands for Relational (people learn best in the context of relationships), Experiential (people learn best through experiences, not straight lecture), Applicable (people learn what they can easily apply), and Learner-Based (the learner decides if learning has happened, not the speaker).
• Limited class size: There are so many sessions to choose from it naturally makes class sizes smaller and more personal than typical conference seminars. The low student-to-teacher ratio allows for easier interaction and class discussion in a comfortable learning environment.

2.   An intimate environment built for authentic conversations and relationships.
Another key distinctive of the Simply Youth Ministry Conference is the purposeful design of connection and interaction with other youth workers and speakers — giving you a more personal experience. We pioneered this conference around the concept of “conversation”, with a goal of an environment that encouraged authentic relationships — between one another and with Jesus.

How SYMC provides this:

• Highly accessible speakers (and staff) embrace a unique mentoring & ministry role in addition to their speaking/leadership role, erasing the division between the “stage” and “seats” and allowing youth workers direct access for conversation, questions, and more. Our speakers commit to a 4-day “ministry engagement” instead of a speaking contract, which means they’re here for your heart as well as your head.
• Affinity groups: Created around different areas & interests of ministry, these are small groups led by seasoned mentors who gather with attendees throughout the weekend for posted discussion topics as well as casual conversation, idea-sharing, prayer, and debriefing of what others are learning in tracks & workshops in the filter of similar ministry types. This is a great way to connect with others if you’ve come alone or in pairs.
• Sack Chairs! Imagine several hundred over-sized bean bags in conversation pods everywhere! It’s become a signature of the relaxing, casual atmosphere of our conference…even surpassing the red couch in popularity! Sack Chairs make great spots to connect with your team, snuggle with your spouse, or even take a nap!
• Ministry Partners instead of exhibitors: Exploring and shopping for resources in an exhibit hall is the traditional conference model. It’s fun at first, but takes time and effort to scope out the quality resources amidst abstinence perfume and other crazy stuff. At SYMC you’ll find hundreds of resources from dozens of ministry partners who are onsite to offer you tangible value beyond sales hype. You’ll still get tons of free stuff to take home—but you’ll leave refreshed by spending quality time engaging with ministries and organizations there to serve your needs first.
• Local & Regional Networking—You can opt in to connect with others in your local area before, during & after the conference (simply check the box when you register)! Plus--our friends from the National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM) will be onsite throughout the conference facilitating a variety of opportunities to get connected with others near you for year-long support. 

• We stick to a Bible-based perspective-- that is guaranteed to make you laugh, cry, grow and be inspired, stretched, and challenged—without going into extreme fringe territory or super-weirdness. (It’s youth ministry, so we’re obviously a little weird, but in a good way.)
• Ministry that’s not a “show:” Anyone who’s ever hosted a ministry event has learned you can’t orchestrate the hand of God. It’s easy to get caught up in hype of the production and miss what’s organic—and we constantly challenge ourselves to “puncture the show” and focus on what’s genuine. Our Inside Track Team—a group of 300 youth workers we keep in close communication with, help create the entire event with year-long feedback and input and keep it real!
• Jesus is the real celebrity: We’ve got the big-name speakers and artists who have a gift for awe-inspiring communication, but they’re here in a unique servant-hearted role that shifts the focus back on Jesus and honoring the every-day people in the trenches called to serve Him.
• Spiritual renewal: SYMC doesn’t just equip--it empowers you with an intentional balance of soul-care sessions, parenting/marriage & ministry seminars, extended time for worship & prayer—even onsite pastors, clinical counselors, and leadership coaches to strengthen you from the inside out. It’s our hope that you fall in love with ministry, and with Jesus…again.