First Baptist Church of Benton will host its second NAVIGATE Conference on Saturday, August 6. The one-day conference is designed to equip, empower, and encourage parents, grandparents, and other adults who champion the next generation as they navigate current issues in adolescent culture. This year’s focus will be on issues of sexual ethics and gender identity.
The vision for NAVIGATE was born out of conversations that the Next Generation Ministry Team of FBC Benton found themselves having with multiple parents seeking information, wisdom, and prayer for how to disciple in such a complex culture. The team decided to form the inaugural NAVIGATE conference in 2021 which focused on issues surrounding the digital world of adolescents. FBC has a strong desire to make this conference available to any adult who loves the next generation and desires resources and encouragement in how to walk through these days with children and teenagers.
This year’s NAVIGATE conference will be focused around two general sessions led by speaker and pastor Ricky Chelette from Arlington, Texas. Chelette founded Living Hope Ministries in an effort to proclaim God’s truth as the church journeys with those seeking sexual and relational wholeness through a more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Chelette travels all over North America speaking in churches and at conferences on issues related to gender identity and sexuality. His strong conviction on proclaiming God’s design for men and women has opened doors for him to counsel, encourage, and help individuals to become fully devoted followers of Christ who are striving for sexual wholeness according to God’s Word. Chelette will be speaking in both general sessions on Saturday.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to attend two breakout sessions during the day. Each breakout session was chosen to give parents the opportunity to receive support, encouragement, and resources to help them in areas that affect all of our children and students at some level. Breakout sessions include topics such as…
*The Talk: How can I have healthy conversations with my student about sex?
*Truth and Love: How do I engage the LGBTQ community with Biblical truth and love?
*Raising Godly Sons: How do I raise my son to be a godly man in an oversexualized culture?
*Raising Godly Daughters: How do I raise my daughter to be a godly woman in an oversexualized culture?
*Hijacked Sexuality: How does pornography shape my student’s view of sexuality?
*Caring Well: How do I provide protection for the students that I love?
Churches from across the state are encouraged to bring parents, grandparents, staff and volunteers to be a part of this year’s NAVIGATE conference. The goal of NAVIGATE Conference is for attendees to leave feeling more equipped to face the realities of today’s culture and to do so with a renewed commitment to walk with children and students towards Jesus and the truth of Scripture.
Individuals and couples can register at www.fbcbenton.org/NAVIGATE The conference will begin with check-in on Saturday, August 6 at 9 am and will finish by 3 pm. The cost is $25 for an individual and $40 for a couple. Registration includes conference materials and lunch on campus. If you have specific questions, feel free to contact Next Generation Pastor Clay Cunningham at clay.cunningham@fbcbenton.org or call the church office at 501.778.2271.