Workshops
Workshops at The Abbey follow one of three streams:
OUT: The world we are in, loving others
IN: Inner wellness
UP: Connecting ourselves and others with God
Each track is represented by a different colour as shown below
Building small group relationships
Callum Hussey
Kia Ora, I'm Callum, I have a passion for youth ministry and connecting with young people! I work full time in IT and volunteer as a youth leader at my church. Outside of that I'll be found spending time with my wife, picking up a bizarre new hobby or fixing something.
Relationship is at the core of youth ministry, especially in a small group format. Relationships within a group and with it's leaders becomes the foundation for trust, vulnerability, and facilitates young people to take the next step in discovering and growing their relationship with our Creator! This session is a practical look at how as leaders we can build such relationships with and between our young people and break down some of the divides that get in the way of youth ministry.
Saturday 10.30am (Dining Room 2)
UP : Connecting ourselves and others with God
A seat at the table for everyone
Jess Johnson
The heart of Alpha is that we want to create spaces where anyone and everyone feels welcome to come and question “is there more to life than this?”. We want everyone to know that there is a seat at the table for them.
Youth Alpha is for young people, by young people.
We know that young people are the greatest influences amongst their peers, and we also know that when we focus on good youth participation, this is where we often see real growth in young people. Youth Alpha is a powerful resource for both engaging young people in conversations about Jesus and as a discipleship tool youth leaders can use to empower young people to grow in their leadership skills and grow in their confidence in having faith conversations.
Come along to discover more about how Youth Alpha can be used as a discipleship tool in your context.
Sunday 8.30am (Harbour View Lounge)
Caring for yourself while caring for others
Cassie Kamunaga
Leading and supporting young people or leaders through mental health struggles, crisis, or loss can be deeply challenging. This workshop offers a space to reflect, discuss, and learn practical ways to care for yourself and your leadership team while supporting others.
Together we will explore when and how to refer people to professional support, communicating with Vicars and Wardens, and ideas of how to nurture your spiritual and emotional wellbeing for both yourself and your team.
Saturday 1.30am (Harbourview Lounge)
The lost art of stillness
Marzi Van der Mark
What does it mean to simply be with God?
This workshop introduces Christian meditation as a practice of stillness, silence, and attentiveness to God’s presence.
Through guided meditation, we’ll explore how slowing down can deepen prayer, quiet inner noise, and help us rest in God.
Saturday 10.30am (Bellbird Heights Dining)
Sunday 8.30am (Bellbird Heights Dining)
Understanding intermediates
Neville Bartley
Who are they? How does their brain work? Come and discover these things and the impact that relationships has on their wellbeing and their decision making.
Neville Bartley has been involved in youth ministry for nearly 30 years, serving primarily as a Youth Pastor in Baptist churches and working alongside youth leaders in the UK, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand. He is passionate about equipping and encouraging leaders and young people to grow in Christ and live out their faith in everyday life. He loves supporting those on the ground who are making a difference and helping to see the next generation become lifelong disciples of Jesus.
Saturday 11.30am (Main Auditorium)
OUT : The world we are in, loving others
Blurred lines & big calls: youth ministry ethics
Zara Maslin
Ever found yourself alone with a young person, driven them somewhere, prayed together, or received a late-night text? Maybe you’ve been entrusted with a secret?
This workshop is for you! Join Zara for an engaging and interactive session where the Code of Ethics becomes a practical, dynamic guide. We’ll dive into real scenarios involving disclosures, confidentiality, and boundaries, learning how to handle these situations before they escalate or cause lasting pain.
Gain essential tools for maintaining integrity, practicing self-care, and upholding high ethical standards.
Equip yourself to tackle challenges confidently and set the gold standard for ethical practice in your youth ministry!
Saturday 1.30pm (Dining Room 2)
Let’s talk about a dirty word: Evangelism
Jethro Day
“E******ism” is a word that is at its best is met with cringe and at worst down-right hate. Needless to say, it is a word many people, not just Christians, struggle with. It can conjure visions of crazy street preachers and pushy door knockers. More associated with manipulation rather than appropriate, wise and loving proclamation of Good News. But with a negative view in our minds, we can throw the baby out with the bath water. So, let’s reclaim the Biblical and Christ-centered origin of this word, and discover what true Evangelism can look like in our own lives.
Jethro is the national director of [insert new name here when announced], formerly known as Church Army, an organisation committed to encouraging and resourcing the church for mission, outreach and evangelism. Jethro is married to Jessie, and they have five energetic boys. Jethro has a background in youth work, community development, church leadership and social entrepreneurism. He has a passion for introducing unchurched people to Jesus in ways that will connect in authentic ways.
Saturday 11.30am (Dining Room 2)
When faith costs everything
Andy + Courtney
Following Jesus isn’t always safe—for millions, it’s life or death.
Join Andy and Courtney from Voice of the Martyrs for a raw, interactive workshop that brings you face‑to‑face with the persecuted Church. Hear real stories, ask hard questions, and discover how your prayers, partnership, and simple actions—like letter writing—can help strengthen believers under pressure.
You’ll leave equipped with a Writer’s Pack and practical tools to stand with Christians who choose Christ no matter the cost.
Saturday 10.30am (Harbourview Lounge)
Responding to violence, injustice and genocidal theology
Dr Lamma Mansour + Cole Martin
Dr Lamma Mansour and is a respected Palestinian Christian theologian who has written and spoken extensively on the intersection of faith, justice, and costly peacemaking in the Holy Land, informed by their lived experience and firsthand insights. Lamma is a Palestinian citizen of Israel, writer, youth worker, and social policy scholar from Nazareth. .
Joined by Anglican photo-video journalist Cole Martin, who spent much of 2025 living in a Palestinian refugee camp and documenting human rights violations across the land. As the Church stands at a crossroads, this wānanga explores how we respond as followers of Christ, when our faith community becomes complicit in violence and injustice.
To see more from Dr Lamma Mansour, watch:
A Christ-Centered Response in Times of War
IN: Inner Wellness
Burnout: why does it happen, what can I do about it?
Hazel Nugent
Burnout is real, but it is often misunderstood. In this session, we'll explore what burnout is and how healthy rhythms of rest, support, and abiding in Christ can help prevent burnout in ourselves and those we lead. Whether you're serving in a paid or volunteer role, you'll leave with practical tools to recognise the warning signs and build sustainable, long-term ministry.
Hazel Nugent has more than 20 years' experience in learning and development, IT change management, leadership support, coaching, and supervision within government organisations. She is passionate about helping people navigate change, maintain wellbeing, and thrive in demanding environments. Drawing on both professional expertise and lived experience of burnout, Hazel brings a practical, relatable, and faith-informed perspective on building sustainable rhythms for life and ministry.
Saturday 2.30pm (Main Auditorium)
The story you’re living
Dallas Harema
This interactive workshop will invite you to explore the power of storytelling as a pathway for discipleship, identity formation, and spiritual transformation. Rooted in the understanding that God is a storyteller, and that Scripture is the grand narrative, participants will reflect on how their personal stories intersect with God’s redemptive story.
The session creates space to name and engage the full scope of one’s story: the good, the painful, the confusing, and the unfinished. Rather than avoiding or minimising parts of our story, we explore how transformation often begins with honest awareness and a commitment to reality. When we understand and engage with our story more fully, we begin to recognise patterns, wounds, beliefs, and moments of grace that have shaped us - opening the door for deeper healing, freedom, and maturity in Christ.
Participants will be guided through a reflective and interactive exercise to:
Identify key moments and themes in their personal story
Discern where God has been present (even if unrecognised at the time), and where He is present now
Name the narratives they are currently living out of
Reframe their story in light of the Gospel
This workshop highlights how transformation is not just about behaviour change, but about living into a renewed story shaped by our truest identity in Gods truth, grace, and belonging. As participants learn to tell their story with honesty and hope, they are better equipped to accompany others, foster authentic community, and embody a more integrated and emotionally healthy faith.
Saturday 10.30am (Main Auditorium)
The journey out of depression
Belinda Stott
According to some studies, one in every five people in Aotearoa struggle with depression.
Join counsellor Belinda Stott as she unpacks six of the most common causes of depression and how to tackle each one.
This workshop is ideal if depression is something you deal with personally, or if you want better tools to help others.
Saturday 1.30pm (Main Auditorium)
Social activists + our faith
Geoffrey Tuita + Felicia Scherrer
How do we advocate boldly while staying grounded spiritually?
Where do justice and discipleship meet—and where do they challenge each other? Come ready to listen, reflect, and engage as our panelists Geoffrey Tuita & Felicia Scherrer share their experiences, wrestle with big questions, and invite us into a deeper, more integrated way of living out our faith in the world.
Whether you’re already passionate about justice or just beginning to explore it, this conversation will inspire and equip you to step forward with courage, humility, and hope.
Saturday 11.30am (Harbourview Lounge)
Youth Panel
Steph Brook, O’love Uluave, Callum Hussey and Neville Bartley
An honest conversation with some experienced youth workers who have lasted the distance. What has brought them joy over the years, how do they navigated challenges and maintain healthy boundaries, and what spiritual practices have been important in their ministry?
Saturday 2.30pm (Harbourview Lounge)