This 5 hour seminar is designed to help parents prepare for and survive the sometimes difficult teen years. A former youth minister and Young Life staffer himself, presenter Mark Gregston encourages anyone involved with teens on any level to participate. The presentation of the curriculum is based on the belief that an atmosphere of relationships creates an arena for change; a change that will happen within a family as their child enters the teen years and a change that might be necessary when a family encounters inappropriate behavior.

A primary facet of this seminar is helping parents understand the world of teens and the impact that world is having on kids today. Learning how to prevent, counteract, and resolve issues arising from this cultural impact is an essential tool for all parents and youth ministers. You'll understand how the losses of abuse, divorce, death, and adoption affect your teen. You'll gain a deeper understanding into your child's behavior, and learn how to develop a strategy to confront specific issues and set boundaries for behavior. Above all, this seminar will encourage loving perseverance amidst struggles, difficulties, and crisis.

Please join us for an insightful presentation based upon wisdom gained from Mark's involvement with teens over the last 30 years.

• The World of the Today's Teens
• God's Hand Amidst the Struggle
• The Purpose of Pain
• Creating an Arena for Relationships
• Performance-Based Relationships
• Understanding the Cycle of Meeting Needs
• My Child's Relational Style
• What Do I Do With My "Out-of-Control" Child?
• When Is Enough ... Enough
• How Do I Keep Myself Together When All Else Is Falling Apart?
• The Impact of Loss on My Child
• Having the Right Expectations for My Child
• Setting Boundaries and Developing a Belief System & Rules at Home
• Disciplining With the Right Motive
• Development of Maturity & Responsibility
• Encouraging My Child to be in Control
• Issues of Adoption, Death, Divorce & Abuse
• Being the Parent my Child Needs

About the Speaker

Mark Gregston's 30-plus years of experience working with families has placed him in the lives of thousands of teens in all types of situations. His enthusiasm and passion for serving families, coupled with his wisdom and humor, makes him a highly respected and uniquely effective speaker on the topic of today's teens.

Mark is the Founder and Executive Director of Heartlight Ministries, a residential counseling program for teens located in East Texas and operating since 1988. His past involvement with Young Life, church youth ministry, discipleship training programs, and living at Kanakuk Kamp in Branson, Missouri has given him a deep understanding of the world of teens. Mark is an author of many publishings and is the host of the weekly National Radio Program, Heartlight Radio.

For five years, Mark chaired the board of the National Association of Christian Child and Family Agencies. He currently serves on Board of Directors of Visiting Orphans, an organization dedicated to sharing the story of orphans around the world.

Married to his wife Jan for 31 years, Mark has two children, and is a grandfather of two. When not traveling doing seminars around the country, or giving time to other ministries, Mark and Jan reside in Longview, Texas, next to the Heartlight property. Mark and Jan continue to dedicate their lives to serving kids and families by providing an atmosphere of relationships in a setting dedicated to helping teens struggle through difficult situations.

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