Youth & Addiction
Fall Conference 2025
Dates are not yet official; The most likely dates are November 7-8, 2025.
This conference is for equipping Christians that have a heart for youth at risk of addiction and want to learn how to mentor, minister and parent better.
Conference Goals
1. To instruct Christians on how to become emotionally safe adults.
2. To challenge leaders to address difficult situations that contribute to destructive coping.
3. To equip the attendees with the tools for mentorship and to confidently care for youth struggling with addiction.
Speakers:
Melea Ward
Lea works with high-risk
youth in faith-based
and secular contexts.
Dallas Block
Executive Director
of Rock Solid Refuge
Richard Evans
Counselor with MtO Reach
A Clinical Counseling Team
TJ Mackenzie
Counselor with MtO Reach
A Clinical Counseling Team
About Our Speakers
One speaker who has had very close and personal experience is Melea Ward. ‘Lea’ is a youth worker and mom of two adopted teenage daughters. She's spent the last decade working with high-risk youth in both faith-based and secular contexts and has had the privilege of running programs such as the Bail Support and Supervision Program with the Boys and Girls Club and Young Life's Downtown Club Kelowna, a program specifically designed to meet kids who are hurting most in our city. Whether it be in a youth shelter, transition home, drop-in program or Young Life group, Lea has seen and has been broken by the depth of trauma so many teens are facing and failing to cope with. She’s walked with dozens of kids as they navigate abuse, substance misuse, and homelessness and witnessed firsthand the faithfulness of Jesus through it.
Dallas Block is the Executive Director of Rock Solid Refuge, a ministry 95 km south west of Swift Current Saskatchewan committed to Bringing God’s transforming love to adolescents with life-controlling issues, that they may know freedom, restoration, and hope. Dallas has 30 years’ experience working with teens and families including roles as Youth Worker / Pastor, Associate Pastor to youth and families, and now Executive Director. As one of the founding board members of Rock Solid Refuge in 2005, Dallas was impassioned to see a segment of Canada’s youth (addicts) and their families be reached with the gospel of Jesus Christ and to see hope restored where it had been lost. Dallas, his wife Marla of 32 years, have raised their 4 children around the youth ministry and the ministry of Rock Solid Refuge and are no strangers to the sacrifices necessary to ministering in the most desperate situations.
Finally, we are so thankful to have back with us, two members the MtO Reach counseling team, we will start with Richard Evans. Richard is a counsellor at MTO Reach and lives in the Three Hills area with his wife and 7 kids. With a background as a Firefighter and Paramedic, he has experienced the effects of trauma and addiction first-hand which has given him a deep level of empathy for those struggling with addictive behaviours and mental health challenges. As a counsellor, his passion is for journeying alongside those that are feeling hopeless/helpless/trapped and extend hope and connection. When we can reconnect with who God created us to be, reconnect with others in a healthy way, and reconnect with our creator, life is transformed radically into one of hope and gratitude.
The second member of the MtO Reach team coming is TJ Mackenzie. TJ is a certified counsellor with the CCPA. He received his Masters degree from Providence Theological Seminary and works with both couples and individuals. He is passionate about guiding people towards hope. He has specialized training in the areas of trauma and relationships and enjoys leading workshops and speaking at conferences on the topic of emotional health and relationships.
Conference Schedule
Yet to be determined.
We are in early stages of developing the best possible event.
