Renew…Educate…Connect…
Each year when the ELCA Youth Ministry Network gathers for the Extravaganza, something meaningful happens. People arrive from across the country carrying the joys and challenges of ministry. Some come excited. Others come tired. Many arrive wondering if they are ...
Over the last few years, one of the conversations that has come up again and again in youth ministry circles is about how we approach mission and service. Many of us grew up with a model that was driven by ...
Last week, I had the chance to spend a day with our friends in Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Network at their annual conference, and it was exactly the kind of experience that fills your tank in ways you didn’t know you ...
Hello friends, In the past few weeks, news broke that Group Publishing has been acquired by David C. Cook Publishing. Once upon a time, Group was a powerhouse in the world of children, youth, and family ministry. They produced books and ...
Each year when the ELCA Youth Ministry Network gathers for the Extravaganza, something meaningful happens. People arrive from across the country carrying the joys and challenges of ministry. Some come excited. Others come tired. Many arrive wondering if they are the only ones facing the struggles they see in their congregations. And then, over a ...
Over the last few years, one of the conversations that has come up again and again in youth ministry circles is about how we approach mission and service. Many of us grew up with a model that was driven by helping, rescuing or fixing. We went somewhere, did something for someone else, took a photo, ...
Last week, I had the chance to spend a day with our friends in Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Network at their annual conference, and it was exactly the kind of experience that fills your tank in ways you didn’t know you needed. Being with camp directors, program staff and year round leaders who pour so much ...
Hello friends, In the past few weeks, news broke that Group Publishing has been acquired by David C. Cook Publishing. Once upon a time, Group was a powerhouse in the world of children, youth, and family ministry. They produced books and resources, magazines for both youth and adults, ran training events, hosted a national convention, and ...
As ministry continues to evolve, the ELCA Youth Ministry Network is walking forward with intention. In response to feedback from our community and in the spirit of deep listening, we’ve launched a comprehensive strategic planning process to guide our future. The Network’s board of directors has identified four focus areas for our plan: Membership the ...
One of the joys of being part of the ELCA Youth Ministry Network is that we get to share tools that help leaders do their work with young people. We do that through the Extravaganza, Oasis webinars, the 3rdTuesday Conversation podcast, MartinsList, the Connect Journal, and more. But sometimes the best thing we can do ...
Hello friends, Each year, the ELCA Youth Ministry Network invites nominations for individuals to serve on its Board of Directors. This important process is guided by the Nominating Committee, a small group of Network members entrusted with helping identify and recommend strong, faithful leaders who will shape the future of our ministry together. The Board ...
How did the Gathering Expedition come to be? Ministry with young people continues to change, morph and innovate. Even the larger, “flagship” programs, like the ELCA Youth Gathering do the same. The Gathering has created “Expedition” experiences to accompany the gathering, and to deepen the ministry of the Gathering. There are lots of questions about where this ...
Dear friends in ministry, One of the great joys of serving in my role is the opportunity to witness the passion, creativity, and deep faithfulness that each of you brings to your work with young people across the church. Whether you serve in a congregation, a synod, a camp, a school, a resource provider or ...
Dear Friends, On March 21, 2025, the ELCA released a draft social message on child protection and maltreatment. This draft social message is in response to a request from the 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly and addresses the church’s calling to protect and nurture children and youth, both within the church and within society more broadly. ...
Network is a Verb 