Category: The Extravaganza

The annual event of youth ministry leaders that focuses on spiritual renewal, continuing education and Networking

Let’s Think About Dreams: Extravaganza 2024

Every Extravaganza has a theme. A theme gives direction and guidance to the planing team. A theme gives context for participants. And a theme gives space for the Holy Spirit to work within us…to move us together. Because we can cover great distance when we travel together. The theme for Extravaganza 2024 is “Dream”. Every ...

Extravaganza 2023 Evaluation Results

The Extravaganza planning team leaders just completed their annual meeting to review and debrief from the 2023 Extravaganza, and to launch the planning process for Extravaganza 2024. The planning team is thankful for all of the people who chose to participate in the 2023 event, either in person or online. And we are grateful to ...

Learn to Imagineer Your Ministry

Extravaganza 2023 participants will have an opportunity to learn how to stretch their thinking and tap into their imagination as they wonder about new directions for their ministry. One of the Intensive Care Courses being offered this year is “Imagination: The Curiosity Tour” and is being taught by former Disney Imagineer, C. McNair Wilson.  This Intensive Care Course ...

5 Ways to Make Extravaganza 2023 Affordable

This is the time of year that people are making decision about whether they will be joining their community at Extravaganza.  I hear from people all the time about what an important time it is for them.  The personal spiritual renewal, the quality continuing education and the networking and connections that are made are invaluable.  Unfortunately, ...

Reflections on Extravaganza 2022 Evaluations

Hello Network friends, We have completed compiling and analyzing the evaluations from Extravaganza 2022, held in early February in Minneapolis and online. First, I want to thank all of you who took the time to fill out an evaluation form. We had an good rate of return on these evaluations. In 2022, there were a ...

The 2022 Tom Hunstad Award Recipient: Rev. Regina Goodrich!

by Rev. Dan Fugate; Chairperson of the Network Board of Directors The recipient of the 2022 Thomas Hunstad Award is so accomplished and has provided so much leadership in the church in general and in the area of children, youth, and family ministry in general, that we have a hard time trying to choose what ...

What the Gathering’s Cancellation Means

Hello friends, By now, you have probably seen the notification from the ELCA Youth Gathering, letting the community know that the 2022 Youth Gathering in Minneapolis will not take place.  Instead, the Gathering leadership will pivot and begin working on the 2024 event.   We want to let you know that the 2022 Extravaganza, scheduled for ...

New COVID Protocols for Extravaganza 2022

Dear Network friends, The Extravaganza planning team has updated our COVID protocols for our gathering next month at the Hilton in Minneapolis.   We are committed to an event that fulfills our mission and our goals:  Powerful spiritual renewal, quality continuing education and great networking.  At the same time, we are committed to an event that keeps participants ...

Extravaganza 2022 Update: Vaccines or Recent COVID Test to be Required

Hello friends, The ELCA Youth Ministry Network has made the decision to require onsite Extravaganza 2022 participants to have COVID vaccinations, or a negative COVID test no more than 72 hours prior to the start of the event, in order to participate.  We ask our onsite registrants to be prepared to show proof of vaccination ...

Reflections on Extravaganza 2021 Evaluations

Hello friends! I hope you’re well and that your Lenten season is one of reflection, peace and grace. After the Extravaganza, over 300 of you took a few minutes to fill out the event evaluation form to let us know what your experience was like. Thank you to all who filled out the evaluations. We ...