Renew…Educate…Connect…
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 ...
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. ...
Have you downloaded the Network app? Prior to coming to California, you’ll want to download the Network app! On the app, you can check the up-to-date Extravaganza schedule in the “events” section. And if there are any schedule updates or changes, we’ll also be posting those in the “blog” section. At our worship, we’ll even ...
Dear friends, I hope you have had a wonderful summer! Catherine Anderson, who began and directed the “Practice Discipleship Initiative” has chosen to step down from her role leading that ministry. Catherine is choosing to focus her energies in a new direction. She told me “I’ve loved being a part of the creative process. After ...
In just a few weeks, in journeys that make the Exodus out of Egypt pale in logistical comparison, 30,000 people are going to load buses, planes and vans and head to Detroit for the ELCA Youth Gathering. It’s going to be 5 days (plus travel, plus side trips) of amazing opportunities for all involved to ...
Guest blog post by Rev. Paul Amlin, Program Director for Youth Ministry; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Chicago, Illinois I was texting back and forth with a seminary friend this morning and the topic of the ELCA Youth Gathering, Detroit, and how the Gathering will address issues like the Charleston killings and racism during our ...
If you’ve been following social media for youth and young adult ministries in the ELCA you’ve been seeing a lot about an informational webinar about something called “innovation grants” for youth and young adult ministry. The webinar will be recorded and you can watch it later if you’re not available to follow live. What I really want you to ...
It is with a great deal of sadness that we heard late last night about the death of longtime Network member and a former member of our Board of Directors, Rev. Beverly Conway. Pastor Beverly served at Redeemer Lutheran Church in South Holland, Illinois. She graduated from Loyola University, and then from the Lutheran School ...
Dear friends, The Extravaganza team leaders have received and processed the results of this year’s E evaluations. There’s a ton of data. 42 pages. Single spaced. With a smaller font. So I wanted to write a quick note to do two things: First, I want to thank all of you for your feedback. 436 of ...
Paul Amline, the Program Director for Youth Ministries in the ELCA Churchwide Offices in Chicago, and a great friend of the Network, is our guest blogger today, and is writing about “Youth Ministry Links” Youth Ministry Links – Crowd Sourced and Curated – www.youthministrylinks.org by Paul Amlin For those of us who’ve been around long ...
The Network is excited to introduce new members of our leadership! There are two new people who will be joining the Network’s Board of Directors. Rev. Regina Goodrich is the pastor at Mediator Lutheran Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A graduate of the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, and Waynoe State University, she has been involved in ...
Special Guest Blog: We invited Rev. Stephen Bouman, the Executive Director of Evangelical Outreach and Congregational and Synodical Mission in the ELCA offices in Chicago to address the needs of children within the church, and to talk about a new position being created at the churchwide offices. Thank you Stephen for sharing with the Network! When ...
Network is a Verb 