Articles About Youth Ministry

We're Unleashing a New Leadership Training Experience at Our 2026 Annual Gathering

Building a better tomorrow starts with the work we do today.  That’s why at our upcoming Annual Gathering & Convention, the LCMC Board of Trustees is introducing a new feature to help make the event more accessible, practical, and engaging for both current and future church leaders: breakout session tracks tailored to specific ministry interests. This year there are five different breakout tracks to choose from, each one ... [...]

May 27, 2026 By Kristy Thomas - LCMC Read more...

Districts and Fellowships Take the Lead in Engaging Youth

Last summer, we made the difficult decision to cancel the National Youth Gathering. It is no secret that people’s calendars are filled beyond their capacity and that scheduling events is challenging. When we canceled the youth gathering, there was some concern that this signaled a lack of interest or concern with youth ministry in LCMC. In reality, it was a re-thinking of how to effectively engage with youth, with increased emphasis on ... [...]

August 22, 2025 By Julie Smith - LCMC Staff Read more...

Mid-Year Update

Fifty-four days ago (but who is counting?) I began my new role as service coordinator of LCMC. It is an honor to be selected for this position by the Board of Trustees and I look forward to the work we will do together in the future. But before we look ahead, we thought we’d take a quick look back on 2025 so far.  In January, the Board of Trustees opened up the application process for a new service coordinator. Mike Bradley ... [...]

June 27, 2025 By Julie Smith - LCMC Staff 1 Comments Read more...

2025 Youth Ministry Events

This past summer, we ended up cancelling our National Youth Gathering due to low registration. While this was greatly disappointing to the planning team, it reflects part of a shifting emphasis in LCMC. That emphasis is not away from youth ministry, it is toward more local and regional partnerships in youth ministry. What we saw after cancelling the national event was that a number of districts, regional groups, and nationwide ... [...]

November 26, 2024 By Julie Smith - LCMC Staff Read more...

Hurry...the LCMC Youth Gathering Registration Deadline is April 1

If you're planning on joining us for our upcoming summer youth event, next Monday, April 1 is the last day to sign up!  The LCMC Youth Gathering is designed to be a leadership development experience for both students and student leaders. Everything at this youth event is designed to empower youth ministry in the local church and to encourage students to consider the vocation of ministry in the future. The event takes place July ... [...]

March 26, 2024 By LCMC Read more...

2022 Youth Gathering Recap

What happens when close to 200 students and adults show up for the LCMC Youth Gathering, July 19-22, 2022, in the middle of the summer?  God shows up with them. That is exactly what happened this year when our students and their leaders came together at Grand View University in Des Moines, IA. God was there with us, and it was truly amazing. The theme this year was “The Way, the Truth, and the Life” and students were ... [...]

August 24, 2022 By Chip Reynolds - First English Lutheran Church (Victoria, TX) Read more...

2022 National Youth Event - Registration is Open!

Registration is officially open for our next national youth event, a leadership development experience for students and youth leaders designed to help empower the ministry of the local church. Our youth event offers a chance for students and youth leaders to connect with one another, explore God's call on their lives by participating in keynote presentations, breakout sessions, worship, and small groups, and take part in a service ... [...]

November 22, 2021 By LCMC Read more...

Save The Date for Our Next National Youth Event

Mark your calendar now for LCMC’s next national youth event, which takes place July 19-22, 2022 at Grand View University in Des Moines, IA.   The event is open to high school students completing grades 8-12, youth ministry leaders, and adult chaperones, and is designed to serve as a leadership development experience for both students and youth leaders.   Registration for the event will be online only and opens November ... [...]

September 1, 2021 By Kristy Thomas - LCMC Read more...

LCMC to Offer Monthly Zoom Meetings for Youth Leaders

For the past several months, a team of LCMC staff and leaders have been discerning and planning our next national youth event (The Way • The Truth • The Life, July 19-22, 2022 at Grand View University in Des Moines, IA). As we’ve discussed plans for the gathering, a shared heart and desire to attend to the care of youth leaders has become a focus. In our meetings, we’ve had conversation about common topics of ... [...]

May 7, 2021 By Andrea Paulson - Hawley Lutheran Church, Hawley, MN Read more...

The Essential Role of Youth Ministry in Our Churches

We heard the word “essential” a lot this past year. The word was used in regards for necessary items and personnel; but if we’re honest, the definition fell pretty broadly as to who was categorized in this way. However, we still needed the essentials for day-to-day life. Even in our congregations, we had to get down to the “essentials” for ministry to move forward. As things progressed, innovation took place. ... [...]

February 22, 2021 By Brandon Foster Read more...

Update on Youth Events Around the Association

Ministry for children, youth and young adults is an essential element in the future development of our association and in the work of sharing the Gospel in the United States and around the world. With that in mind, we are so thankful for the adults throughout LCMC who are coming alongside of parents and giving of their time to share God’s love with children, teens, and young adults. As we begin to make plans for a national youth ... [...]

November 24, 2020 By Mike Bradley - LCMC Read more...

Register Now for Our 2020 Youth Event!

Registration is now open for our next high school youth event, Called 2: Love, which will be held July 21-24, 2020 at Grand View University in Des Moines, IA.   The event features worship, music, service projects, breakout sessions, and teachings on love, leadership, and what it takes to pursue a role in ministry.   Participants will also have a chance to connect with other high school students and youth leaders in LCMC ... [...]

November 20, 2019 By Kristy Thomas - LCMC Read more...

LCMC to Host 2020 Youth Event

Mark your calendars for our next high school youth event, which takes place July 21-24, 2020 at Grand View University in Des Moines, IA. The event includes teachings on love, leadership, and ministry, worship, service projects, breakout sessions, music, and a chance to connect with other high school students and youth leaders in LCMC. [...]

June 26, 2019 By Kristy Thomas - LCMC Read more...

LCMC Congregations to Organize Youth Mission Trip in 2019

LCMC churches and their youth have partnered on several mission trips in the past, including 2014 and 2015 in Oklahoma, and most recently 2017 in Colorado Springs.  Plans are starting to shape for another great LCMC mission trip for the Summer of 2019.  For details and information, please contact Scott Strachan from Faith Lutheran Church of Albuquerque NM via email at  sstrachan@faithabq.org or call 505-296-0762.  [...]

June 18, 2018 By Scott Strachan - Faith Lutheran Church (Albuquerque NM) Read more...

LAST CALL for Called 2 Follow Registration

We have extended the deadline to register for the youth event this summer until Sunday, April 15, but this is the LAST CALL.  We need to have all registrations and deposit money in by the 15th.  Called 2 Follow takes place July 17-20 at Grand View University in Des Moines, IA and all information including speakers, breakouts, service projects, the agenda, and more can be found under "Events" our website. Click Here ... [...]

March 29, 2018 By Mark Vander Tuig - LCMC Read more...

Called 2 Follow Registration Closes March 31

The deadline to register for our upcoming high school youth event, Called 2 Follow, is next Saturday, March 31st!  Participants will gain practical life advice through interactive keynote presentations and breakout sessions, make a real difference in the local community by taking part in service projects, and connect with other people in LCMC while enjoying games, music, inflatables, and ice cream. For groups wishing to stay an ... [...]

March 19, 2018 By Kristy Thomas - LCMC Read more...

Get Mobile Updates!

Did you know that the LCMC App lets you sign up to receive news updates on your mobile device based entirely on your interests?  Here's a breakdown of what's available: General Notifications: Select this option if you’d like to be notified ONLY of announcements that aren’t related to attending a specific event.  Examples: New videos/podcasts Service projects Contests Major news updates from the ... [...]

January 28, 2018 By Kristy Thomas - LCMC Read more...

Called 2 Follow Registration Opens December 1st

Our Called 2: Follow youth event is coming to Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa from July 17-20, 2018! Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." Our youth event next summer will focus on these words of Jesus that call us out of ... [...]

November 27, 2017 By Mark Vander Tuig - LCMC Read more...

Save the Date: Called 2 Serve 2018!

Mark your calendars!  Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ's next Called 2 Serve youth event will take place July 17-20, 2018 at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa.   A total of 300 people attended our 2016 Called 2 Serve event, which featured workshops, service projects, keynote speakers, an ice cream social, and a concert by the Christian rock group Remedy Drive.  (You can read a full recap ... [...]

January 12, 2017 By Kristy Thomas - LCMC Read more...

Grand View University Welcomes LCMC for Called 2 Serve Youth Event

High school students and youth group leaders from across the nation headed to Grand View University in Des Moines last month to take part in our 2016 summer youth event, Called 2 Serve.  According to Cathy Nichol, LCMC’s administrative assistant, a total of 300 people from 32 different LCMC congregations attended the four day event, which was designed to help strengthen the ministry of the local church by giving students a ... [...]

August 3, 2016 By Kristy Thomas - LCMC Read more...

Service: A Central Part of Our Gatherings!

Dear Friends, “Service” is becoming a central part of our gatherings! This year for our Called 2 Serve youth event, which takes place July 19-22 at Grand View University in Des Moines, one of the service projects is again working with Meals from the Heartland. In order to reach our goal, we need about $10,000 to have 140 young people package meals for two hours, which would amount to about 50,000 meals.  At our ... [...]

March 4, 2016 By Mark Vander Tuig - LCMC Read more...

Why an LCMC Youth Event?

The best people to witness to other youth are the youth that we already have. The local church must do what they are able to train and equip youth to be disciples to their own generation. One of the best ways to do that is to build mentor relationships with mature Christian adults who can mentor youth in the development of their relationship with Jesus. [...]

February 5, 2016 By Mark Vander Tuig - LCMC Read more...

2016 Event Registration Deadlines

If you're headed to one of our spring or summer events, don't forget to register. These deadlines will he here before you know it! Called 2 Serve registration ends March 1. Early Bird Registration for the Leadership Conference ends February 29. Register today! [...]

January 28, 2016 By Kristy Thomas - LCMC Read more...

Pre-Register Now for Called 2 Serve

Registration is now open for Called 2 Serve, our 2016 youth event featuring keynote speakers, breakout sessions, service projects, mixers and an outdoor concert featuring christian rock group Remedy Drive. The event is designed to help strengthen the ministry of the local church by giving high schoolers a vision of what is possible in their own church and local community.  Participants will have a chance to meet other high schoolers ... [...]

November 6, 2015 By Kristy Thomas - LCMC Read more...

Our DNA: Sunday and Monday Recap

This week, 744 people from the U.S. and abroad traveled to Frisco, TX for the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ 15th Annual Gathering.  The theme this year was “Our DNA”.   The event kicked off on Sunday night with dinner and an opening worship service featuring Pr. Becky Hand from Life in Grace Lutheran Church of Odessa, TX and the worship team from Martin Luther Lutheran Church of Giddings, TX. ... [...]

October 5, 2015 By Kristy Thomas - LCMC Read more...