A combined total of more than 650 teens and sponsors attended fall youth conferences organized by the Central District and Southern District Conferences.
CDC speaker challenges youth in their faith
The Central District Youth Conference was held at Inspiration Hills Camp near Inwood, Iowa, Nov. 9-12, 2017.
The theme of the conference, attended by 152 students and leaders, was “By Grace, Through Faith,” based on Ephesians 2:8-9.
Bob Lenz from Life Promotions, a non-profit organization in Neenah, Wisconsin, was guest speaker.
“Bob did an amazing job connecting with the teens in each of the five sessions,” says Anthony Lind, associate youth pastor at Bethesda MB Church in Huron, South Dakota, and member of the Central District youth committee, in an email interview. “He did an excellent job of balancing funny and serious stories, Scripture and personal application.”
Stephen Humber, regional mobilizer for MB Mission, led a session on intercessory prayer, and representatives from FaithFront, Tabor College and MB Mission gave presentations.
Saturday, camp staff led groups through team and leadership-building activities focusing on communication, teamwork and encouragement.
Josh Hofer, a youth sponsor from Bethesda, led worship with a team of students from Bethesda and Bethel MB Church, Yale, South Dakota.
“We really saw Holy Spirit working in the lives of the students throughout the weekend,” Lind says. “Almost all the leaders commented on how well Bob was connecting with their kids and challenging them in their faith. This is my seventh CDYC I’ve attended, and I think this was the best one yet.”
Conflict, peace theme of Southern District youth conference
Meanwhile, the Southern District Youth Conference was held Nov. 17-19, 2017, at Buhler (Kan.) MB Church.
More than 500 youth and adults attended the conference, themed, “The Missing Peace.”
“Whether it is the conflict in the world that burdens our hearts or the conflicts within our hearts, there is one answer to it all: Jesus,” says Russ Claassen, youth pastor at Koerner Heights Church in Newton, Kansas, and district youth minister, in an email interview. “At SDYC, we experienced some things from different perspectives and worked at becoming equipped to handle multiple areas of conflict—bullying, race relations, truth versus grace discussions—in a healthy way.”
Speakers were Keith Spencer, social media consultant and minister from Wichita, Kansas, and Sam McVey Jr., leader of the Disciple Nations ministry. The Jake Stemo Band led worship.
The event also included workshops, including presentations by FaithFront, MB Mission and MCC and free-time activities.
Janae Rempel Shafer is the Christian Leader associate editor. She joined the CL staff in September 2017 with six years of experience as a professional journalist. Shafer is an award-winning writer, having received three 2016 Kansas Press Association Awards of Excellence and an Evangelical Press Association Higher Goals award in 2022. Shafer graduated from Tabor College in 2010 with a bachelor of arts in Communications/Journalism and Biblical/Religious Studies. She and her husband, Austin, attend Ridgepoint Church in Wichita, Kansas.
