Nearly 350 people, including 256 students from 16 churches, attended the Southern District Youth Conference in Hillsboro, Kansas, Nov. 22-24, 2024.
The theme was “Anchored” based on Hebrews 6:19. Speaker Wendell Loewen, professor of youth, church and culture at Tabor College, gave three messages based on stories involving water from the Gospels, including Jesus calming the storm, walking on water and calling his first disciples.
The Tabor College band For His Glory led students in singing. Another part of the group led singing at the Central District Fall Youth Conference.
The schedule featured three sessions, two workshops, a youth group break-out, free time and late-night activities. Organizers moved Session 1 from Friday to Saturday this year to accommodate groups needing to arrive late. They also limited free time to Tabor’s campus to allow community building between youth groups.
An offering of $952.35 was collected for a Multiply worker preparing to serve in a restricted country.
Attendees celebrated District Youth Minister Russ Claassen’s 30 years in youth ministry, including 25 years licensed with USMB. Former and current youth pastors surprised Claassen by recording a video for him, and organizers presented Claassen with a quilt made from T-shirts he’s collected from camps and conferences over the years.
“SDYC 2024 was an incredible weekend filled with a community of high school students and youth workers worshiping, learning and having lots of fun together,” says director Michael Klaassen. “It is always a privilege to listen to a room full of high school students singing their hearts out in worship. (It) was a privilege to witness volunteers and leaders also worshipping in how they serve and make this weekend impactful for our students.”
SDYC will change to a one-day event in 2025, according to Claassen. Finding host homes for 350 people has become increasingly difficult, he says, and a new format will allow more churches the opportunity to host the event.
The Youth Commission is also adding new events during the year, including one focused on prayer and another on leadership. More details will be released as they are available.
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.
