2019 LCMS Youth Gathering Sessions

You are about to encounter the greatest transition period in your life. Your world beyond high school will be both exhilarating and frightening. So how do you get prepared? What do you need to keep in mind? What critical questions should you ask yourself before deciding to go to college (or not) and how do you best prepare yourself if you do? Come and receive some straight talk about your next steps! Bio: Rev. Marcus Zill serves as the LCMS director of Campus Ministry and LCMS U. He oversees LCMS U conferences, training events and resource development; hosts “The Student Union” on KFUO; and provides support and consultation for nearly 250 LCMS U chapters and those starting campus outreach. Zill has over 21 years of full-time campus ministry experience, most of which was at the University of Wyoming. He and his family reside in Albuquerque, NM.

“Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!”-Dr. Seuss, Oh the Places You’ll Go! Your school, neighborhood, Iowa, or even Africa…Wherever you go—you take the light of Christ with you. Join DCE Krista Young; LCMS missionary and Lutheran Youth from Kenya to hear how God can use you wherever you are to share His love to the world. Bio: Born in Papua New Guinea and adopted by America missionaries, Krista Young (Adler) is Australian by birth, and is now living in Nairobi, Kenya. She attended Concordia College St. Paul, MN and served as a Directory of Christian Education in Missouri and North Carolina before moving to East Africa. Krista’s husband Joel is part of the Ojibwa tribe and teaches History. They have two awesome daughters. Krista is the LCMS Volunteer Coordinator for Eastern and Southern Africa.

We live at a fascinating time of history. There is much to be excited about. Yet, there is much that challenges our Christian faith. How do we live our Christian identity in a culture that blurs what is right and wrong and says you can do whatever makes you feel good? Come explore how the sacraments of Holy Communion and Baptism give us confidence and hope for every life amid these exciting and chaotic times. Bio: Pastor Lucas Woodford is the District President of the MN South District of the LCMS. Prior to this he served as pastor for 15 years (in WI and MN). He is also an author (books and articles) and adjunct seminary professor. Pastor Lucas and his wife, Rebecca, are parents of Bella (2003), Thaddeus (2007), Aletheia (2009), Klaci (2012), Soteria (2014) and Titus (2017). He enjoys reading, writing, hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family.

As a believer in Jesus you are His witness wherever God has placed you. High school can be a challenging place to be a witness of Jesus, but if that’s where you are that’s where you’re meant to be His witness. Let’s talk about what that means and how you can better meet the challenges and experience the joys of witnessing in your vocation as a high school student. Bio: Pastor Wood serves in the LCMS Office of National Mission as the director of Witness & Outreach and Revitalization. He is the creator of the Every One His Witness and re:Vitality programs. A 2000 graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary, he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Reformed Theological Seminary in 2017. He and his wife Mary Ellen have five adult children, six grandchildren, and three great-granddaughters.

When pornography sites regularly receive more traffic than Amazon, Twitter, and Netflix combined, how do we understand anything else about sex? By recognizing the importance of a plan for sex, designed by a REAL and PRESENT GOD. Best Sex is a high energy session exploring pornography, sexuality and other key social issues. Using both experiential and biblical arguments to understand sexuality as God intended. Bio: ThriVe is a non-profit organization that empowers people to make life-affirming and healthy decisions about sex, pregnancy and relationships.

The modern world has an excess of many things – gadgets, technology, cat memes – but nothing is more abundant than confusion. This confusion swirls around and seeps into the Christian faith. This session will explore what it means to be clearly Christian in an age of fake news, digital media, misinformation, and confusion. Bio: Rev. A. Trevor Sutton is associate pastor at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Lansing, Michigan. He has published multiple books, sermons, Bible studies, and devotional books with various Christian publishers. Sutton holds an MDiv from Concordia Seminary and an MA in writing and rhetoric from Michigan State University. Sutton is currently a PhD student at Concordia Seminary.

Say hello to Generation Z, our last generation!? We are beginning to understand this youngest generation and how they are changing culture, the world, and our church. Come find practical, data driven ways to prepare your ministry to retain and support the faith of these children and teens on the cusp of young adulthood? Bio: Julianna Shults is a DCE who serves LCMS Youth Ministry as Program Manager for Lutheran Young Adult Corps. She served congregations in Florida and Chicago for 11 years before moving to St. Louis. She has a BA in Psychology and a Masters in Community Development. Julianna is passionate about helping teens and young adults share the Gospel through leadership and service. Julianna is a self-proclaimed nerd and obsessive aunt.

Not sure what’s next after high school? Ready to blow up “The Plan” for something different? Come hear about how God will walk with you and use you in new and unexpected vocations. We will talk about Lutheran Young Adult Corps and develop some strategies for navigating service, college, or whatever comes next faithfully with God’s help. Bio: Julianna Shults is a DCE who serves LCMS Youth Ministry as Program Manager for Lutheran Young Adult Corps. She served congregations in Florida and Chicago for 11 years before moving to St. Louis. She has a BA in Psychology and a Masters in Community Development. Julianna is passionate about helping teens and young adults share the Gospel through leadership and service. Julianna is a self-proclaimed nerd and obsessive aunt.

Many of us have felt powerless in our struggle with stress, anxiety, and depression. The latest research, along with Scripture, shows that God designed us with incredible influence over our responses to life stresses. When we feel overwhelmed, we need to know the truth about our built-in resources that provide real solutions to real problems. Join Katy for a no-nonsense, interactive presentation discovering practical applications of how to live in emotional, mental, and spiritual health. Bio: Katy Sensmeier is passionate about sharing the truth of God’s great love for us and that He has given us everything we need to have full and an abundant life. She is currently living in Southern California as a Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice. She has two teenage daughters and a husband of 25 years who keep her learning, growing and sharing in the richness of life.

As youth leaders, we may sometimes feel unequipped to support our youth who struggle with issues of anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts. In this session, Katy will provide helpful tools to teach and build emotional resilience among our youth, as well as practical skills to assess and deal with common thoughts, feelings, and behaviors associated with these mental health issues. Bio: Katy Sensmeier is passionate about sharing the truth of God’s great love for us and that He has given us everything we need to have full and an abundant life. She is currently living in Southern California as a Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice. She has two teenage daughters and a husband of 25 years who keep her learning, growing and sharing in the richness of life.

Spiritual First Responders are Christians who are equipped and ready to meet the challenges of the 21st century mission and ministry. By God’s grace and power, Spiritual First Responders are those who are ready to “run into the fire” of other’s lives, not just one’s friends, but even one’s enemies. Come, be equipped by God’s Word to meet the challenges of being “public Christians” today with a Responder “thrive, not just survive” mindset. Bio: Gregory Seltz is the Executive Director of the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty, whose mission is to ignite and fuel God’s people with a uniquely Lutheran response to increasing intrusions, limitations and challenges by the government in support of religious liberty, life, marriage, and education. Formerly, the Radio Speaker of The Lutheran Hour, An Urban Church Planter in NYC and LA, the Director of Cross-Cultural Ministry Center CUI, First and foremost, a husband and a Father.

Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone; empathy is feeling with someone. People don’t generally want others to feel sorry for them, but we all need people who can understand us and feel with us, alongside us. This session will help us be good friends, have compassion who are different from us, and be able to have good conversations with people with whom we disagree. Bio: Cassie is a DCE in Centennial, CO, and has served in youth ministry for twenty years. She and her husband Tim have two kids in elementary school. Cassie loves teenagers, speaking, listening, the Spurs, the Cubs, reading, swimming, triathlons and worshiping Jesus.

Let’s be honest, male and female, we all experience (or cause) some level of drama in friendships. Drama in our relationships effects the way we interact on a daily basis, the way our friends interact with each other, our stress levels, and therefore our very lives! When friend drama is high, it can be tough to focus on anything else. Let’s figure out how to deal with it! Bio: Cassie is a DCE in Centennial, CO, and has served in youth ministry for twenty years. She and her husband Tim have two kids in elementary school. Cassie loves teenagers, speaking, listening, the Spurs, the Cubs, reading, swimming, triathlons and worshiping Jesus.

Using captivating full-color, three-dimensional computer animation, we’ll explore the biological science of how God knits human beings together in utero. Then we’ll apply observe how this applies to conversations about the sanctity of life – not just the development of embryos and fetuses, but the rest of us too! Bio: Rev. Michael W. Salemink began serving as executive director of Lutherans For Life in January 2016. He graduated from Concordia University, River Forest, and Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne. He has served congregations in Minnesota and Indiana. Pastor Salemink resides in St. Louis with his wife of 19 years (Heather) and their three sons (Christian, Nathan, and Luke). Pastor Salemink writes regularly and speaks nationwide equipping Lutherans to be Gospel-motivated voices for life.

Marching women hold signs that say, “My Body, My Choice!” But God says, “You are not your own. You were bought with a price.” YOU matter because God values you. Understanding the value that God has placed on your life makes all the difference in dating and relationships. Join in this girl’s only discussion on life and sexuality. Bio: Heather Ruesch is a respected life-issues advocate, communicator, and author. She has served as the executive director of crisis pregnancy centers and is a dynamic sexual integrity educator. “Equipping Christians to speak boldly the value that every human life has to our Creator, through clear and focused teaching in God’s Word, that begins first and foremost when we comprehend our own intrinsic value found solely in Jesus Christ.”

Kairos is a Greek word that means something like “opportune moment.” College is full of these opportune moments. Yet, these opportune moments sometimes come as times of crisis. But crisis does not necessarily mean chaos for your life. In this workshop you will learn about the crisis moments that impact college life, and how these times can provide opportunities for you to deepen your faith in Jesus. Bio: Rev. Johnathan Ruehs is a 22 year ministry veteran who serves as an assistant professor of theology, and Director of the Center for Church Leadership at Concordia University in Irvine, California. Prior to his current role he served seven years in the campus ministry department at CUI. He is married and he and his wife Brenda have a daughter in college and two sons in High school.

In Psalm 19 we read “The heavens declare the glory of God.” As Christians we experience spiritual awe as we contemplate the wonder of a starry night. Using the scientific methods that God has given us, we can broaden our perspective far beyond a casual visual survey of the sky. Sectional attendees will enjoy some entertaining examples of how the amazing order in creation can lead us to a deeper appreciation of God’s glory. Bio: Brent Royuk is a Professor of Physics and Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Concordia University, Nebraska. Before joining Concordia in 1995, he taught at Metro-East Lutheran High in Edwardsville, IL. Dr. Royuk is passionate about teaching science and inspiring curiosity for God’s creation. He is a voracious reader and an avid bass player. He and his wife Sandra have four children.

Can you “live your best life” AND follow God’s call to be a *gasp* church worker? Hear from regular folks who felt called to work in the church (Pastor, Director of Christian Outreach, Director of Christian Education, Teacher, Early Childhood Education, etc.) Discover the joy of serving God by serving others full time in ministry and get your questions answered about the good, the bad and the ugly of church work. Yes, even THAT question! Bio: As a senior in high school, Faith knew God was calling her to full time church work…but no opportunities seem to fit how God had shaped her. That is until she visited Concordia University, St. Paul and discovered the Director of Christian Outreach program. 20 years, three churches and one wonderful husband later, she’s still busy helping people and churches discover spiritual health that leads to more people knowing Christ and making Him known.

Maybe you feel like you don’t have a story to share. Maybe it seems like God hasn’t been working big things in your life. Tia Pugh will walk through her very ordinary faith story with you and how God revealed all the mighty ways He had been quietly working in her life. Tia will help you look differently at the story God has been writing for you. Bio: Tia loves telling stories. It started way back in Kindergarten and hasn’t ever stopped. Her story has been entirely disrupted by the love of Jesus. She loves to share the story of God working in her life, and help uncover the ordinary and amazing ways God is working in your life. She loves teaching and making art, drinking too much coffee, and baking. She lives with her family in West Des Moines, IA.

There is power in the passing on of faith between parents and children. How can we harness the faithful influence of parents in youth ministry? We will discuss youth ministry that intentionally connects parents and students in faith-filled conversations and actions. Bio: Tia loves telling stories. It started way back in Kindergarten and hasn’t ever stopped. Her story has been entirely disrupted by the love of Jesus. She loves to share the story of God working in her life, and help uncover the ordinary and amazing ways God is working in your life. She loves teaching and making art, drinking too much coffee, and baking. She lives with her family in West Des Moines, IA.

Many of us have heard the importance of living with a strong devotional life. But what does that really mean for a high school student? In this session, Dr. Peterson will give practical tips and personal examples of remaining in Christ through the challenges, chaos, and confusion of everyday life. You will walk away with an action plan for digging deep into a Christ-centered devotional life. Bio: Rev. Dr. Ryan Peterson serves as Vice President of Administration at Concordia University Ann Arbor. Prior to serving in this role, he was the Campus Pastor at CUAA since 2013. He has degrees from Concordia University Wisconsin, Concordia Seminary St. Louis, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Ryan and his wife Kristy have four energetic kids and love camping, traveling, and experiencing the adventures of life while serving on a college campus.

Do Mormons really believe in Jesus Christ? Pastor Jack will explain differences between beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) and Lutheran Christianity. You’ve seen missionaries in your community, riding on bicycles and talking to people about their faith or even know some Mormons, but what do you know about their faith? Pastor Jack invites you to share his experience about Mormon faith and his personal journey to the Real Christ. Bio: Rev. Jack Onkka has truly gone from law to gospel after spending 30 years in law enforcement and being ordained in 2013. He has been married to Amy for 35 years and they have two children, Megan (Johnathan) and Ryan. Jack is the Pastor at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church in Panama City Beach, Florida. After spending many years as a Mormon he is excited to share his faith journey from Mormonism to Christianity (Lutheran).

Are you joining the military? Come and spend some time learning how to survive and thrive as a Christian in the exciting vocation military service. We will share insights and experiences from military experience to show how a Christian can not only survive “boot camp” and their military service, but thrive in their vocation as a member of the Armed Forces in the greatest nation on earth. A great honor to serve God and country. Bio: Chaplain Craig Muehler, a retired U.S. Navy captain, serves as the director of the LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces. He began serving in that position in August 2014 after retiring as deputy chaplain of the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served from 2011-2014. As director of LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces, he is chief liaison to the more than 160 LCMS chaplains serving in all branches

When life gets rough, we need Jesus more than ever. This session will cover simple ways that you can show love/mercy to your neighbor who may be enduring one of life’s fiery trials. Bio: Rev. Michael Meyer is the Manager of LCMS Disaster Response. In this role, Meyer provides guidance and counsel to Districts, congregations, and International Partner churches in response to natural and man-made disasters. He also leads trainings in congregation preparedness and spearheads the Synod’s Lutheran Early Response Team program – including curriculum development, and the training and coordination of Lutheran volunteers seeking to show Christ’s mercy in the aftermath of disaster.

We focus so much on dating and relationships in today’s world and yet it is such an area of struggle and heartache for so many. Perhaps we need a new model for relationships- dating from your value rather than for your value. Come learn how being “worth dying for” changes your current/future relationships and your whole life! Bio: Brandon lives in St. Louis, MO, with his wonderful wife Dana and their two-year-old son Benjamin. In high school he was convinced he was not going to be a church worker, but he is so thankful that God had different plans. He was blessed to serve as a Director of Christian Education from 2013-18 and is currently at Concordia Seminary studying to become a pastor.

Everyone has trials and struggles and sometimes it’s hard to have faith in God when life is tough. P. G. was born blind and it’s never been easy. However, God gave him the miracle of vision. Our struggles aren’t meant to destroy us they’re meant to create a pathway to where God can do a miracle and show how his power will knock your socks off. Struggling? Come get your vision like P. G. Bio: Pastor Manning is the pastor of Broadmoor Community Church ( an LCMS congregation) in New Orleans where he has energetically served the “Big Easy” for 7 years. P. G. has an incredible testimony that unravels God’s plan through a life of homelessness, abuse and disease. He has taken his story of triumph through Christ as far South as Australia and as far North as Norway. God has made his entire life a miracle.

Rev. Micah Glenn and DCE Heidi Lewis will share some insights and start the conversation about the unique challenges and joys of serving youth in an urban context. Encouragement and support for each other as well as learning from each other’s stories. Bio: Heidi and her family are missionaries in urban south St. Louis where they actively share the Light, Life and Hope of Jesus with their neighbors and community. Heidi has unique and varied serving experiences in ministry: suburban large congregations, urban, urban re-vitalization and a church plant. Mostly she loves to hang out with people and love them, do creative projects and plant flowers (though keeping them alive has proved problematic).

Let’s be honest: most Christians want to make reading the Bible a regular part of their lives, but they don’t always know how to make it happen. At times, the Bible can seem complex, confusing, and maybe even a little bit…well…boring. Do you want to read the Bible for all it’s worth? Then this is the session for you! In this session, we will explore five key principles for reading—and understanding—the Bible. Bio: Heath has been a Director of Christian Education (DCE) since 2007, and he is now a Professor of Christian Education just down the road at Concordia University, St. Paul, where he teaches college students how to serve the church as DCEs. He loves going to concerts, cheering on his favorite sports teams, writing, running, the color orange, and lots of other random things. Learn more about Heath by connecting on Instagram and Twitter (@heath_lewis).

Losing someone you love can be incredibly difficult. It can also be a confusing and frustrating experience for those who grieve and the people around them. Dan and Jackie share their story about their son’s death, the impact on his friends and God’s comfort and faithfulness. Bio: Dan and Jackie are Minnesota farm kids who met at college and later married. They are proud parents of Dustin and Kjersten. After an auto/pedestrian accident in 2010, Dustin (18) now resides with Jesus. Kjersten has since graduated from college and married Arlen. Since Dustin’s departure, Dan & Jackie have said “see you later” to her parents and brother. They will speak about their grief journey and how God helps us gain, even in loss.

The theme of the 2019 LCMS Youth Gathering, REAL.PRESENT.GOD, was inspired by the Psalms. But where is God in the Psalms? The answer may not be as obvious as it seems. Join us as we explore the Psalms and go behind the scenes to unpack the 2019 Gathering theme. Bio: Joel Lehenbauer is the Executive Director of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and the Theological Advisor for the 2019 LCMS Youth Gathering REAL.PRESENT.GOD.

“I think I’m bi.” What do you do when those words come out of the 14-year-old girl sitting in the chair across from you? Sexual identity and gender issues are bombarding us from every angle. Learn how to process your own sense of identity in Christ, connect with those struggling with sexuality and gender issues, and make a meaningful difference in a culture of confusion. Bio: David is an odd combination of youth guy and senior pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lakewood, CO, where he has served his entire ministry. David met his wife, Lynn, in 7th grade in MN. She said she wouldn’t marry him if he were the last person on earth. Four children, three daughter-in-laws, and one grandson later, they are still married. Go figure! If you tell him you love Romans, you’re his new best friend.

We all have ways we try to present ourselves to the world. We use our clothes, hair, social media, and countless other things to present the best version of ourselves to the world. These presentations are often ways of hiding our fears, our insecurities, and our vulnerability, when what we long for is someone to embrace us for who we are. That is what Jesus offers us: an identity that frees us to be ourselves. Bio: Marcus is a husband, father, pastor, coffee lover, and sneakerhead. He loves connecting people of every background to the life-giving love of Jesus and empowering them to faithfully follow Jesus. When not pastoring or writing, he can be found spending time with his wife and kids, riding his bike, shopping for sneakers, watching the NBA, and roasting coffee.

Being a leader can be so stinking tough! Leadership is a trait that many people desire, but what does it take to become the leader that God desires you to be? We will talk about important leadership qualities, learn what it takes to lead every day, dig into what Jesus tells us about leadership in scripture, and learn from examples of some of the greatest historical and current leaders! Bio: Born as a baby, Raised as a man of God! Trevor Kunze loves the outdoors, ministry, and finding ways to put both of those passions together. His calling in life is to embody the teachings of Christ by sharing his love with all the people he meets. He is super pumped to meet you and he is ready to share life with you, if you’ll give him the opportunity.

We all know that Jesus taught us to pray and even gave us a model to use – The Lord’s Prayer. Then why is it so hard to pray sometimes? Does He even really hear me? How do I know when He answers? Prayer is one of the most powerful tools we have in our faith journey. Join Laura as she helps give you practical tools on how to grow in your prayer life. Bio: Laura currently serves at Trinity Lutheran Church in Tyler, TX as the Director of Children and Family Ministry. Laura has a passion for developing Christ-like servants leaders in parents that then develop their children in Christ-like servant leaders. She values family as the place where faith is developed the most and the church supports parents in the journey. She has a yellow lab, Charlie Rose, who is full of life and energy.

Are you in a rut with your lessons and Bible study planning? Do you feel like you teach the same thing every week? What is even out there for me to use? I’ve been there. Join Laura as she gives some practical ways she has found in finding, writing and evaluating Bible studies for youth. Bio: Laura currently serves at Trinity Lutheran Church in Tyler, TX as the Director of Children and Family Ministry. Laura has a passion for developing Christ-like servants leaders in parents that then develop their children in Christ-like servant leaders. She values family as the place where faith is developed the most and the church supports parents in the journey. She has a yellow lab, Charlie Rose, who is full of life and energy.

Christian theology provides a coherent framework for intellectual and spiritual inquiry and for guiding young men and women in discerning their vocation. In this talk, I explain how Christian perspectives on vocation or “callings” remain a relevant concept for Generation Z. I will give examples that show how youth leaders can better equip, support, and mentor young people as they consider their faith, vocation, and life together in Christ (Colossians 1:17). Bio: Mark Koschmann, assistant professor of Theology and Ministry at Concordia University St. Paul, teaches courses on the Gospel of Luke and Acts, Lutheran Theology, Christianity and World Religions, and Faith and Justice in the City. He is also the director of the Hoffmann Institute for Christian Outreach and mentors students in urban and cross-cultural ministry. Previously, he served as associate pastor for Missions and Outreach at Chapel of the Cross-Lutheran in St. Louis, MO.

It can seem like just when we think we have the answers, someone changes the questions. Is some skepticism healthy? Is doubt good? Can it be helpful? In a world where our beliefs are constantly being marginalized and challenged, how do we respond? Come and learn how to hear, understand, and reply to some of the most common objections to the Christian faith. Bio: Rev. Joshua Knippa is Associate Pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Jefferson City MO. He grew up in San Antonio TX and graduated from Concordia University Texas and Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. He enjoys Apple products, gaming, movies, listening to podcasts, teaching the Bible, and talking about Jesus. He also follows current events and culture. He’s just a nobody trying to tell everybody about Somebody.

Hope comes in many forms sometimes in the darkest places it hard to see the hope of Christ. Carl Johnson is a carrier of hope coming from growing up in the inner city of New Jersey and Atlanta. He was gang-involved to homeless. This is a story that will show anyone the power of Christ in the darkest places. Bio: Carl is a Father, Husband, and church planter. Carl has a mission to abolish food insecurity in major cities starting with St. Paul believing that race and economic justice is tied to food. He is a pastor in the twin cities and appointed committee member in the City of St. Paul of Food and Nutrition. He is on the leadership team of Mission St. Paul, a gathering of St. Paul pastors that promote unity in the city of St. Paul.

Fear. We know it. We see it. It creeps in and takes over. And when fear gains a foothold we can become paralyzed. Does fear keep you from fulfilling something more in life? Whatever “fear” looks like in your life; this session changes our thinking to dwell first on size of our God not the height of our fear. Whatever your fear is, it can, will, and must fall down with the power of Jesus. Bio: Leon Jameson is Associate Pastor of Next Gen Ministries at Hales Corners Lutheran Church in suburban Milwaukee. Drawing from his experiences in this congregation of 9,000 and from twenty years of ministry with young people (and not-so-young people), Leon delivers creative, authentic, and practical ideas that inspire and influence youth and adults to impact their world for Jesus.

Youth ministry is paintball and glow bowling! It’s lock-ins! It’s Fortnite tournaments! It’s consuming absurd amounts of pizza and Mountain Dew! (Rolaids, please.) Youth ministry is ALL these things… AND more! But what matters most? How do you define “success” in youth ministry? Come be encouraged and inspired as we identify what matters most and celebrate a ministry that is more than splashing in the kiddy pool but instead boldly heading for the deep end. Bio: Leon Jameson is Associate Pastor of Next Gen Ministries at Hales Corners Lutheran Church in suburban Milwaukee. Drawing from his experiences in this congregation of 9,000 and from twenty years of ministry with young people (and not-so-young people), Leon delivers creative, authentic, and practical ideas that inspire and influence youth and adults to impact their world for Jesus.

Beau suffered from an eating disorder for 3 years but has recovered by the grace of God. Join him as he shares his testimony and offers insight in how God plays a HUGE part in overcoming the body image issues that are affecting so many people today. Bio: Beau has passion for helping people and shares his testimony to help others with the battles we face today. He places an emphasis on body image as he suffered from binge eating disorder (B.E.D). Beau is 3 years recovered from B.E.D and has shared his story on the Today Show and Yahoo (music available on iTunes)! Beau serves as the Worship Leader at Peace Lutheran (Hurst, TX) where he has attended church his whole life.

Sticks and stones may or may not break bones, but words do hurt, and probably more than we care to admit. In this session, we’ll explore how to be a voice that speaks life into our friends, family and even complete strangers. What we say and how we treat others matters now more than ever. Bio: Lisa has a long history with the NYG. She attended 2 Gatherings as a student and several as a leader. She has also been a speaker on the main stage. Lisa strives to live her life in such a way as to make Jesus recognizable to those around her. Growing up in Florida has made her a lifelong fan of the Miami Dolphins and lives in constant hope of a Super Bowl victory!

We all know, or should know, that life will ALWAYS have conflict. It may vary in severity, duration and scope, but it will always be with us. When conflict occurs among the youth that we love we may feel as though we failed, want to brush it under the rug, or want to handle it for them. STOP! Conflict is one of the coolest opportunities we have to see God at work. Let’s watch. Bio: Michael Harvey is a child of God serving at Redeemer Lutheran in Rochester, MN. He is married to his lovely wife Erin and proud father to Addie, Lily, MJ, Gabe and Caleb Harvey. Michael enjoys finding opportunities in challenges, seeing God at work in people, and receiving God’s abundant grace.

While frequent volunteer turnover can bring some benefits, the long term volunteer is a HUGE blessing! We know that there are some volunteers that stick around and serve with excellence year after year, they bring experience, understanding and history. This session will explore ways to replicate that long, high quality service and even touch on some ways to bless long time volunteers that are struggling. Bio: Michael Harvey is a child of God serving at Redeemer Lutheran in Rochester, MN. He is married to his lovely wife Erin and proud father to Addie, Lily, MJ, Gabe and Caleb Harvey. Michael enjoys finding opportunities in challenges, seeing God at work in people, and receiving God’s abundant grace.

Justice from God’s eyes is more than what is equal. It means Christians are called to act. Called to love our neighbors and called to give to those in need. We will explore how to manifest the love of Christ beyond the walls of our church. Bio: Poplar Grove, Illinois. Rev. B. Keith Haney, Mission Facilitator, Northern Illinois District LCMS since 2007. An ordained pastor for over 20 years. Serving multi-ethnic urban congregations in Detroit, St. Louis, and Milwaukee. In January 2016, he started to write a blog to encourage believers in their faith journey and non-believers to explore difficult faith issues. The blog has over 2,600 faithful followers, over 700 of those are Millennials. The blog address is revheadpin.org.

In Heb. 13:3 we are told: “Continue to remember those in prison, as if you were together with them in prison.” And the apostle Paul, while in prison awaiting his own death, ended his letter to the Colossians with this very melancholy request: “Remember my chains” (4:18). Our session will focus on three goals: First, to awaken the Church to the fact of the genocide of Christians around the world. Our second goal is to awaken the Church to prayer. And our third goal is a call to action. Can we actually help save the lives of Christians around the world? Yes, if we are willing to be used by God to do so. Bio: Pastor Gudel has been the Director of Campus Ministries at Concordia Lutheran High School (Fort Wayne) for the last 22 years, as well as being adjunct faculty at Concordia Theological Seminary. His main areas of speaking and writing are Islamic studies, comparative religions and apologetics. He is the founder and director of Persecuted4Christ.com ministry and has spoken around the country about the worldwide persecution of Christians.

Have you thought about the ways that you discuss race, ethnicity, and faith with your young people? Do you have healthy conversations about why this is important? Have you even thought about it as an adult leader? Together, let’s discuss why we MUST be having these conversations as people of faith and how we can converse in ways that better represent the beautiful mosaic nature of the Body of Christ, especially with our young people. Bio: Matthew Ryan González is the pastor at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in The Bronx, NY and a former Adjunct Professor at Concordia College—New York. “Pastor G.” is a ‘die-hard’ Yankees fan, avid sports aficionado, and a recreational singer and musician. Most importantly, he spends his time doing his best to be a loving husband to his beautiful wife, Katie, and a loving father to his great children, Phoebe and Aaron.

To “love your neighbor as yourself” can be great, but it can also be REALLY tough. What if you’re first struggling to love God? What if you aren’t great at loving yourself? What if you have some serious “beef” that you need to squash with your friends, your family, or others in your life? Let’s join together for some ‘real talk’ about how to handle conflict and to experience our “Real. Present. God.” in reconciliation. Bio: Matthew Ryan González is the pastor at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in The Bronx, NY and a former Adjunct Professor at Concordia College—New York. “Pastor G.” is a ‘die-hard’ Yankees fan, avid sports aficionado, and a recreational singer and musician. Most importantly, he spends his time doing his best to be a loving husband to his beautiful wife, Katie, and a loving father to his great children, Phoebe and Aaron.

Acts 6 begins with a complaint from the Greek speaking Jewish Christians that their widows weren’t being cared for in the same way as Hebrew speaking widows. The Greeks were experiencing racism. Prejudice, bigotry, and racism aren’t new to the world or to the church. Healing wounds caused by racism begins with open and honest dialogue, and moves towards a heart of compassion and empathy. Come join me. Bio: Micah has been an ordained minister for 3 years. He began his ministry as a missionary in his hometown Ferguson, MO, and now serves as a Regional Ministry Facilitator for Lutheran Hour Ministries. He’s the youngest of 5 children, and was born in Honolulu, HI while his dad was serving in the USMC. He’s married to Deaconess Dorothy Glenn, and together they have three wonderful children: Jonathan 5, Talitha 4, and David 2.

Be real and present with those with disabilities. You don’t have to figure it out alone! Grounded in scripture, discover Bethesda resources that support YOU as you minister to students and families with disabilities. Real, practical take-away items. Free consultation and follow up to participants. Bio: Mona Fuerstenau is a former speech – language pathologist. A parent of two young adult diverse learners, she has become a disability advocate. She chaired the LCMS Disabilities Task Force and the Washington State Developmental Disability Council. She is a frequent speaker at conferences, universities, writes on the topics of disability, family, Christian ministry and communities of belonging for those who are left out. Mona serves Bethesda Lutheran Communities as the Director of Ministry Partnerships.

50% of couples in the United States divorce. Do you know what the means? 50% or more of children have parents who are divorced. How do we talk about it? How do we navigate being children of divorce? Perhaps the bigger question is: How do we make sure that our future marriages don’t end in brokenness? Bio: Travis Ferguson serves as Pastor of Family Connections at Christ Lutheran Church in La Mesa, CA. In addition to being a pastor, he is also a chaplain in the United States Air Force, and has had extensive experience in emergency services chaplaincy. Coming from a broken family and having a very “spotty” past, he looks to help encourage others who are experiencing “the crap” life dishes out.