Investing and Other Things
As spring transitioned into summer, May and June were filled with opportunities to invest in young leaders, celebrate their growth, and engage with our community in meaningful ways. From retreats and youth services to leading worship and preparing for Kids Camp, these months have been a vibrant tapestry of experiences that showcase the heart of Youth Alive.
May: Youth Service in Sheridan and a Missionary Retreat
May started with a dynamic youth service in Sheridan, Wyoming. It’s always fun to connect with students and encourage them to see how their faith can impact their world. Following this, Rich and I had the privilege of taking our interns—Arianna, Ally, and Nate—to the Youth Alive Missionary Retreat in Daytona Beach, Florida. Investing in young leaders is a highlight for me, and this retreat was a fantastic opportunity for them to grow and for us to support them. My mantra of treating others how I would want to be treated means going all in on believing in and nurturing these emerging leaders. Watching them engage with the retreat and catch the vision for their future was both exciting and rewarding.
June: A Visit from Zoe and Community Worship
June brought a special visit from Zoe, a young leader from Oregon. Zoe will soon be graduating from the Oregon Youth Alive Ministry Academy (OYAMA.) She joined me for a service in Laramie and a youth service in Casper, where we explored spiritual gifts and how students can use them to reach others. Zoe was INSTRUMENTAL in helping plan some of our summer happenings. She’s such a breath of fresh air and I’d try to steal her if I didn’t think the entire Oregon leadership would come for me. She’s already such a blessing and refreshment to everyone she is around. The church she ends up at is going to be seriously blessed. Also she knows how to wrastle a calf now… so she’s totally suited for all ministry challenges. :)
Additionally, I had the joy of leading worship at two community events. One was for the city of Douglas during Jackalope Days—a celebration that brought the town together for a Sunday morning church service in Jackalope Square. The other was a service at Ayres Natural Land Bridge for the Douglas and Glenrock Assembly of God churches. These worship opportunities were special moments of connecting with the community, celebrating together, and lifting up our shared faith in unique settings.
Preparing for Kids Camp
A major focus in June was preparing a team of students to lead worship at Kids Camp. This project has been in the works for some time, and as June rolled around, it was go time. I absolutely adore these students—their energy, talent, and dedication are inspiring. And, honestly, they’re just also really fun to be around. If I could get all of them to move to Douglas, I’d seriously consider it (just kidding… ish). Their commitment to serving and their enthusiasm for worship made the whole thing that much better.
May and June were packed with meaningful moments—investing in young leaders, engaging with our community, entering a team in a mud volleyball competition (…a story for another time, haha) and gearing up for a busy summer. From retreats to community worship and everything in between, these months have been a testament to the incredible work God is doing through Youth Alive. Looking forward to the next chapter and all the ways we’ll continue to grow and serve together!
