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.