The 2025 Youth Leader’s Summit took place at The Residence Inn Arlington Ballston, Virginia on Saturday, February 22nd.
The summit started at 9:30a with a time of praise and worship led by various youth workers and ministers and an opening prayer by Rev Dwane Ross. The summit featured 2 teaching/workshop sessions led by Pastor Johnny Wyatt & Bro John Adebayo.
The first session lead by Pastor Wyatt focused on understanding and improving relationships between youth ministry leaders and pastors, exploring expectations, responsibilities, and effective communication strategies in church settings. The discussion covered various aspects including the importance of written proposals, professional communication practices, alignment with church vision, and the need for spiritual foundation in youth leadership roles. Through group activities and shared experiences, participants learned about problem-solving approaches, engaging youth professionally, and maintaining appropriate boundaries while building strong partnerships between youth leaders and church leadership.
The discussion focused on the responsibilities and challenges of being a pastor. The group explored how pastors must manage multiple aspects including church unity, conflict resolution between generations, spiritual leadership, and family life, while also dealing with confidential matters and church maintenance. The group shared personal experiences about pastors needing to pray and fast regularly, check on absent members, and maintain their own spiritual well-being since they serve as a spiritual covering for their congregation.
The group discussed the importance of fostering a strong partnership between pastors and youth leaders, drawing parallels from the Biblical model of Moses and Joshua. They emphasized the need for proactive communication and ownership in ministry, using 'I' statements to express needs and taking responsibility for ministry outcomes. The group also highlighted the importance of mentorship and the need for youth leaders to be proactive in their planning and outreach efforts. The session concludes with an emphasis on the importance of spiritual foundation and proper relationships with church leadership. The speakers stress that youth ministers need to be saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Spirit before leading others, and should maintain appropriate boundaries with church leadership, particularly regarding correction which should come from pastors rather than youth ministers.
The second session led by Bro John Adebayo focused on "How to stay encouraged & encourage others". The discussions highlighted the difficulties of living in an unchurched world and the importance of reaching out to each other. The discussion also emphasized the need for encouragement in the face of mental health issues, isolation, and internal crises that young people may face. They concluded by sharing a Scripture that encourages strength, courage, and faith in God. The discussion continued by examining how characters in the bible like David, Elijah & Peter dealt with discouragement and how to identify signs of discouragement in one's self and others. The group discussed how constant exposure to negative news through modern media can lead to discouragement and feeling overwhelmed. While bad news seems prevalent today, the Bible teaches there is nothing new under heaven - the difference is that we now have immediate access to information from everywhere. The discussion concludes that discouragement can stem from various sources like fear and sadness, emphasizing that giving up is a choice, using Jesus and pastors as examples of those who don't give up despite challenges. The session concluded with an emphasis on focusing on Jesus Christ as our source of encouragement. Focusing on scripture and prayer, incorporating intercessory prayers and constantly meditating on the Bible. The importance of active listening and supporting others, emphasizing the importance of being present when people share both struggles and joys. The group shared several biblical scriptures about peace, hope, and courage, including Isaiah 40:10 and Joshua 1:6.
The Summit concluded with an update on the International Youth Conference scheduled to held in Richmond Virginia between June 5th through June 8th. Check the IYC page for more details.
We are grateful for the Holy Spirit's continuous presence among our youth, and we anticipate further blessings. Thank you for consistently supporting all the youth activities with our district.
