More Than 150 Attend Chesapeake’s Children & Youth Leadership Convention

More than 150 children’s, youth, and young adult ministry leaders from Chesapeake Conference churches gathered at the Mt. Aetna Retreat Center in Hagerstown, Md., Sept. 11-13 for the conference’s annual Children & Youth Leadership Convention.

This year’s convention carried the theme “Building Faith That Lasts” and offered courses designed to train local church members who lead youth and children’s ministries in their congregations. Thirty-one instructors taught sessions across seven certification tracks, including Adventurer Basic, Pathfinder Basic and Master Guide, and Youth and Young Adult Ministry Development. Several tracks, including Pathfinder training, youth leadership and ministry development, ran parallel sessions in English and Spanish to serve the conference’s bilingual congregations.

Debbie Rivera, associate pastor of Ellicott City church in Ellicott City, Md., preached during the convention’s Sabbath worship service.

Ann Reynolds, Chesapeake Conference Children’s Ministries Director, explained how this initiative helps the churches: “It is wonderful to see our children and youth leaders taking classes and making the effort to grow as leaders,” Reynolds said, “and as we learn and grow, we also grow closer to Jesus. And as we grow in Him, we are better able to lead our children and youth to know and love Jesus. Together, we are building faith that lasts.” 

To learn more about the training opportunities from the Youth and Young Adults Department, visit here.