Youth Ministry
Get Involved. Grow in Faith.Give for Youth
The “Give for Youth” opportunity serves the purpose of allowing congregations and individuals to support the youth ministries of the LCMS Kansas District in a financial way, largely due to inflation. Not all households can afford to send a young person to District-sponsored events. This fund is being established to assist young people by reducing the cost of District-sponsored youth ministry events (Note: this does not include the LCMS Youth Gathering and Higher Things because they are national events.)
Congregations and/or individuals willing to assist can select where to direct their youth ministry gift. Gift designated options are listed below:
1. Support a specific Kansas District Youth Ministry Event
a. Kansas District Youth Gathering (KDYG) (high school)
b. Lutheran Valley Retreat (LVR) summer camp (high school)
c. Kansas District Event at the LCMS Youth Gathering (high school)
d. Confirmation Retreat (middle school)
e. Middle School Huddle (middle school)
2. Support all District Youth Events
Financial gifts can be sent to the LCMS Kansas District Office (Attn: Business Office, 1000 SW 10th Ave., Topeka, KS 66604-1104). Please earmark “Give for Youth.”
These gifts can also be made electronically through the provided “Donate” red button below.
District Youth Ministry Forms
Included below are links to the Youth Protection Policy and Guidelines (approved by the Kansas District Board of Directors on May 5, 2023), the Youth Media Release Form, and the Medical Consent Form.
If you have questions, please contact the Department of Education & Youth at 785-357-4441, ext. 5001.
District Youth Ministry Protection Policy
Attention: Pastors and Youth Leaders of the Kansas District:
Too often we read of how the children entrusted to the care of adults have been let down and harmed by those who were meant to protect them. Such a thing grieves us all and in hindsight, we wish things were done to protect those children.
The Kansas District Youth Ministry Team is committed to being proactive in keeping the children with whom we come in contact as safe as we possibly can. We ask for your cooperation in maintaining the appropriate background checks and documentation of all of the people in your ministry who are involved or come in contact with the children in your sphere of ministry. We strongly encourage each of you not only to cooperate with the policies but also to consider applying these same policies in your congregations in order to protect your adult volunteers who work with minors.
Because of the need for integrity, please understand that we’re following these policies as a best practice. We want to make sure that details are tended to properly so that none of our young people are excluded from our events.
If you have questions or need clarification, please feel free to contact the Department of Education & Youth at 785-357-4441, ext. 5001.
2024-2025 District Youth Ministry Events
Included below is a listing of upcoming Kansas District Youth Ministry events, as a printable pdf document. Links to the individual webpages for these events are found below this section.
Kansas District Youth Gathering (KDYG)
The Kansas District Youth Gathering (KDYG) is an annual event where youth in grades 9-12 and their youth leaders can grow in faith, serve, worship, and meet new people.
The 2024 KDYG was held Nov. 15-17 at Rock Springs 4-H Ranch, located south of Junction City. Click on the Kansas District Youth Gathering link to see photos!
Middle School Huddle
The 2025 Middle School Huddle will be held April 4-5, 2025, at Rock Springs 4-H Ranch located south of Junction City.
Visit the Middle School Huddle page for more information!
Lutheran Valley Retreat Summer Camp
Every summer, the Kansas District sponsors Lutheran Valley Retreat (LVR) summer camp, a weeklong camp in Colorado for Lutheran youth. LVR encourages youth to stretch themselves by bonding with new friends and stepping out of their comfort zone by participating in physical challenges.
2025 LVR will be held June 1-6, 2025. To see 2024 LVR photos, visit the LVR page!
Higher Things
Higher Things hosts youth conferences focused on worship and catechesis, consisting daily of 3-4 worship services, a plenary speaker, and breakout sessions where speakers talk about faith, life here on earth, and most importantly, Jesus Christ. Also included are meals and fun activities. Young people learn that there are others the same age as them who trust in Jesus, worship the same way, and confess the one true faith.
The 2025 Higher Things Conference will be held at three locations; University of Massachusetts-Amherst (June 24-27, 2025), Concordia University, Nebraska (July 8-11, 2025), and Calvin University, Grand Rapids, Mich. (July 29-August 1, 2025).
To learn more about Higher Things and its conferences, visit www.higherthings.org.
LCMS Youth Gathering
Every three years, LCMS Youth Ministry hosts the LCMS Youth Gathering, bringing together thousands of youth and adults as a community of God’s people to be encouraged in their walk with Jesus Christ and learn about the Christian faith and their Lutheran identity. The Gathering provides young people a vision for the vastness of Christ’s Church and equips them for vocational service as they continue their walk with Jesus.
The 2025 Gathering will be held July 19-23, 2025, in New Orleans, LA. The theme is “Endure” based on Hebrews 12:1-3. Registration for the Kansas District options opens November 1. For more information and to register, visit our Kansas District page!
Fall Confirmation Retreat
The Fall Confirmation Retreat was held October 4-5, 2024, at Rocks Springs 4-H Ranch, located south of Junction City. The Confirmation Retreat is for 5th-8th grade youth. This year’s theme was “The Lord’s Prayer.”
Click on the Confirmation Retreat link for highlights and photos!
YouthLead (formerly Lutheran Youth Representatives)
YouthLead offers Lutherans in grades 9 through 12 a chance to build connections, grow in faith, and develop leadership skills. Selected representatives participate in training, attend District events such as the Kansas District Youth Gathering (fall) and Teen Fellowship Retreat (spring), visit congregations, and apply what they’ve learned at their home churches.
You can find out more about the representatives and what they do on the YouthLead page. Interested in joining YouthLead? Submit an application! You can find more details and application materials on the YouthLead page.
District Staff
Rev. Daniel Grams
Assistant to the President for Congregational & School Services
785-357-4441, ext. 5001
Fax: 785-357-5071
daniel@kslcms.org
Tami Lierz
Administrative Assistant
tami@kslcms.org
785-357-4441 ext. 5001
Youth Ministry Coordinator
Miriam Wehling
miriam@kslcms.org
Click or tap the logo above to go to the LCMS Youth Ministry page, where you’ll find great resources for youth and youth leaders.