Youth Leader Summit
October 21-23, 2024
“The Youth Leader Summit is the perfect moment of rest, connection, and renewal I needed after the holidays. It was great to kick off the year with colleagues explaining how to think and love deeply in youth ministry.”
A weekend retreat where you can come together to worship and learn leadership skills while doing fun recreational activities!
The Youth Leader Summit seeks to be a supportive and informative gathering for all who work with young people in the church—youth directors, parents, pastors, educators and/or advisors are all welcome! Together, we will spend three days and two nights digging into some of the current issues facing youth ministry while also sharing joys, concerns and best practices. There will also be time for individual and group worship, play, rest and relaxation!
Working with and serving students in middle and high school, plus their parents, in our communities of faith requires no small amount of creativity, vision, persistence and joyful patience. In fact, youth ministry demands all the energy, intelligence, imagination and love that we can muster.
We want to honor our partnership in ministry with you by offering this annual event. Mo-Ranch wants to pour some love and strength back into you! We believe you need and deserve some dedicated time away with your colleagues to recharge and regroup.
Youth leader Summit Keynote : Rev. Dr. Jason Brian Santos
Rev. Dr. Jason Brian Santos is the pastor of Community Presbyterian Church in Lake City, CO–the oldest Protestant church on the Western Slope. He’s an ordained teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and he holds a Ph.D. in practical theology from Princeton Theological Seminary, where he also earned his Masters of Divinity. He is the author of A Community Called Taizé (IVP, 2008).
Workshop Leader : Amber Cloud
Amber graduated with a degree in Deaf Education from Stephen F. Austin. She then obtained my Masters of Arts in Youth Ministry through the Center for Youth Ministry Training (CYMT) at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary earlier this year! Amber is currently serving as the Director of Youth Ministries at Trinity United Methodist Church in Huntsville, AL. In her freetime, you can find her somewhere outside! Some of the things Amber enjoys the most are hiking, traveling and paddle boarding.
Workshop Leader : Austin Lerner-Gay
Austin Lerner-Gay has dedicated the past five years to youth ministry, serving in two different denominations. He earned his undergraduate degree in Practical Ministry from Southeastern University. In the upcoming spring, he will graduate with a Master’s in Youth Ministry from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, a program offered in partnership with the Center for Youth Ministry Training. As part of his ongoing journey toward ordination with the United Methodist Church, Austin intends to commence his Master’s in Divinity studies in the fall of 2024.
Cost and Housing
Attendees will be housed in Guest Lodge.
This conference is free. Meals included, starting with dinner Monday until breakfast Wednesday.
Questions? We’re happy to help! Contact us at 1.800.460.4401 ext. 246 or registrar@moranch.org.
Packing Suggestions
- Comfortable/casual clothes
- Comfortable walking shoes (close-toed shoes recommended)
- Flashlight (it is very dark here at night)
- Bible
- Journal
- Toiletries
- Sunblock, sunshades and hats
- Rain jacket
- Water bottle
- A clean face mask for each day, and or full face shield.
- Beds are ready upon arrive; hotel rooms do not have mini-fridges, microwaves, TVs or hair dryers, so please plan accordingly.
- Towel are in rooms, and river towels are at the river and pool.
Transportation
Mo-Ranch is 90 miles one-way, or a 2-hour drive from the nearest airport (SAT), allow 3 hours travel/check-in time for departures. We recommend generally scheduling arriving flights before 3 p.m. and departing flights after 3 p.m. to be sure you do not miss any of your event. If you are in need of shuttle service to Mo-Ranch, call Kars for Hire in Kerrville at (830) 890-8200 at least 15 days in advance to arrange transportation from San Antonio International Airport.
Bookstore
Make sure to stop by the Presbyterian Mo-Ranch Assembly bookstore during your conference to pick out a souvenir!
Questions
We’re happy to help! Contact us at 1.800.460.4401 ext. 246 or registrar@moranch.org.
