Youth &
Family
Ministry

Young people are leaving the church at an alarming rate—but it doesn’t have to be this way. The Grand Canyon Synod’s Youth Advisory Team highlights TENx10, a national collaboration led by Fuller Youth Institute, offering free, research-based tools to help youth leaders, pastors, and congregations reimagine faith formation. Visit TENx10.org to access resources, take a 2-minute quiz, and join this movement to help faith matter more to the next generation.

Registration is now open for Campformation 2025, happening June 30–July 4 at Camp Pinerock in Prescott, AZ. Youth entering grades 6–10 are invited for a week of mountain hikes, ropes courses, and spiritual growth alongside peers from across the synod. Don’t miss this sacred summer tradition—register today at www.lutherancampformation.com.

What do distant planets and the resurrection of Christ have in common? Both challenge us to believe based on signs we cannot yet touch. This week’s Faith Lens reflection draws parallels between new NASA discoveries and the Easter story—reminding us that grace, like life, often reveals itself in ways that stretch our imagination and strengthen our faith.

Ready for summer? Lutheran congregations across the Grand Canyon Synod are offering Vacation Bible Schools and children’s camps filled with faith, fun, and fellowship. Explore the growing list of programs, and help us share your church’s summer offerings by emailing Deacon Laura Book at lbook@gcsynod.org.

Every congregation in the Grand Canyon Synod is encouraged to create written Safe Church guidelines to protect children, youth, and vulnerable adults. This blog post outlines who should be on your policy-writing team, what legal and insurance steps to follow, and includes dozens of helpful links, resources, and sample policies from across the ELCA

Engage with youth, cool off in the pines, and explore stewardship this summer! Campformation at Camp Pinerock, June 30–July 4, 2025, invites three rostered leaders to join for free as Resident Theologians. Travel, room, and board are covered. Apply by March 15, 2025. Contact Pr. Tim Perlick at tim.perlick@gmail.com.

As March Madness crowns champions of skill and wealth, Palm Sunday offers a counter-narrative: a humble entry by an unlikely hero. This week’s reflection invites us to reconsider how we identify greatness—not through power or prestige, but through compassion, sacrifice, and love. As Holy Week begins, we remember Jesus not as the expected victor, but as the savior who rides in on a donkey, cheered by those in need of hope.

Youth from the Grand Canyon Synod are invited to Leadership Lab 2025, a weeklong Lutheran leadership experience for grades 8 through age 24, held June 23-28 at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL. Rooted in faith and friendship, Leadership Lab helps young people grow as disciples and leaders. Register now at leadershiplab.net.

Camp ALOMA in Prescott is hiring three young men for summer staff. This is a unique opportunity to grow in faith, lead youth, and spend the summer outdoors. If you know someone ready for a Christ-centered adventure, invite them to apply today: https://forms.gle/Pu6vL5PzGesvsGUF6. Contact office@campaloma.com or 928-778-1690 for details.

Registration for Camp ALOMA’s 2025 summer sessions is now open! Seven weeks of faith-filled fun await youth in grades 1–12. Enjoy archery, canoeing, worship, and Bible study in the pines of Prescott. Bus transportation is available from Phoenix. Early bird pricing ends April 15 — register today at campdoc.com/register/aloma.

Leadership Lab 2025 is open for registration! From June 23–28, youth and adults from across the Grand Canyon Synod are invited to Augustana College in Illinois for a transformative week of worship, small group connection, and leadership development. In their annual report, learn how this ELCA-rooted ministry equips high schoolers and young adults to bring fresh faith and leadership home to their congregations—and how adults and rostered leaders can join too. Affordable rates and strong support make this an opportunity not to miss.

As Lent nears its end, this season reminds us that even in long, sorrowful journeys—whether personal or global—there is space for joy. Just as a woman anointed Jesus in love on his road to the cross, we too are invited to celebrate sacred moments, even in hardship. This reflection calls us to live intentionally, walk with those who suffer, and embrace joy as resistance and renewal during life’s most difficult seasons.

Thanks to the Bishop’s Leadership Fund, congregations can now register one youth or young adult voting member for free for the 2025 Synod Assembly, June 12–13 in Las Vegas. Just use the code YOUTH2025 at checkout to waive the fee for one confirmed youth (up to age 17) or young adult (age 18–30). One free registration per congregation. Let’s raise up the next generation of leaders in our synod!

Now is the time for congregations to elect voting members for the 2025 Synod Assembly, June 12–13 in Las Vegas. Each congregation is allowed two lay voting members, with more permitted based on congregation size—and two additionalvoting members are encouraged: one youth or young adult, and one person of color or person whose primary language is other than English. These additional seats don’t count against your total—bring your full voice to the assembly!

After a nine-month journey in space, astronauts returned to Earth to great celebration—an image that parallels the surprising welcome of the prodigal son in this week’s Gospel. As Lent nears its close, we reflect on the radical grace of God, who welcomes us home with joy, no matter how far we’ve strayed.

Lent is a season of confession, but have you ever considered it a time for protest? In Luke 13:31-35, Jesus laments over Jerusalem, naming the city’s failure to live up to its ideals. His words are both an expression of love and a call for transformation. Like confession, protest exposes what is broken and seeks restoration. This Lent, how might confronting sin—both personal and societal—bring us closer to God’s justice and love?

Calling all young artists! Children and youth across the Grand Canyon Synod are invited to participate in a special art project for the 2025 Synod Assembly, themed “Build Up the Body” (Ephesians 4:12-13). Submissions will be displayed at the event, featured online, and 25 selected pieces will be printed as postcards! The deadline to submit artwork is May 9, 2025. All participants will be entered into a drawing for a gift card to purchase art supplies. Encourage the young people in your congregation to share their vision of Jesus, Church, and Me through art! Learn more and submit artwork at gcsynod.org/2025/assembly/art.

Lent is more than personal sacrifice—it’s an opportunity to refocus our attention on God and others. Inspired by Jesus’ time in the wilderness, fasting can be a practice that transforms not just our habits, but our relationships. This Lent, consider choosing a fast that serves others: share food, spend intentional time with loved ones, or give generously. Read more about how fasting can deepen your faith and community engagement in this week’s Faith Lens. Click here to read more.

Give your child a weekend to remember at Camp ALOMA’s Elementary Retreat in Prescott, Arizona. Designed for grades 1 through 6, this faith-filled weekend includes Bible study, archery, campfires, and outdoor exploration. Happening March 14–16 for $100, it’s the perfect blend of fun and faith! Register now at campaloma.com or call 928-778-1690.

This week, a rare planetary alignment offers a striking reminder of a truth found in Luke 9:28-36—we cannot control Jesus, just as we cannot control the heavens. The Transfiguration reveals that Christ is beyond human containment, yet he shines for all. As you reflect on this celestial wonder, consider: How might it be a gift that God is beyond our control? Read more about this connection between the cosmos and Christ in the latest Faith Lens.

Give your child a weekend to remember at Camp ALOMA’s Elementary Retreat in Prescott, Arizona. Designed for grades 1 through 6, this faith-filled weekend includes Bible study, archery, campfires, and outdoor exploration. Happening March 14–16 for $100, it’s the perfect blend of fun and faith! Register now at campaloma.com or call 928-778-1690.

Are you or a young adult you know looking for a meaningful way to serve and grow in faith? Urban Servant Corps (USC) in Denver offers a full-time service year in an intentional faith-based community. Volunteers receive housing, food, a stipend, and student loan assistance while serving with nonprofit partners. The priority deadline to apply is March 1, and a virtual info session is available on February 26 at 12 PM (MT). Learn more and apply at www.urbanservantcorps.org.

Mercy is more than a word—it’s a call to action. This Sunday’s Gospel reading (Luke 6:27-38) challenges us to love our enemies, give freely, and embody God’s mercy in a divided world. As Lutheran social ministries face funding challenges, we are reminded that mercy is at the core of our faith, not an optional extra. How will we answer Jesus’ call to mercy today?

Last Call for LSM 2025! Lutheran Summer Music, the nation’s premier faith-based music academy, is nearly full—but there’s still time to apply or nominate a student. Held at Valparaiso University from June 22 to July 20, LSM provides high school musicians with world-class training, worship opportunities, and a joyful summer of music-making. Don’t miss out—enrollment is over 80% full! Apply now at LSMacademy.org/program.

Jesus didn’t lead from above—he stood among the people, teaching on a level place and challenging societal norms about blessings and woes (Luke 6:17-26). His model of leadership, reflected in the Civil Rights Movement, calls us to walk alongside the marginalized, not from positions of privilege. As we reflect on Black History Month, how can we follow Christ’s example and prepare for God’s reign where all share in His blessings?

John Christensen, a young-adult and disability advocate, is shaping the future of Lutheran leadership through global advocacy and intergenerational dialogue. After serving in Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM), he joined the ELCA’s Young Adult Vocational Fellowship and now works with the World Council of Churches on disability and mental health advocacy. His journey highlights how young leaders can stay engaged in ministry and address crucial issues within the church. Read more about his inspiring work at Living Lutheran.

Have you ever felt like your efforts were wasted? In Luke 5, the disciples had a fruitless day of fishing—until Jesus stepped in, transforming their empty nets into abundance. The same principle applies beyond the sea: even waste, like discarded food or manure, can become something life-giving. In God’s economy, nothing is useless. How can we invite God to bring renewal in places that feel like failure? In this week’s Faith Lens, read more on how faith, science, and trust in God’s abundance can reshape how we see the world.

The Grand Canyon Synod welcomes Deacon Laura Book as the Project Manager of the Synod Youth Advisory Team (SYAT). With a rich history in youth and young adult ministry, Deacon Laura will support the synod office, build youth ministry connections, and enhance faith formation initiatives. Learn more about her inspiring journey and vision for the future of youth ministry.

Simeon and Anna saw something extraordinary in an ordinary moment at the temple: God’s presence in Jesus. Their story reminds us that God is still near, revealing the sacred through everyday things—clean water, fresh air, the beauty of creation. As we care for the world around us, we honor God’s gifts and ensure future generations can experience them. This week, take time to notice where God’s fingerprints appear in your daily life. Where do you see the extraordinary within the ordinary?

As trends and traditions from the past reemerge in today’s world, this week’s Gospel reading from Luke 4 reminds us of the eternal renewal found in Jesus. Unlike fleeting trends, Christ’s fulfillment of ancient promises brings lasting transformation, making all things new. Where do we place our ultimate allegiance?