Elevate

DOWNLOAD FORMS: Brochure (PDF) Brochure (Word) Cover Letter (Word) Registration Form (Word) Student Handbook (PDF) Devotional Book (PDF)

Dear Youth Ministers and Blessed Volunteer Youth Workers:

My name is Tom Fry, and I work with the teenagers of the Indianola Heights Evangelical Free Church on the south side of Des Moines.  I am so thankful for the ministry you do with the teenagers in your area.  You will be blessed tremendously both in this life and the life to come for your tireless and joyful work.

All of us love to minister to teenagers.  We would probably say with Paul, “We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.” (1 Thessalonians 2:8)  We at the Central District Student Ministries of the EFCA want to come alongside you as you undergo the task of developing spiritual leaders in your high school youth group.  I’ve been doing ministry for some time, and i find that leadership development is difficult.  We have students that want to go beyond what they learn in youth group, but oftentimes we are not sure exactly what to offer them.  That’s where the “Elevate” conference can help.  For two days in September, we are going to offer a retreat that is specifically designed to challenge high school students who want to go to “the next level.”  You may have a formal student leadership team, or like me you may just have a few students who have potential.  Whatever your situation, we encourage you to bring your students and take advantage of this great opportunity.  “Elevate” combines traditional large-group worship and teaching sessions with small-group electives, all within the beautiful nature environment of Hidden Acres Christian Center.  If you’ve never brought a group to “Elevate” before, why not give it a try this fall?  Here are the details…

“Elevate” Conference

Dates: Saturday, September 18 – Sunday, September 19, 2010

Location: Hidden Acres Christian Center in Dayton, Iowa (hacamps.org)

Target: Ministry-Level High School Students Looking to Take the Next Step in Their Faith Journey with Jesus Christ

Cost: $50 per person

Featured Speaker: Mark Jones

Mark has done it all in ministry.  He spent over a decade in full-time youth ministry (both small-church and large-church ministry) in Ohio and Kentucky.  He gave up an influencial church ministry position when he felt God’s call to take his family to the mission field of Ireland.  Now he has returned to the States to plant a church, equipped with the many lessons God has taught him through triumph, disappointment, and simple faith.  He currently resides outside of Dayton, Ohio, with his wife Andrea and their four children.

Worship Leader: Gabe Casciato

Gabe has been playing the guitar since he was twelve years old.  God has crafted his skills into a desire to lead people into a real worship experience of the living Christ.  As a youth pastor, he can usually be found leading worship and teaching youth group at the Grace Evangelical Free Church in Huxley, Iowa.  Gabe lives in Huxley with his wife Wendy and their two children.

If you have any questions, please call me #515-244-4462 or email me at tomfryguy@hotmail.com.  I would love to chat with you about this opportunity for your youth group.  Have a great summer of ministry!

Tom Fry

Director of “Elevate” 2010