This early fall issue summarizes upcoming events, scholarships, and resources for youth and young adults that churches can promote in their publications. Upcoming cohorts and events for ministry leaders are also summarized.
Do you have questions about any of these resources or need further information? Contact Rev. Paul Reissmann, chair of the Board of Young People’s Ministries, at [email protected] or Lisa Batten, Connectional Ministries Team staff member, at [email protected]. They would be glad to help you.
Events and Experiences
“Finding a Way Together” Discernment Small Group
What? This monthly online small group is for young adults who are seeking to travel toward God’s call in their lives. Are you wondering what’s next in your life? Are you considering making a change? Are you at a crossroads? Participants will meet monthly to learn and practice tools to gain clarity in their decision making in the midst of a peer community, led by skilled facilitators Cora Glass and Carl Gladstone. Topics include preparing for the journey, form a fellowship, shoot for the moon, there be dragons, and basking in where we’ve arrived.
Who? Young adults, 18 to 30.
When and where? The cohort will meet via Zoom from October 2025 to May 2026. The exact day and time each month will be set to accommodate everyone’s schedule.
More info? To register and to ask questions, contact Cora Glass at [email protected].
Seed to Harvest Ministry Incubation
What? We often feel isolated when launching something new, or we may be unsure of the next steps when revamping a program or ministry already in place to be more fruitful. The good news is that we don’t have to go it alone. Join this monthly cohort and be part of a peer community, learning and implementing ministry incubation tools.
Who? Adults over 18.
When and where? The Seed to Harvest cohort will meet monthly on the second Tuesday of each month, starting on September 9, with two time options (noon or 6 pm, Eastern). The cohort will meet through March 2026.
More info? If you join the monthly cohort and register for the optional Sprout-A-Thon held on October 18, you will be eligible for a start-up grant of $500-$1,000. The Sprout-A-Thon is a hybrid offering designed to jump-start an existing ministry or launch a new one. $60 fee for just the cohort participation. Cost for both is $100, which includes all meals, resources, coaching, and support from the Seed to Harvest team members between meetings. Click this link to learn more and register. Contact [email protected] with questions.
“All Together Now” Fall Retreat
What? This retreat, held for two age groups at two different locations at the same time, will help young adults face the world with courage, resist evil with joy, and build connections that matter. Participants will experience a community of belonging through connection with others, play, investing in themselves, rest, and remembering that the good outweighs the bad. Take time away from the norm and gain a deeper connection to self, others, and God.
Who? Two age groups: Grad students and young professionals / undergrad students and post-high school to 24-year-old working individuals.
When and where? October 3-5, 2025. Grad students and young professionals will meet at Lake Michigan Campground in Pentwater. The location for undergrads and post-high school individuals is to be determined.
More info? Cost is $20. To register and to ask questions, contact Rev. Kim Bos at [email protected].
Wesleyan Heritage Tour
What? In April 2026, two young clergywomen from the Michigan Conference, Rev. Elizabeth Hurd and Rev. Ruth Irish-VanderSande, will be leading a Wesleyan Heritage Tour through Educational Opportunities Tours, aimed at clergy and laity, age 40 and under, and clergy who have been serving under appointment for less than 10 years. Read this article to learn more.
Who? Clergy and laity under 40.
When and where? April 22-30, 2026. Throughout the United Kingdom, with stops including Coventry Cathedral, Epworth, Memorial Church, St. Andrews Church, Cotswolds, Stratford, Oxford, Bristol, Bath, City Road Chapel, Aldersgate Street, Buckingham Palace, and many more. Learn more on this web page.
More info? The deadline to register is September 30, 2025. Scholarships for laity are available. Register now. Contact Elizabeth at [email protected] if you have questions or need financial support.
Global Young People’s Convocation 2026
What? This event, which happens only once every four years, is your chance to connect, learn, and lead alongside young Methodists from around the world. This event is a celebration of the connectional relationships we form through discipleship in The United Methodist Church. A group of youth and adult chaperones from the Michigan Conference is forming now.
Who? Designed for individuals aged 12-35, as well as those who lead them in ministry.
When and where? July 7-11, 2026, Dublin, Ireland.
More info? This FAQ page has lots of details about the event. Contact Jennifer Lane at [email protected] to join the group from Michigan that is going.
Mission and Service Opportunities
These are listed in order of length of service, from short-term to long-term opportunities.
Discover … Mission journey to Peru
What and where? A Discover … Mission journey, led by Jody Pratt from the Michigan Conference and Steve Blake from the Wisconsin Conference, is planned for Lima, Peru. Young adults will experience project work with Peruvian youth and young adults, grow leadership skills, and develop cross-cultural relationships. Discover … Mission is the young adult short-term mission program of United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM), a grassroots movement of United Methodists seeking to put their Christian love into action worldwide. Click this link to learn about other upcoming Discover … Mission journeys worldwide.
Who? Young adults, 18-35.
When? From December 30, 2025, to January 10, 2026. Deadline for applications and deposits is September 1, 2025.
More info? Click this link for more information, including estimated costs and other important dates. If you have questions or wish to register, contact Jody Pratt at [email protected].
Scholarships from the Michigan Conference are available for young adults from a Michigan United Methodist congregation going on a Discover … Mission journey for the first time. Click this link for scholarship criteria. UMVIM scholarships are also available, including the Rollins Scholarship, which is specifically for young adults of color. Click this link to learn more.
EarthKeepers
Global Ministries EarthKeepers is a training and incubator program that provides a collaborative space for United Methodists to develop and grow environmental projects in their communities. Topics include eco-theology, antiracism, community organizing, and project planning. All participants plan a project during the training. Youth, ages 13-18, may participate with an adult parent or guardian. The next in-person training in Des Moines, Washington, is October 2-5, 2025. Click this link to learn more about this program and the application process. The deadline to apply is August 21.
International Track for Global Mission Fellows
The Global Mission Fellows program of The United Methodist Church places young adults, ages 20-30, in social justice ministries for two years of service in international settings (the US-2 track has been paused at this time). Fellows address deep-rooted systems of injustice, working in a variety of areas, including food insecurity, migration/immigration, education, and poverty. Click this link to learn more.
Mission Volunteers
Mission Volunteers are individuals or couples, ages 18 and up, who seek long-term partnerships with communities worldwide and fund themselves. Mission Volunteer opportunities range from working with refugees, children, and youth to serving as a teacher, pastor, camp director, or health care professional. The length of service ranges from two months to more than two years. The next training is November 10-13, 2025, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Click this link to learn more about this program and the application process.
Scholarships and Grants
The United Methodist Foundation of Michigan annually supports several scholarship programs for college, university, and seminary students. Note the United Methodist Dollars for Scholars (UMDFS) program, where eligible candidates may receive up to $4,000 per academic year toward undergraduate or seminary education. Click this link to learn more.
Cohorts, Events, and Resources for Faith Leaders
Visit this web page for an updated list of articles, books, and other resources related to youth and young adult ministry. Also, remember to support our United Methodist campus ministries throughout Michigan. Learn more about each one on this website.
Generation Alpha Cohort
Designed for ministry leaders working with children born between 2010 and 2024, the Gen Alpha Cohort blends theory and practice to help you understand and engage this emerging group. Build a practical toolbox filled with ready-to-use ideas, resources, and strategies — plus insight into what to avoid. Those who work with parents of Gen Alpha children may also wish to attend, for part of the cohort is learning how to communicate and equip parents of children and young youth.
Dates: Four Tuesdays: September 9 and 23; October 7 and 21
Time: 2 to 3 pm ET / 1 to 2 pm CT
Cost: $99-$199 (sliding scale, choose to fit your budget)
Children and Youth Ministry Leaders Cohort
This group will bring together leaders in children and youth ministry to learn, grow, mentor, and find community together. The group will decide what looks best for everyone in September at the first meeting and land on topics based on interest and need. This is a choose-our-own-adventure cohort.
Dates: Fourth Thursday of each month, September 2025 through April 2026 (November and December will be on the third Thursday)
Time: 10 to 11:30 am ET; 9 to 10:30 am CT
Cost: $149-$249 (sliding scale, choose to fit your budget)
Youth Ministry Leaders Cohort
This cohort will lead participants through three questions: Why do we do youth ministry? How do we do youth ministry? And finally, how do we as youth workers care for our own souls in the deeply challenging work of youth ministry? This cohort will meet once a month, October through April. For October through January, Andrew Root’s book The End of Youth Ministry? will guide conversation about practice and theory in youth ministry. From February through April, an updated classic, The Godbearing Life, will lead the group to discuss the vital work of tending our souls in youth ministry. Reading the books is encouraged but optional.
Dates: Third Monday of each month, October 2025 through April 2026
Time: 11 am to 1 pm ET / 10 am to noon CT
Cost: $99-$199 (sliding scale, choose to fit your budget)
Adaptive Leadership in Faith Formation Ministries Cohort
In a rapidly changing world, faith formation ministries require leaders who can navigate complexity with creativity and resilience. This cohort is designed to equip ministry leaders with the tools and insights needed to adapt to evolving challenges while staying rooted in their mission and purpose. Appropriate for all ages, including youth and young adult faith formation.
Dates: Second Thursday of each month, September through December
Time: 10 to 11:15 am ET / 9 to 10:15 am CT
Cost: $49-$99 (sliding scale, choose to fit your budget)
Deepening Discipleship Cohort
This cohort will focus on discipleship pathways. Churches that are currently using a discipleship pathway will be invited to share their process and what they have learned — both successes and challenges. There will be time set aside for cohort members to share their ideas, celebrations, and challenges, and offer support to one another. Appropriate for all ages, including youth and young adult faith formation.
Dates and time: To be determined by cohort members
Cost: $25-$75 (sliding scale, choose to fit your budget)
4 Every Generation Conference
Discipleship Ministries is sponsoring the 4 Every Generation Conference, where church leaders, ministry teams, and passionate disciples come together to reimagine faith formation as an intergenerational experience. This intergenerational conference is an evolution of what used to be a Children’s Ministry Forum. The planning team for this event has dialed in on intergenerational approaches to children’s and youth ministries as the focus.
Dates and location: November 4-6, 2025, at The Gathering Church, St. Louis, Missouri.
Last Updated on August 25, 2025