2026 District Youth Day
2026 District Youth Day
Thrive: Life on the Vine
October 10, 2026
Concordia University, St. Paul | 1282 Concordia Ave., St. Paul
Last year, over 200 adults and youth in grades 6 - 12 from across Minnesota joined together for the District Youth Day.
You’re invited to this year’s event on October 10th!
Get to each section by clicking on the buttons below.
Rev. Brandon Metcalf
Rev. Brandon Metcalf currently serves as a pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Bethalto, IL and previously served as a DCE in Missouri. He is a contributing author to numerous books and Bible studies for youth ministries, has written and taught extensively on effective parish education and family ministry, and has spoken at youth gatherings and conferences throughout the country, including the past three LCMS Youth Gatherings. He enjoys playing volleyball, board games, trivia, and writing parody songs, but his greatest joys in life come from being a husband and a father.
Registration
Registration is NOW OPEN!
Cost: $30/person
The registration cost includes a full day of activities, a meal, and a t-shirt! You may pay by credit card or check.
Register by using the QR code OR the button to the right.
Only one registration form per congregation is needed. Please have the following information for each attendee available:
First and last name
Shirt size
Gender
Grade
Allergies
The deadline to register is September 24
Schedule
9:45-10:15 am Registration Open
10:15-11:00 am Opening Mass Event
11-11:45 am Group Activities
12:00 pm Lunch/Group Activities
1:00-4:00 pm MS/HS Breakout Sessions
4:00-5:00 pm Closing Mass Event
BreakOut Sessions
Here’s where you'll find details on speakers available during the 1:00 - 4:00 pm breakout sessions. All groups will have an assigned time to participate in the servant event. Participants can select two other sessions to attend. Sessions are designated whether they are geared towards middle, high school, or both! Not all sessions will be available each hour but check back in the future for more sessions and a schedule!
Rev. Kendall Davis
Stump a Bible Professor
Middle School and High School
Why did Jesus have to die on a cross? What about all those weird laws in the Old Testament? Does the Bible talk about aliens? Could God make a burrito so spicy that even he couldn’t eat it? Bring your biggest questions about the Bible and the Christian faith and try to stump CSP theology professor, Rev. Dr. Kendall Davis.
Rev. Jake Gillard
Why Be Normal?
Middle School and High School
The world goes out of its way to make us feel small and odd. As promised by Jesus, we are hated because of Him. Sometimes we want to give up. Missionary Jake Gillard has discovered a fun and better way to think about conformity, acceptance, and a counter-cultural witness, starting with Saul's conversion in Acts 9:1-19.
Tori Kidd
Mental Health Therapist
Connected, But Not Okay: When Your Brain is a Drama Queen and Jesus Says, “Remain”
Middle School and High School
Through humor, interactive activities, and practical mental-health tools, students will explore what happens when their brains get a little dramatic and learn how to navigate thoughts and emotions without disconnecting. Rooted in John 15:5, students will discover that thriving doesn’t mean always being okay, it means knowing where to remain when you’re not.
Rev. Mark Kiessling
Thriving as a Servant Leader
High School
As we abide in Christ, He produces fruit in our lives that is often reflected in how we serve others. In this session, we will explore Jesus’ example of servant leadership through the Gospel of John and other passages of Scripture. Together, we will discover how God calls us to serve Him and our neighbors through the various vocations and opportunities He places before us. Through biblical reflection and real-life application, participants will be encouraged and equipped to lead with faith in Jesus, humility, and a heart for service both now and in the future.
Rev. Brandon Metcalf
Endurance Requires Rest: How to Break Free from Overcommitment and Burnout
Middle School and High School
Most teenagers and adults feel stressed, overwhelmed, and pulled in a million different directions. Others struggle from FOMO or feeling like they “can’t say no” when asked to help. This session breathes life into weary people by teaching the Biblical foundations of self-care, so you can say “yes” to the right things and live with a sustainable view of success and purpose. Rest like your life depends on it…because it does!
Amy Niemann
Thriving: Connected to The Vine in Prayer
Middle School and High School
You know the Bible tells us to pray, but do you struggle to move beyond “Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest…” and “Now I lay me down to sleep?” Let’s see what God’s Word says about the gift of connecting to Him in prayer! We’ll experiment with a variety of patterns and resources that can help you grow in connection to The Vine.
Jon Zellar, DCE
Clock It: What the Bible Says About Surviving Middle School
Middle School
A fun, honest conversation about friendships, challenges, and identity based on Biblical wisdom from Jesus. We will walk through the 3 important reminders about Who you are, Whose you are, and How to live it out.
St. Paul Outreach Center
Servant Event
All groups will have a rotation at the Servant Event
The New Freedom Store is sponsored by the Minnesota South District. Its mission is to serve the "least of these," namely the homeless, by visiting on a weekly basis; distributing food, water, tents, and sleeping bags; and offering them comfort in Christ.
During this session we will be assembling a variety of different items to bring to the homeless. We are asking your group to bring granola bars, Goldfish crackers, pretzels, potato chips, applesauce in tubes/pouches, peanut butter, cracker packs, or Juicy Juice. The donations churches bring to the gathering will be used as part of this breakout session.
Servant Event
The New Freedom Store is sponsored by the Minnesota South District. Its mission is to serve the "least of these," namely the homeless, by visiting on a weekly basis; distributing food, water, tents, and sleeping bags; and offering them comfort in Christ.
We are asking your group to bring granola bars, Goldfish crackers, pretzels, potato chips, applesauce in tubes/pouches, peanut butter, cracker packs, or Juicy Juice to be used in this mission field.
Volunteer
Volunteers are needed to serve at the District Youth Day on October 10. Opportunities are listed below. Volunteers should plan to be at Concordia University, St. Paul at 8:30 am for training and orientation.
Use the QR code below to sign up to be a volunteer.
Here’s a map of the campus. If you have any questions, please contact Samantha Davis.
Registration (Library Technology Center)
Help register groups as they arrive for the day, share swag with groups, and collect payment from those groups who have not yet paid.
Traffic Control (Crosswalk & intersection of Marshall & Hamline Ave)
Help direct traffic as everyone crosses the intersection to ensure we walk safely with the lights and not block traffic.
Lunch Crew (Gangelhoff Center)
Help set up and serve a pizza lunch.
On-Call Healthcare Provider (Gangelhoff Center)
A licensed healthcare provider (nurse, NP, PA, doctor, EMS, etc.) present to help with any first aid or other health needs as they arise throughout the day.
SIGN UP TO BE A VOLUNTEER BY USING THE QR CODE BELOW!
