By Rick Wolcott*

Dozens of young people and their adult leaders from six East Ohio Conference churches were among the more than 2,500 people from across the connection of The United Methodist Church who gathered in Daytona Beach, Florida, July 25-28 for YOUTH 2023. The once-every-four-years conference was designed for youth entering sixth grade through just-graduated high school seniors and their adult leaders. Participants lived out the YOUTH 2023 theme “Bold: Being Ourselves. Living Different.” through four days of worship, Bible study, service opportunities, interactive learning, discipleship, fellowship, and fun.

“It was important for us to take our youth so they could see the strength of The United Methodist Church and what is possible when we all come together,” said Rev. Carrie Antczak, pastor of Christian Formation and Outreach at UMC Berea (North Coast District). “My group was young enough that they had never been on a youth work mission trip, so this was their first experience with both youth mission and experiencing really powerful worship. The experience did not disappoint. They came back eager to impact our own worship experience and do more together with other churches.” 

“YOUTH 2023 provided over 30 workshops for both students and adults to attend. In fact, many filled up to capacity within minutes of the doors opening. Our students tried new experiences with their friends and learned about mission and ministry opportunities,” said Pastor Christy Suffecool of Mt. Tabor UMC (Tuscarawas District), who also serves as the EOC Connectional Ministries office Young People’s Ministries co-director. 

“Our students and I decided to attend YOUTH 2023 because we wanted to challenge ourselves to live bold faith. The students also wanted to be surrounded by others who were on similar spiritual journeys and hopefully make meaningful and lasting connections,” said Alyssa Rivera-Hodge of Lorain Lighthouse UMC (Firelands District).

“The United Methodist Church is alive and there are youth who want to be a part of our church. We must create opportunities for them to serve alongside us and then eventually allow them to lead what they are passionate about,” said Stefanie Williams of Canfield UMC (Mahoning Valley District), an EOC regional youth coordinator and YOUTH 2023 mission journey team leader for United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) of the North Central Jurisdiction. 

Serving in Mission Before and After YOUTH 2023

Williams reported that the 310 people from the North Central Jurisdiction who participated in YOUTH 2023 volunteered over 3,000 hours at six different sites either on their way to Daytona Beach, Florida or on their way home from there. Five of the six East Ohio Conference churches that attended YOUTH 2023 traveled together along with a team of youth and leaders from the West Ohio Conference on a bus provided by the EOC Connectional Ministries office. On the way to YOUTH 2023 the Ohio team served at Roof Above, a homeless services provider working to end homelessness in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“The bus was quiet on the way to Charlotte and everyone pretty much stuck to their groups but after our time in Charlotte, friendships had started to form and the kids began trusting each other and sharing and opening up,” said Emily Radloff, Ignite Youth Fellowship leader at Fields UMC (North Coast District) in North Ridgeville. “The bus was less quiet on the way to Daytona and when we departed on Friday for home, the cacophony was a sweet sound to our ears as the kids shared with each other about the conference and their experiences. The chatter was welcome. The energy was great.” 

At Roof Above the team made over 200 bagged lunches to serve the homeless community, visited different stages of transitional housing, and went on a scavenger hunt to gather items needed for those transitioning into permanent housing. 

“I think working with Roof Above was an eye opener for many of our youth. Homelessness looks different for everyone,” Radloff said. “Having to stick to a budget making the welcome kits was an interesting time. The prices surprised even some of our adult leaders. I sent a group back to find a better deal on bathroom towels. The set they brought me was $27 and they only had $37 to spend on all the items needed for the bathroom. Choices had to be made.” 

“Listening to the volunteer coordinator at Roof Above was really cool. She reminded me of the scripture about the first being last, and the last being first, because she helped at the shelter and was one of the leaders too. She was a good role model for being in service to others,” shared Hope, a youth from UMC Berea.

The team from Lorain Lighthouse UMC did not ride the bus with the other teams from East Ohio because many of its members were volunteering at the church’s camp for children with specialized needs prior to YOUTH 2023. Before leaving Daytona Beach, the Lighthouse team partnered with UMVIM and United Methodists from Texas and Alaska to serve at Halifax Urban Ministries, which is preventing homelessness through emergency assistance and intervening on behalf of homeless people.

“We packed 250 meals for the unhoused in the local area, prepared lunch and dinner for those living at Halifax, cleaned a commercial kitchen, and winterized their community garden as the Florida growing season is coming to an end,” said Rivera-Hodge. “It was powerful to witness our students serve and be served at Halifax ministries.”

Williams was “amazed at all the passion” youth and their leaders showed. 

“The groups who served mission sites could have easily gone to Disney, Universal or another ‘fun’ activity. But instead, they chose to go out to love and serve!” she said. “It was amazing to work with the youth leaders who were committed to making sure their youth were able to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus and start relationships with mission sites where they serve.”

A Life-Changing Experience

“YOUTH 2023, together with the mission project, created the opportunity for our students to grow in their faith, a safe way for them to serve in mission, and the chance to build some amazing relationships and friendships,” said Suffecool. “Several of our students became friends with students from other churches and they have been formulating ways to hangout and keep in contact. This trip was also a great way for our youth group to get to see other youth groups in action. Not many kids would give up a week of their summer to attend a conference, but these kids left fired up for God and ready to help transform their churches.”

“I’m really glad I came to YOUTH 2023. My favorite part was the worship services because they really helped me connect with God,” offered Emily, a youth from UMC Berea.

“What a blessing to see so many young people at YOUTH 2023 excited about serving Jesus through The United Methodist Church,” said Rev. Ed Fashbaugh, executive director of Connectional Ministries. “The East Ohio Conference was joyful to facilitate travel arrangements and our Conference will be blessed by how these youth will impact their churches and communities as they return.”

“YOUTH 2023 exceeded all my expectations. I believe anytime you can get students of all ages, stages, and lived experiences worshipping as one body in one place it is a holy experience to witness. My students were positively impacted by the workshops presented at YOUTH 2023 from the messages about being authentically ourselves to classes on prayer and spiritual care. It was a transformative experience and each of us walked away a little bolder,” said Rivera-Hodge. 

The dates and location of YOUTH 2027 will be announced in 2025.

View the daily recap videos of YOUTH 2023.

*Rick Wolcott is executive director of Communications for the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church.