YouthLead

Youth Ministry   •   The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Teens leading teens

For 40 years, YouthLead has equipped teens to develop and use their leadership skills as they serve Christ within their congregations and communities. We offer resources, training, and mentorship to equip high school youth to lead now and into the future.

Our annual leadership training event is facilitated by the YouthLead Executive Team. With a different focus each year, the event gives teens the tools they need to mature in their faith, become leaders in their congregations, and reach out to their peers with the love of Christ.

YouthLead is now looking to the future with the development of additional resources aligned with the 7 Practices for Healthy Youth Ministry. This will include resources for adults who mentor and champion young leaders, potential regional conferences and connections to other programs like LCMS Servant Events and the LCMS Youth Gathering.

YouthLead Facebook Group    YouthLead Instagram

YouthLead Training — 2026

LCMS Youth Ministry will host a YouthLead Training event Thursday, March 19, to Sunday, March 22, 2026, in St. Louis.

This year's curriculum focus will be on apologetics, including how to understand and share Scripture and the resurrection of Jesus. Along with learning to teach this curriculum, we will lead youth in leadership skill development and building relationships with other young leaders.

Registration for youth and adult leaders is open until spots are filled or until February 25.

Learn more and register

YouthLead Servant Event — 2026

LCMS Youth Ministry will host its first YouthLead Servant Event, which will blend a week-long service project with leadership training, June 14-19 in Indiana.

More information about the event will be published on this page when details are finalized.

Training resources

As a part of the annual training, YouthLead resources are video-based, easy for young people to lead, and focus on topics key to youth discipleship. This curriculum is available for use in conducting events in your congregation or district.

For more information about the training materials, email youth.ministry@lcms.org.

View and download video curriculum

YouthLead Executive Team

Executive Team members for YouthLead were elected by their peers during the 2025 YouthLead Training and commissioned at the LCMS Youth Gathering. We are grateful for their service.

• Milly Myers — Stow, Ohio

• Madie Dittmar — Freeport, Ill.

• George Austin — Chandler, Ariz.

• Tommy Campbell — Staunton, Ill.

• Betsy Schuh — Bismarck, N.D.

• Madison Sieve — Worthington, MN