"There's a group of us around the Sioux Falls area that collaborate with different things like conference events and stuff like that, and we wondered, 'What can we do together that would be fun and could use some of our combined resources?'" shared Eric Fjerstad, youth and young adult director at First United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls, S.D.

This collaborative brainstorming led to an area-wide gathering of United Methodist youth last spring. Eric and other leaders reached out to their UMC colleagues in Sioux Falls as well as surrounding communities.

"We had over 70 kids total from six or seven churches last year, which was really cool," recalled Eric. "It was held here at First UMC, and we basically just had the whole run of the church. We kept it pretty simple. We did three big games, had a time of worship, and then I was a speaker last year."

"We also did a lot of ice breakers to get the kids from each church to kind of mingle with each other and start to build relationships with youth from other churches," he added.

Emily Lawrence, youth director from Asbury UMC in Sioux Falls, was another youth leader who helped lay the foundation for this collective outreach. She saw the impact it had on her youth immediately.

"Last year, at the end of the night, we piled into the car, and before we had even gotten out of the parking lot, our kids were like, 'OK, when they come to Asbury next year, this is what we could do…'" shared Emily. "They had immediately latched onto it and started planning ahead because they thought it was so fun, and they were excited that they would get a chance to host and bring kids into their context and into their church and share it that way."

Encouraged by the success of last year, Emily and Eric are currently planning this year's event, which will be held at Asbury United Methodist Church on Friday, April 25th, from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Attendees will share in games, food, fellowship, worship, and hear from guest speaker Matt Styles, campus pastor from the University of Sioux Falls.

"It's just a full night of fun to connect with other youth and UMC churches around the area," said Eric.

Emily described the importance of fellowship/outreach events such as this as an excellent opportunity for both their regular youth group attendees as well as their friends who might be longing for an experience of connecting with people and a God who loves them.

Students from around the Sioux Falls area gathered for a night of worship, fellowship, and fun. (Photo from Eric Fjerstad)

"It can be a place where youth get some of those authentic connections that are really hard to come by," said Emily. "What I've heard from our youth is that everything feels so curated and so fake, and when they come in these doors, they get a chance to be more authentic. So, I asked them, "What do you want to do for kids who don't have that? How can you invite them into that relationship as well?'"

Working with youth leaders from other churches has also been a life-giving aspect of this connectional ministry work.

"A lot of times, in youth ministry, it's great to bounce ideas off of another youth director or youth pastor that's going through similar things—to say, 'Hey, this works, this doesn't work, try this kind of thing,'" said Eric.

Emily echoed that being a part of a United Methodist connectional system was vital as she began work in youth ministry.

"Immediately, you are connected with everyone else under this umbrella," said Emily. "The sharing of resources, ideas, support, care, prayer, and all of that just goes so far beyond the doors of any one individual's church."

"It's good for the youth, as well, to see that this connection exists for them, too," she added.

Eric and Emily both emphasized their hope this event would be a bridge for continued connection.

"This can be kind of a catalyst for when we do DakYouth, Winter Connection, church camps, and stuff like that," said Eric.

The event organizers also hope that an event like this—and the bridge it builds to other connectional youth ministries—will encourage these teens in a time when it can feel difficult to talk about or live out their faith.

"This is the loneliest generation on record, and so I don't think you can overstate the need to connect in person over something that is so positive and so good and can be so powerful for these kids," said Emily. "Seeing that they aren't alone in [living out their faith]— there is a whole community of people living this out and doing these things. You feel just a little less alone."

This event is free and open to all grades 6th - 12th. The leaders do ask that you RSVP with the approximate number of attendees so they can plan food and supplies accordingly. They also ask for at least one adult for every five students to attend.

Contact Eric or Emily for more information.