Recharge is this Saturday, Jan. 11, from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at Grace Fellowship Church in Brooklyn Park, MN. There's still room if you haven't registered or want to add some more team members. This one-day conference focuses on encouraging and equipping leaders who are impacting the lives of kids and students.  

There are 9 new presenters, 12 new topics and some solid repeats including:

• Rich Van Pelt -Risky Caring
• Tiger McLuen - Faith Factors
• Heather Flies - Women in Ministry
• Michael Novelli - Bible Story Telling
• Chris Corbett - Experiential Worship for Kids
• Edrin Williams - Ministering to a Fatherless Generation
• Kara Stromberg - Small Church Ministry
• Cesar Castillejos - Middle School Ministry
• Sara Sosa - Celebrating Milestones
• Lisha Lender - Child Abuse
• Matt Meyers -Peer Ministry
• Ginny Olson - Ministry to Girls
• Ken Castor - Teaching them to Pray

Some of the best youth ministry conversations take place during coffee breaks, on Facebook, as you're walking out the door from a meeting, or whenever your paths cross with other like-minded, like-hearted youth workers. There's energy when we get to talk shop with others who understand our crazy calling. At our Connection this month, that's what we're doing.

Our January Connection is modeled after YS' UnConference. If you attended it last year, you know that it was a rich day filled with great discussions. What's an UnConference? To borrow YS' description, an "UnConference is designed around collaboration, discussion and relationships. It isn't about lectures or training but rather about learning from each other, identifying and solving problems we share in the field of youth ministry. Rather than a person or committee planning the direction of the event from the top down, the event 'self organizes' from the bottom up."  

Bring your youth ministry topics/problems/concerns/issues that you'd like to talk through (or listen) with others.

We meet Thursday, Jan. 16, from 12 to 3 p.m. at Bethlehem Covenant (3141 43rd Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406-2292) www.bethlehemcov.org. Bring a lunch and carpool with another Covenant youth worker from your area.

Our dates for 2014 are Feb. 20, March 20, April 17 and May 15.

Mikey Bechtold from Crossview Covenant Church in North Mankato, MN, has developed a great site to connect college students with ministries near their universities.  

Check out www.collegeminconnect.weebly.com and add churches who are doing college ministry. Pass the word.

Jan. 25-27 at Hyatt O'Hare, Chicago, IL

When's the last time you had breakfast with the President?

You're invited to have breakfast with Gary Walter, the President of the Evangelical Covenant Church, on Feb. 10. Here's the scoop:

Place: Crossroads Church, Woodbury Campus

Time: 9-11 a.m.

Menu: Quiche, oatmeal, etc. (a breakfast fit for the President and his favorite pastors)

Cost: Free!

Crossroads Church in Woodbury is excited to host this event. It'll be a great meal, a great time to connect with each other, and a great opportunity to hear Gary respond to questions like: Describe the Covenant as you see it in 10 years? What worries you? What excites you? Where do see the "gay marriage" issue going in the Covenant? What is one thing you would like to say to us?

Please RSVP if you (and any staff) can come by Feb. 1. Email your RSVP to cheryl@northwestconference.org or call the NWC office.

Children, Youth & Family Ministry Sabbath Retreat

Wednesday, Feb. 26 to Friday, Feb. 28

Covenant Pines Bible Camp

Suggested donation: $20

"Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'" Mark 6:31

Sound familiar? You are invited to Covenant Pines for a spiritual rest and renewal retreat for children, youth and family ministers Feb. 26-28. You get a room to yourself, opportunities for spiritual direction with Judy Swanberg, Associate Director of Pastoral Care & Development, and guided reflection time led by Steve Burger. Hope you can join us! RSVP to the Conference office at 612-721-4893.

MOVE 2014, April 4-5

MOVE is the NWC's high school service and learning experience, hosted by First Covenant Church, Minneapolis. Registration coming in early February.

Adventures in Leadership 2014

MUUUCE 2014

Breaking News  

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