October 1, 2026
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — More than 1,300 youth ministry leaders and ministry partners from multiple states gathered Jan. 29 to 31 in Chattanooga for Youth Ministry Conclave, united by a shared purpose: to be equipped, connected, and encouraged in the work of discipling the next generation. With more than 300 exhibitors and 96 booths represented, the multi-state gathering reflected both the scale of youth ministry today and the growing need for collaboration, clarity, and support among those serving students and families.
Hosted at the Chattanooga Convention Center, Conclave brought together pastors, ministry leaders, and volunteers from Baptist state conventions across the region. While the event offered extensive opportunities for learning and resourcing, its deeper focus was formation — shaping leaders at every level for long-term faithfulness in an increasingly complex ministry landscape. Throughout the weekend, the rhythm of Conclave consistently moved leaders from vision to training to connection, creating space not only to learn new ideas but to be renewed in calling.
Before the main conference began, Conclave offered an optional pre-conference titled Whole Family, Whole Church: Student Ministry That Connects, led by Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Designed to equip student ministry leaders to disciple teenagers and families together, the session emphasized that effective student ministry does not exist in isolation, but within the broader life of the church and the home.
The pre-conference focused on partnering with parents and engaging the whole church in the spiritual formation of the next generation, setting a theological and relational foundation for the weekend. That emphasis on connection — between students, families, and the church — carried into the main conference as leaders moved from reflection into shared worship, training, and collaboration.
The main sessions opened Thursday evening with vision casting from Paul Chitwood, president of the International Mission Board, who called leaders to anchor their ministries in God’s heart for the nations. Walking through key movements of Scripture — including the covenants, the prophets, the Psalms, and Revelation — Chitwood traced a biblical vision of God’s redemptive mission from beginning to end.
Rather than framing missions as a program or optional emphasis, Chitwood challenged leaders to see the Great Commission as central to both personal discipleship and student ministry strategy. “My second and final goal for our time together tonight,” he said, “is that you would leave this room more convinced and convicted than you already are about why missions must be one of the top priorities for your local church, your life, and your youth ministry.”
Chitwood emphasized that mission flows from the nature of God himself, reminding attendees, “The Great Commission is not the plan of man or even the plan of the church. The Great Commission is God’s plan.” His message set a global, gospel-centered trajectory for the conference, inviting leaders to consider how they are forming students not only for faithfulness at home, but for participation in God’s mission to the world.
Friday morning’s session featured former college football coach Mark Richt, who spoke in an interview-style format on the foundations of leadership. Richt emphasized that leadership in ministry must begin with a firm spiritual foundation, stating plainly, “The foundation is being a born-again believer in Jesus Christ.”
Richt spoke candidly about the internal pressures leaders often face, including criticism, fear, and insecurity. He acknowledged that living out one’s identity in Christ can be especially challenging in leadership roles where expectations are high and affirmation is often scarce. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 4:17–18, Richt framed adversity as “momentary light affliction,” encouraging leaders to view hardship through an eternal lens rather than allowing it to define their worth or calling.
Throughout the conversation, Richt returned to the theme of identity, reminding leaders that criticism often targets the position they hold rather than their personhood. By grounding leadership in identity rather than performance, he encouraged attendees to lead with humility, resilience, and freedom, even amid opposition or disappointment.
Saturday night’s third main session was led by Ed Newton, lead pastor of Community Bible Church in San Antonio, Texas, who preached from 2 Kings 4:1–7 in a message marked by vulnerability, conviction, and hope. Newton addressed the temptation many leaders face to strive for acceptance, reminding attendees that gospel-shaped ministry flows from resting in God’s approval rather than earning it.
“If you have the affirmation and the approval of a heavenly Father,” Newton said, “you move not from trying to find acceptance — you move from acceptance.” Using the imagery of oil filling empty vessels, Newton challenged leaders to examine what might be occupying their lives in ways that hinder the work of the Holy Spirit.
“When the oil of heaven flows, it fills,” he said, urging leaders to consider what may need to be emptied so God’s Spirit could restore and renew. Newton spoke directly to those who feel discouraged or depleted, calling for an outpouring of God’s presence in churches and communities.
The message culminated with Newton opening the stage as an altar, inviting leaders forward to pray. Many responded, creating a moment of corporate humility and dependence on the Lord. For those present, the response time served as a reminder that unseen obedience in seasons of difficulty can lead to lasting spiritual fruit.
The main sessions concluded Saturday morning with a message from Shane Pruitt, National Next Gen director for the North American Mission Board who reflected on lessons learned through 20 years of next-generation ministry: “Never get over the power of the gospel in your own life,” “Always focus on the depth of ministry,” “Don’t feel guilty about self-care,” “Good leaders need good friends,” “Sometimes, fruit surprises you,” “You can say ‘no’ and let people walk away,” and “Let the thornes lead you to the throne.”
Pruitt urged leaders not to move past the gospel in their own lives, reminding them, “You never mature beyond the gospel of Jesus Christ — you mature in the gospel.”
He emphasized hope and perseverance in disciple-making, particularly among students who may feel unreachable. “No teenager is too lost for Jesus to find, no teenager is too wounded to heal, too far gone to reach, too guilty to forgive, too sinful to save,” Pruitt said.
Addressing ministry fatigue and cultural pressure, Pruitt called leaders to steadfast faithfulness. “We cannot be bought, diluted, detoured or turned away,” he said. “We are called to declare the mighty acts of God to the next generation.” The message served as a fitting capstone, reinforcing Conclave’s emphasis on gospel clarity, endurance, and long-term spiritual health.
Building on the vision cast in the main sessions, Conclave’s breakout offerings focused on training leaders to navigate the practical realities of youth ministry today. Sessions were organized around four broad categories reflecting the most pressing needs facing churches and ministry leaders: youth culture and student engagement, leadership development, family and community discipleship, and practical tools for ministry implementation.
Breakouts focused on youth culture and student engagement explored how cultural shifts, technology, and social dynamics are shaping teenagers today. One such breakout led by Walt Mueller, founder and president of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding, was “Youth Culture 101.” According to Mueller, student pastors “are cross cultural missionaries.” Mueller emphasized the ever-changing landscape of culture, while also encouraging attendees that “a landscape of uncertainty is a landscape of opportunity for the Gospel.” Leaders were encouraged to listen well, engage thoughtfully, and create environments where students feel seen, known, and invited into meaningful discussions for discipleship.
Leadership development sessions addressed the personal formation of ministry leaders, emphasizing healthy rhythms, team-building and sustainable leadership practices. Dr. Tripp Atkinson, next gen pastor at Church at The Mill in Moore, SC, led a breakout titled “Sustainable Ministry Growth: 5 Systems That Will Take Your Ministry Further, Faster.” This breakout explored how to systematize processes in your ministry and offered invaluable strategies for organizational management and growth. The 5 systems were: “Safety Policies and Procedures,” “Adult Volunteer Enlistment and Onboarding,” “Leader Development,” “Comprehensive Discipleship Plan,” and “Strategic Planning.” These sessions resonated with leaders seeking longevity in ministry rather than short-term success. “If you want to be effective in ministry for the long haul in youth ministry, you have to think about systems.”
Family and community discipleship breakouts highlighted the importance of partnering with parents and integrating students into the broader life of the church. In “From Awkward to Awesome: Mastering Parent Connections”, Dr. Blake Lewis, middle school pastor at FBC Haughton, LA, discussed ways to onboard new parents, communicate, involve, and train them because “If the parents see value in it, they’re going to get their kid there.” Leaders discussed strategies for equipping families and fostering intergenerational relationships that support spiritual growth beyond weekly programming.
Sessions focused on practical tools and ministry implementation provided hands-on ideas for structuring programs, developing volunteers, and creating hospitable environments. For Rich Douglass, associate pastor of students and discipleship at First Baptist Church Centerville in Georgia, one breakout session stood out for its immediate application.
“My favorite breakout session was how to create an environment of hospitality in your youth ministry,” Douglass said. “It offered helpful, practical ideas on how to make our space more welcoming to students. We had even more great ideas by the end after people shared what they’ve done in their spaces.”
In addition to sessions focused on strategy and leadership development, Conclave also offered targeted breakouts designed to care for ministry families. One such session focused specifically on ministry wives, reinforcing the conference’s commitment to supporting not only those who lead, but also those who share in the relational and spiritual demands of ministry.
For volunteers, the accessibility of the training proved especially valuable. Cody Clark, a youth ministry volunteer at Carterville Baptist Church in Petal, Mississippi, attended Conclave with his wife and other leaders from his church and said the event provided meaningful training and resourcing for volunteers who may not have the same level of formal preparation as vocational pastors. Clark noted that Conclave also gave him greater clarity on how he can support his youth pastor in the discipleship of teenagers.
Together, the breakout sessions reflected Conclave’s commitment to equipping both staff and volunteers with practical tools they can apply in their local church contexts.
Conclave’s ability to remain accessible to a wide range of churches and leaders is made possible through strong partnerships with sponsoring organizations. Support from sponsors allows the conference to operate at an affordable cost for attendees, ensuring that both vocational pastors and volunteers can participate fully in the training, worship, and resourcing offered throughout the weekend.
At the highest sponsorship level, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary served as Conclave’s Platinum Sponsor. Premier Sponsors included Lifeway Student Ministry, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, YM360, the International Mission Board, The M516 Movement, and Send Relief. Together, these partnerships reflected a shared commitment to equipping and sustaining those who serve the next generation.
Beyond sponsorship, Conclave also created space for leaders to connect with partners and resources that support long-term ministry impact. The exhibition hall featured 96 booths, including seminaries, state convention teams, ministry and mission partners, camps, and curriculum providers. For many attendees, the exhibit hall served as a bridge between vision and practice, strengthening relationships and exploring collaborative pathways that extend beyond the conference.
While learning and resourcing shaped much of the Conclave experience, the impact of the weekend was most clearly seen in the relationships formed and renewed among those in attendance.
“Networking with so many other youth pastors at Conclave reminds you that you’re not alone in ministry,” Douglass said. “You may see old friends and even make new ones. Either way, you feel refreshed by the end from connecting with other youth workers.”
For volunteers like Clark, that sense of shared purpose extended beyond encouragement to a deeper understanding of how their role fits within the broader discipleship mission of the church.
As Conclave concluded, leaders prepared to return home carrying more than notes or resources. They left equipped with renewed vision, connected to partners and peers, and encouraged to continue investing faithfully in students, families, and volunteer teams.
Douglass said the intentional care shown to youth workers is what sets Conclave apart.
“What makes Conclave stand out is how intentionally it cares for youth workers,” he said. “Between connecting with others from across the state, engaging worship, helpful sessions, and practical resources from exhibitors, I left reminded that I’m not alone in this work — and better equipped to keep going.”
In a season when youth ministry leaders face increasing demands and complexity, Youth Ministry Conclave offered a reminder that effective discipleship is a shared effort — one sustained by clear vision, thoughtful training, and meaningful connection for the sake of the next generation.
All of the main sessions and breakouts can be found at https://ymconclave.org/resources/.
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