Love of Children Imagine Lab: Children and youth leaders gather to build connection, innovation in ministry

Love of Children is more than a team name at the United Church of Christ National Setting.

Over the course of several days at the National Setting’s office in Cleveland, Ohio, a group of those involved in children’s and youth ministry in local congregations gathered for a time of study, reflection, leadership development, worship, and support for a conference called “Reset for Renewal: Imagine Labs.”

Lead by the Rev. Trayce Potter, UCC minister of youth and young adult engagement, and the Rev. Tyler Ung, assistant project administrator for Love of Children, there was a diverse group of presenters, theologians, authors, and local church practitioners offering insight and leading spirited workshops that provided extra tools for leading ministries in the twenty-first century. 

Focus and frame the work

In 2023, the Faith Education, Innovation, Formation (FaithINFO) team received a grant of $1.25 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support faith-based organizations as they help children grow in faith and deepen their relationships with God. This conference was put together to help focus this work.

The conference kicked off when a group of more than a dozen people who traveled from across the country gathered in person, along with folks from all over who joined virtually on Zoom and were welcomed by Potter and Ung. A prayer and song worship was lead by Tracy Howe, Faith INFO team leader.

First order of the day was to frame the mission. Mark DeVries and Aqueelah Ligonde of Ministry Incubators, set the expectations.

“We help early stage entrepreneurs like you clarify and launch their new ventures,” DeVries explained to the group. “Who are you trying to reach? The church often needs help to bring inspiration to reality.”

Responding to ministry needs

One of those who traveled to the event was Rev. Kirstin Shrom-Rhoads, associated pastor of Evangelical Reformed UCC in Frederick, Maryland. She said she attended to find that inspiration.

“We have an active youth ministry,” she shared. “I want to make that more meaningful so that it can be lived out in daily life. We want children to feel part of worship, to see a stronger image of who God is.”

Shrom-Rhoads hopes to take the ideas she gathered at the conference and take them back to her congregation.

Jane Dubray of Emmanuel Congregational UCC in Massena, New York, had a particular reason for attending.

“We are struggling to keep our teenagers,” she explained. “They grow up in the church, but often in later years their parents divorce, and mom and dad take them to different churches. I’m particularly worried about our LGBTQ+ teens. We have several who are being taken to other churches that are not welcoming in the wake of divorce.”

Hopes for walking beside young people

The group eventually split up into the virtual attendees group, and those who were gathered in person.

Potter lead the online meeting and said, “Our virtual attendees were challenged to name their hopes and dreams for not only children’s and youth ministry, but also practical ways the National Setting and Faith INFO can be partners in the journey of faith formation with them.”

She continued, “It was interesting to hear and challenge the assumptions of what local congregations need in order to faithfully walk alongside young people. They have given some clear mandates and direction on what is truly needed. I’m hopeful that together, the Church will be able to meet most, if not all of their needs.”

Ung felt the gathering was a success. “I am inspired by the work that is already happening in our congregations across the country, and I have been swept up in the dreams of how we might improve upon our ministry with children.”

They have hopes that the work will continue to bear fruit.

“However, as I reflect on our time together at the first Love of Children Imagine Lab,” Ung shared, “what is most profoundly staying with me is the hunger for closer connection among our children’s ministers and leaders. As we move forward with this project, I want to make sure that we help to create a strong network for these incredible colleagues to share their gifts, resources, and support because that will be a cornerstone of innovative, sustainable ministry for all of our families.”

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