Come to the 2023 Missouri District Youth Gathering!
Cross Pointe Retreat Center – Rocky Mount, Lake of the Ozarks | March 24-26, 2023 | Grades 6-12 | Joplin Youth Sign Up Now Through February 26
Live Love(d)
The weekend-long Youth Gathering Trip is open to all active students in grades 6-12 at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Martin Luther School in Joplin!
Join us as we gather our junior high and high school youth with other Lutheran congregations from around the state to worship and pray, celebrate and play — experiencing the living Word of God and the love of Christ together — March 24-26, 2023 at Cross Pointe Retreat Center in Rocky Mount, MO. Specific Interest Center presenters and other information will be available soon.
Accommodations
Cross Pointe Retreat Center features hotel-style lodging (most rooms feature 2 Queen beds to house up to 4 youth per room). NOTE: The hotel rooms are FULL! We will be staying in their bunk bed dorms this year. We’ll need to bring sleeping bags and pillows and towels too! During the District Youth Gathering we will make use of the large worship center for our general sessions, break-out rooms in several of the retreat center’s buildings, and large indoor recreation center. Age-specific programming for younger and older youth will also happen each day.
Those attending the MO District Gathering from Immanuel-Joplin will only pay $80 of the full registration cost. Our youth ministry will cover the rest… By the way, those helping to make and sell Super Subs on Super Bowl weekend will receive a discount. Other financial aid is also available. Just ask our youth minister, Jason Glaskey.
“This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world, that we might live through Him.”
-1 John 4:9
Main Presenters: “Flame” and Brandon Metcalf
Marcus Gray, known as FLAME, is a GRAMMY®- and Dove-nominated, Stellar Award-winning Christian rap artist. He’s also a graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, holding a Masters degree in systematic theology. His three recent EPs: Extra Nos (2020), Daybreak (2020), and Christ For You (2021) feature songs packed with the richness of Lutheran theology. You’ll hear FLAME speaking and performing music all weekend long at the Missouri District Youth Gathering. Connect with FLAME on Facebook (@Flame314) and Instagram (@Flame314).
Rev. Brandon Metcalf has been involved in youth ministry since 2013 and loves any chance to work with God’s people to help them hold onto the promises of God. A former Director of Christian Education in the Missouri District, Brandon recently completed his studies at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, now serving as a pastor in Illinois. He is a contributing author to “Connected for Life: Essential Guide to Youth Ministry” and “Word of Strength and Promise: Devotions for Youth” and has spoken at several district and national youth gatherings. He enjoys Frisbee, volleyball, and board games but his greatest joys come from being a husband and father.
Tentative Schedule
Friday, March 24
- 4:00 PM — Load cars in the Youth Parking Lot and leave for camp. (Send cash for supper along the way.)
- 6:00 PM — Registration/Fireside Hangout/Rec
- 8:30 PM — Welcome/Community Building/Leader Meeting
- 9:30 PM — Devotion/Band
- 10:30 PM — Church Group Devotions
- 11:30 PM — Lights Out/Quiet Time
Saturday, March 25
- 8:00 AM — Breakfast
- 8:45 AM — Band/Announcements
- 9:00 AM — Session 1
- 10:30 AM — Community Building/Breakout 1
- 11:00 AM — Rec
- 12:00 PM — Lunch 1
- 1:15 PM — Band/Announcements
- 1:30 PM — Service Project/Breakout 2
- 2:30 PM — Service Project/Talent Show Preview
- 3:00 AM — Rec/Talent Show Preview
- 4:30 PM — Rec/Talent Show Preview/SR High Leadership
- 5:30 PM — Dinner
- 7:00 PM — Session 2
- 8:00 PM — Talent Show
- 9:00 PM — Rec/Bonfire
- 10:30 PM — Church Group Devotions
- 11:30 PM — Lights Out/Quiet Time
Sunday, March 26
- 7:30 AM — Breakfast 1
8:30 AM — Pack & Clean
9:00 AM — Final Session & Worship
10:30 AM — Wrap Up & Photos
11:00 AM — Head for Home (Send cas for lunch along the way. - 3:00 PM or so — Arrive at the Immanuel Parking Lot. (Youth will call parents from the road with specific arrival time, so they can be waiting for our arrival.)