As the seasons move from spring to summer, the rhythms that structure our days often shift too – and that includes our churches’ youth ministries. Whether your youth group just wrapped a confirmation class, finished a school year strong, or is heading into a quieter season — summer is a gift.
Eric Drew, EPA&GNJ Director of Young People’s Ministry offers some low-key tips on using this gift to dream about what fall can look like:
Here’s something I’ve learned from working with youth leaders across EPA&GNJ: the groups that have the best falls are the ones that do a little bit of planning in June and July — before anyone is busy again.
You don’t need a big retreat or a formal planning session. You just need a conversation. Gather your young people — even just a few of them — over pizza or a backyard cookout and ask: What did we love this past year? What do we wish we’d done? What do we want the fall to look like?
Young people have great ideas. And when they help shape the plan, they show up for it. That’s not just good youth ministry strategy — it’s theology. We believe young people are ministers now, not someday.
So this summer, I’m encouraging every youth leader and pastor across EPA&GNJ to carve out one conversation with young people about what the new program year could look like. You might be surprised what they come up with.
Don’t Plan the Fall Without Putting IGNITE on the Calendar
And while you’re at it — put IGNITE on the calendar first.
The theme for IGNITE this October is GLOW. There’s something powerful about gathering hundreds of young people together and watching the light come alive in them — through worship, community, prayer, and the simple reminder that God placed something brilliant inside each one of them. That’s what IGNITE does. That’s what GLOW is about.
IGNITE is high-energy, deeply meaningful, and one of the best ways to launch a new program year with momentum. Young people talk about it for months. And honestly? So do the youth leaders.
📅 IGNITE: Wildwood — October 9-11, 2026 | Wildwood, NJ
RSVP deadline: June 30. This is the early registration window — RSVP and register is a discount later! You’ll save 20% by RSVPing for free before the deadline.
Whether You Have 2 Students or 20, There’s a Place for You at IGNITE.
One of the things I love most about IGNITE is that it works for every size group. If you have a large youth group, it’s an incredible shared experience that deepens community. If you have a small group — or even just one or two students — this is your event too. Every young person deserves to GLOW.
In fact, I want to make this personal: if you’re a small church or a leader with just a handful of students, reach out to me. I can help connect you with another nearby congregation so you can travel together, share rooms, and experience IGNITE as part of a larger community. You don’t have to figure it out alone, and your students shouldn’t miss this.
Email me and let’s make it work.
A Simple Summer Planning Prompt
Not sure where to start? Here’s a simple idea: At your next gathering with youth — or even in a group chat — ask these three questions:
- What’s one thing you want to do together this fall?
- Who’s someone you want to invite into our group?
- Are you in for IGNITE?
That’s it. Start there. I’d love to hear what they say. Send me an email at edrew@epagnj.org and let me know!