Breakout sessions will be offered on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and there are many to choose from! They will all be located in the Bricker Academic Building.
There is a specific track of sessions for youth leaders, which is open to adult leaders only.
There is also a track of sessions for young adults who are around grade 12 and in their 20s.
All the other sessions are open to anyone at the gathering, but are specifically planned for the youth!
Breakout session 1: Saturday at 1:30pm
Youth Leaders:
| Room | Presenter | Topic | Description | Presenter Bio |
| BA-101 | Cassie Moore | Beyond Screens & Memes: Understanding How to Engage the Next Generations |
Our world is changing rapidly, and it deeply affects our ministries and engagement with young people. Today’s younger generations think, communicate, and engage with faith differently. How can we focus on what truly matters, in a world of chaos and constant change? This dynamic session will dive deep into the unique traits of Generation Z and Generation Alpha—unpacking their values, challenges, and the cultural shifts shaping them. Together, we’ll explore how to bridge the gaps, build authentic relationships, and communicate timeless truths in ways that truly resonate. You’ll depart with practical strategies, encouraged souls, and a renewed passion for guiding the next generation in faith and life. |
Cassie is an author, speaker, and leadership consultant with 15 years of experience in ministry to young people. She is the author of Faith Notes: A Christ-Centered Survival Kit for Young Women, Authentic Youth Ministry: Straight Talk about Working with Kids, Teens & In-Betweens, The Gallivanter Saga adventure series, and a contributing author for Connected for Life: Essential Guide to Youth Ministry and Words of Peace and Protection: Devotions for Women. She’s also the creator of the webinar series, From A to (Gen) Z: The Church and the Digital Generation with Concordia Publishing House. She has published over 80 articles on youth and culture in addition to freelance curriculum writing. She grew up in Illinois & Minnesota, earned her master’s degree in organizational leadership from the Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine, has worked on national & district youth gatherings, and enjoys speaking internationally. Moore currently consults and contracts out for non-profits, churches, schools, and local government organizations regarding youth engagement, understanding Gen Z and Gen Alpha, leadership, strategic planning, and mental health advocacy. She has a certificate in Franklin Covey’s The 4 Disciplines of Execution® and is a QPR Gatekeeper Trainer in suicide prevention, and serves on the board for a multi-site counseling center. She loves travel, hiking, & talking to strangers. She and her husband, Pastor Tyler, live in Hood River, Oregon and have two dogs. Connect with her at cassieahmoore.com. |
Young Adults:
| Room | Presenter | Topic | Description | Presenter Bio |
| BA-102 | Lisa Jackson | Faithful & Fearless: Stewardship for Everyday Life: Discover how to use your God-given gifts with confidence and purpose | Stewardship isn’t just about giving money—it’s about living faithfully with all that God has entrusted to you. In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore how young adults can boldly use their time, talents, and resources to serve God and others. Whether in your career, relationships, or community, discover how to be faithful and fearless in everyday stewardship. |
Lisa is passionate about equipping and empowering youth and young adults to serve in the Church. As the Managing Director of Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada / Lutheran Hour Ministries Canada, she helps create resources and opportunities that support faith-sharing across generations. Before joining LLL Canada, Lisa spent nearly 20 years in leadership roles at Manulife and Sunlife Financial, where she had the opportunity to work in the Philippines. She also spent a year living in Japan during high school, sparking a lifelong appreciation for different cultures and global ministry. Lisa holds a Master’s in Leadership Studies from the University of Guelph and a Business Marketing diploma from Conestoga College. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Theology at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines. Outside of ministry, Lisa is an Olympic weightlifting enthusiast and believes in the value of strength—both physically and spiritually. She also serves as the Coordinator of Team Zion, a long-term LCC mission team that partners with pastors and deaconesses in Nicaragua for Vacation Bible School and community projects. Lisa is married to Andrew and has two adult sons. |
Youth:
| Room | Presenter | Topic | Description | Presenter Bio |
| BA-110 | Rev. Michael Schutz | Scrolling Away | It’s easy to get immersed into the world around us without thinking too much about it. And that’s especially true in our culture that’s full of all kinds of different technology. But how should we think about the technology we use every day? And even more importantly, how should we think about it as Christians? What does God say about it? How are screens and other devices helpful or harmful to the Christian faith and life? Come and join in a guided discussion about these questions and more. | Pastor Michael is a child of God, husband, and father of four. He serves as Lead Pastor at Concordia Lutheran Church in Penticton, BC and as Vice-President of LCC. He has also served in LCC and LCMS as a Deacon (DPS). He grew up with VCRs, cassette tapes, and rotary phones, and so he has seen an immense amount of change in the technology we use every day. He tries to help the church be wise as we use tech tools to serve the work of God’s kingdom. Pastor Michael is a musician and sports fan (go Riders!), and enjoys family camping trips and hanging out in the sunny Okanagan of BC. |
| BA-111 | Dcn. Amanda Hastings & Rev. Glenn Worcester | Armour Up! Sex and Dating | What is it like to date in the world that you live in today? What are relationships supposed to look like? Where do we learn about healthy relationships? What are the temptations that come your way? And when they come, how do you protect yourself, guard yourself against sin? There’s this old schoolyard rhyme that goes, “(Name) & (Name) sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G, first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage.” However, when it comes to relationships, the world we live in doesn’t always follow that order: dating, love, marriage, sex, children. And the world we live in doesn’t necessarily teach that order either. As we explore relationships, we will cover God’s plan and order for sex & dating as found in His Word; how they relate to our personal experiences; where God’s forgiveness fits in to all of it; and how we can live out God-pleasing relationships protecting ourselves and the person we are with. The second session will split the ladies (led by Deacon Amanda Hastings) and the guys (led by Pastor Glenn Worcester) into separate groups to allow for personal discussion and specific questions in connection with the first session. |
Deacon Amanda hails from Lethbridge, Alberta, where she first met Pastor Glenn while he was serving as the vicar in her home congregation. Amanda took a 3-year tour of Western Canada from 2007-2010, spending 2 years completing her Director of Parish Services certificate in Edmonton and a year-long internship in Campbell River, BC. She now lives in Regina with her husband Donivan and two children, Riley and Jeremiah. She has served as the Director of Parish Services (Deacon) at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Regina since 2010. Amanda loves Jesus, coffee, the colour purple and owls. She is also an NYG afficionado who has served on many planning committees, and as MC during the 2016 “Living H20” NYG. She loves to celebrate her birthday at the NYG, starting back at age 16 when she attended her first NYG. Fun fact: Amanda and Pastor Glenn’s son, Micah, share a birthday AND Amanda got to share the news to the whole gathering from on stage that Micah had been born way back in 2016. Pastor Glenn is originally from Detroit, Michigan. He attended Concordia University in Ann Arbor; Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne; did his Vicarage at Immanuel Lutheran in Lethbridge; and served as a pastor in Michigan until coming to Peace Lutheran Church in Winnipeg in 2012. Pastor Glenn was the main speaker at the 2019 “Worthless” NYG, and enjoys talking about Jesus, playing board games and sports, music, spending time with his family, and the color pink. Pastor Glenn met his wife Andrea at the 2007 “I Am” NYG in Ottawa. They have three lovely children: Micah (born on the first day of the 2016 NYG, and will celebrate on the last day of this NYG), Ivy, and Jonah. |
| BA-201 | Jennifer Kerr | Mental Health From a Faith Perspective | Mental health is a big topic of discussion in the world we live in. As human beings created in the image of God, our mental, emotional, and relational health is important to nurture and care for. However, some of the guidance from the world around us doesn’t always align with our Christian faith. In this breakout session, co-main speaker Jennifer Kerr, a trained marriage and family therapist, will share about how we can think about mental health in a way that makes sense in our faith context. There will also be time for questions and discussion. If you want to care for your own mental, emotional and relational health and be a supportive encourager to those around you as they care for theirs, consider attending this breakout session. | Jennifer Kerr is a mental and relational health counsellor from Regina. She has a husband named Rocky, a cat named Kirby, and a guitar named Bennett. Throughout her time working with kids, youth, and young adults in many different organizations, Jennifer knew she wanted to grow in her abilities to serve young people and families. That led her to complete her Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy and become a professional counsellor. Jennifer has been part of many LC-C youth gatherings as a musician, and spoke at Impact 2023 on mental health from a faith perspective, but this is her first time as a co-main speaker. Find Jennifer online at www.throughtherapy.ca. |
| BA-202 | Rev. Dr. Thomas Winger | Shielded by Your Baptism in a Dangerous World | The Ephesian Christians lived in a world of fear and danger. The “gods” had to be paid off with sacrifices or they would punish you. Paul wrote that Baptism into Christ gave them a Champion who was far greater than these so-called gods. You, too, don’t need to fear the spiritual dangers of this world when you are shielded by Christ. This gives you the courage to live in the world and confess Christ while He defends you and fights for you. Learn from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians how your world and his aren’t so far apart. | Rev. Winger is President and Professor at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS), St. Catharines. He studied at Concordia College, Ann Arbor, MI (BA, 1985); Westfield House, Cambridge, England (1986); CLTS (MDiv, 1990); and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (STM, 1992; ThD, 1997). He is the author of the Concordia Commentary on Ephesians (2015), Lutheranism 101: Worship (2017), and a contributor to The Lutheran Study Bible (2009) and Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Services (2022). He was pastor of Grace Ev. Lutheran Church, St. Catharines, a German-English congregation (1993–99). He then served for seven years as tutor at Westfield House, Cambridge, the theological training house of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England (ELCE). In 2006 he returned to Canada as a professor at CLTS, and has served as its president since 2012. Born in Coventry, England, into an ELCE parsonage, he followed his father Roger from church to church in England and Canada, before following him into the ministry. He is married to Sara and has two children, Anne and Benjamin. |
| BA-208 | Tara Hart and Ashton Hart | Songwriting for Worship – part 1 | Together we will compose a worship song during this two-session workshop that we will then perform and teach to everyone at the Gathering. We will explore key components of writing music that is appropriate for Divine service, and apply it to our ideas. Musical proficiency will be helpful, but not necessary. Come make a joyful noise to the Lord! | This workshop will be led by Canadian singer/songwriter Tara Lyn Hart and her son Ashton Hart, who is a composer for visual media, film and video games. Between them they have a vast amount of experience writing a variety of music genres, including Christian and Worship music. |
| BA-209 | Rev. Roland Syens | Where in the WORLD are we? How can you make a difference in your sphere of influence to bring change in the world? | God has made you His through Jesus death and resurrection. He has forgiven your sins and lives in you. As a follower of Jesus nothing is impossible for God. As His child He invites you to bring change in the world. Come and learn how you make a difference? | Rev. Syens served Lutheran Church Canada as Pastor/Missionary for over 30 years, and served as missionary to Ukraine from 1993 -2005. He felt God’s call to be a missionary when he was 7 years old and has always known that the LORD has been with him. There were times when he doubted God and times when he walked away, but He has always kept him in the palm of His hand and in the grip of His grace. He has carried Rev. Syens through many times when danger was all around and He continues to pour His grace and mercy on him through Jesus. He has privileged Rev. Syens to share His Word in Ukraine, Russia, Kenya, Tanzania, Nicaragua, Canada, Germany, Israel and where ever! Rev. Syens has seen His power at work to bring saving faith, to cast out demons, as the saving message of Jesus saves lives. He is alive and He changes people. |
| BA-210 | Samantha Neeb | Masks of God: God at Work in the Ordinary | Have you ever wondered “how is God using me?” The answer to that is through your vocation. God is at work through you, in your everyday, ordinary life. Come learn about how you are a mask of God. |
Samantha Neeb is a recent graduate of the Director of Parish Services program at Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton. In August, she will be starting as the Associate Director – Family Ministries for Lutheran Church-Canada. Samantha grew up near New Hamburg, Ontario, but has spent the last five years living in the west, Vancouver, Edmonton and Central Alberta. She’s excited to be at the National Youth Gathering, it’ll be her seventh one, and if you need someone to go for ice cream with, she’ll volunteer! |
| BA-211 | Prayer Walk |