Why I'm Excited for Energize
If you've been in youth ministry for any length of time, you know how it feels to leave a conference overflowing with ideas, inspiration, and information, until Monday hits.
The inbox fills up. The calendar crowds back in. Midweek needs a plan. Sunday needs a message. And the pages of notes you took with so much hope quietly sit on a shelf as you jump back into the youth ministry whirlwind.
I've been there.
And that's exactly why I'm so excited for the Energize Youth Ministry Conference, happening April 23-25 in Denver, Colorado.
Energize isn't just another youth ministry conference. It's intentionally designed to help you take what you learn and actually implement it in your ministry,resulting in a Gospel-Advancing movement led by you and your students.
At most conferences, we take in a lot of information. Energize sets you up to put it into action.
A Different Kind of Conference
He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. Acts 19:9b-10
Energize was born out of a growing desire we've heard from youth leaders who want something deeper. Many feel like something is missing in their ministries. They're not looking for just better games, slicker graphics, or new programming ideas, though those can be helpful.
What they really want is to lead a youth ministry where students come alive in their faith and are actively reaching their friends with the Gospel.
Energize is designed to help you build that kind of ministry. It's about shaping a culture where students aren't just showing up to observe, they're participating in the mission of Jesus by showing and sharing the Good News. A culture where disciple-making becomes the norm, not the exception.
It's about taking Gospel Advancing from idea to implementation.
Energize goes beyond inspiration. It equips you with a step-by-step action plan to build a Gospel-sharing, disciple-making culture. Not theory. Not hype. Real tools you can use at your very next youth night.
More Than a Conference: A Reunion for Youth Leaders
I thank my God every time I remember you... because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now. Philippians 1:3-5
If you've ever been to a Dare 2 Share event, you already know, it feels like family. Energize takes that experience to another level.
This will be a gathering of like-minded youth leaders who share a passion to see every teen, everywhere, hear the Gospel from a friend.
There's something powerful about being in a room full of people who share your calling. You'll swap stories, exchange ideas, and strengthen one another's faith. You'll connect with leaders who understand what it's like to pour into students week after week, often without much recognition, and still believe deeply in the power of the Gospel and the potential of teenagers.
If you've been feeling weary, this is a place to be refreshed. If you've been questioning whether your ministry is really making a difference, this is where you'll be reminded that you're not alone, and that what you're doing truly matters.
Rediscover Your "Why" (and Your Strength)
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength... Isaiah 40:31
We've all faced seasons of exhaustion in ministry. Long nights. Constant demands. The feeling of giving everything while not seeing the fruit you hoped for.
Energize was created for moments like that. It isn't just a breath of fresh air, it's oxygen for your soul. You'll rediscover the "why" that first called you into ministry and watch God rekindle your passion for the Gospel.
This isn't about adding more to your plate. It's about rediscovering the simplicity and power of the Gospel and learning how to build your ministry around it.
You'll hear stories from youth leaders who've experienced breakthrough, not because they found the perfect program, but because they embraced a Gospel-Advancing philosophy that reshaped how they disciple students and measure success.
Not a Moment but A Movement That Lasts
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine... Ephesians 3:20-21
Energize isn't about chasing emotional highs. It's about laying a foundation for lasting impact.
You'll gain practical tools and guidance from leaders who've walked the same road you're on. You'll learn how to develop a Gospel-Advancing strategy that fits your unique context, whether you lead 10 students or 200, in a small town or a big city.
Most importantly, you'll join a growing community of leaders united around one mission: to mobilize students to share their faith and make disciples who make disciples.
Imagine the ripple effect if thousands of youth ministries embraced that same heartbeat. Imagine the impact if you and other youth leaders in your city came together and formed a Gospel-Advancing network focused on reaching every last teen.
Energize is about sparking something that lasts far beyond three days. It's about a movement spreading through youth ministries to every corner of the globe.
Why I Can't Wait
Personally, I can't wait for Energize because I've seen what happens when youth leaders catch a fresh vision for what's possible. I'm not sharing theory, I'm sharing experience.
That's exactly what happened to me 20 years ago when I attended a national youth conference and first connected with Dare 2 Share Ministries. It radically transformed my youth ministry. I watched what happens when leaders shift from entertaining students to mobilizing students as missionaries.
My prayer is that you experience your youth ministry becoming the Gospel-proclaiming, disciple-making powerhouse God is calling you to lead.
We're not gathering just to fill notebooks. We're gathering to fuel a Gospel movement.
Get Ready to Energize!
If you've been praying for renewal, longing for community, or looking for a clear way forward, Energize was created with you in mind.
Come ready to laugh, learn, and leave with a renewed fire to lead a Gospel-Advancing youth ministry.
Let's move from information to implementation. From burnout to breakthrough. From "just another weekly gathering" to a generation unleashed for the Gospel.
I can't wait to see you there!
Energize Youth Ministry Conference 2026
April 23-25, 2026 | Denver, Colorado
Details and registration at dare2share.org/energize
Special Network Rate: $199 (regularly $299)
Use promo code: EYMCPARTNER
Explore this and other collaborative youth ministry conferences at nnym.org/conferences.
