Conclave conference draws nearly 800 participants to Chattanooga

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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Nearly 800 youth ministers and spouses from 21 different states attended this year’s three-day Conclave conference in Chattanooga last month.

Chris Trent, NextGen catalyst for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, says the event is a collaboration between eight state Baptist conventions that, “connects, encourages, and trains student ministry leaders from across the country.”

He adds, “Each year we work in cooperation to provide a training event for youth pastors, youth leaders, and volunteers. Corporate worship, breakout sessions, and networking are designed to create a training conference to equip and rejuvenate your youth ministry team.”

Jonathan Lodge, student pastor at Ivy Creek Baptist Church in Buford, Ga., has attended several Conclaves and looks forward to it every year. He encourages youth pastors to attend, and to bring their wives. “There are special sessions designed for the ministry wives to attend, focused on their needs and roles.”

For Lodge, another huge draw is the networking opportunities, and the time spent with fellow youth ministers at meals and during breakouts. “They understand what you are going through,” he explains. “And you are able to bounce ideas off each other, some more experienced and some less, to get their feedback and suggestions.”

This year, he said, the conference also made counseling available for those ministers who may be struggling. “It shows they care about the youth ministers,” he says.

In addition to the main sessions, the conference offered a plethora of breakout sessions geared specifically towards the needs and challenges of youth ministers. Topics included the use of AI in ministry, designing a ministry’s physical space, creating a NextGen missional pipeline, creating a bridge to your local public high school, and many more.

As a free resource, Conclave makes all the breakouts and main stage talks available at https://ymconclave.org/resources/, dating back to the 2021 conference. The 2026 event will take place on Jan. 29-31, and registration opens on March 3.