YouthLead
Youth Ministry • The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Teens leading teens
For 40 years, YouthLead (formerly Lutheran Youth Fellowship) has equipped teens to develop and use their leadership skills as they serve Christ within their congregations and communities. We offer resources and training to equip teens to lead and mentor each other.
Our annual leadership training event is facilitated by the teen YL Leadership Team. The event makes use of leadership resources developed to give teens the tools they need to mature in their faith, become leaders in their congregations, and reach out to their peers with the love of Christ.
YouthLead is now looking to the future with the development of additional resources aligned with the 7 Practices for Healthy Youth Ministry. This will include resources for adults who mentor and champion young leaders, potential regional conferences and connections to other programs like LCMS Servant Events and the LCMS Youth Gathering.
Join the YouthLead group on Facebook
YouthLead Training
We host an annual training every March. Our next training event is scheduled for March 16-19, 2023, at the Pallottine Renewal Center in St. Louis.
This annual training event is led by our teen Executive Team. The event gives teens the tools they need to mature in their faith, become leaders in their congregations, and reach out to their peers with the love of Christ. We invite any high school youth who is an active member of an LCMS church to join us.
Our March 2023 YouthLead training is currently full
You are welcome to join our waitlist and we will add participants as we can. (You will not be charged if you join the waitlist.)
We are working on opening a second event this July. If you want the most up to date information, join the March event waitlist, connect on our social media, or email Julianna at julianna.shults@lcms.org to let us know you are interested in the summer training.
Register online for 2023 YouthLead Training
Leadership Team: 2022-25

Leadership Team members for YouthLead were elected by their peers during the 2022 Teen Leadership Training.
- Adam Beadle — Chandler, Ariz.
- Abbie Kollbaum — Madison, Neb.
- Reagan Martens — Kansas City, Mo.
- Annaka Zaiser — Holly, Mich.
- Ava Dradzynski — Prattville, Ala.
- Austin Barber — Worthington, Minn.