What is Concordia Youth Ministry?

Concordia Youth Ministry (CYM) is one of many clubs and extracurriculars on campus that can help students to grow their skills and knowledge outside of the classroom. CYM serves youth in church and local communities throughout the academic year by traveling to hold weekend youth events for middle and high schoolers. Holding Christ-centered events for youth helps to develop the faith of both the youth that CYM serves and the club’s members.  

Concordia junior and future DCE Rileigh Watts is one of the club’s leaders. She says that CYM does not have a designated president or vice president; instead, four leaders, including Watts, serve as a team.  

“When I was a freshman and I joined this club, I was very apprehensive about my ability to work with youth and lead in general,” she said. “But just over that first year, I grew so much in my leadership abilities.”  

Watts emphasized that CYM is open to all students interested in helping out with youth ministry; it is not just limited to future professional church workers. She said that students in majors from education to math and science are represented in the club.  

We are all called to share the Gospel, even if our major is not church work.

“We are all called to share the Gospel, even if our major is not church work,” she said. “CYM gives students the chance to get outside their comfort zone and do something that they may have never done before...CYM is overall just such a great opportunity to serve God outside our immediate context.” 

CYM works throughout the academic year to fulfill two missions: reaching out to local youth through fun- and Gospel-filled activity nights and offering college students a place to grow their leadership skills. 

“We reach out to congregations in the Nebraska and Kansas area to go to their church and run a youth night,” said Watts. “A youth night is a night where we play games, eat some food and have a devotion...[and] something new that we have been a part of for the last couple of years is going to and helping with the Nebraska District and Iowa District West youth gatherings.” 

The devotions at each youth event are student-led and student-written, usually by CYM’s leaders at the beginning of the academic year. According to Watts, the topics and verses chosen are ones that CYM thinks are appropriate and relevant for middle- and high-school-age students.  

At weekly CYM meetings, the club takes part in games that they might use at these youth nights. They also lead their own devotions and take time to debrief past youth nights and plan for upcoming events.  

“As leaders in our schools and churches, we need to spend time in the Word of God,” Watts said.  

The second part of CYM’s mission is to develop in its members a strong foundation of leadership skills. Participants have the opportunity not only to take on leadership roles at youth nights, but also to lead the club in other ways.  

“At the youth nights, students lead everything from games to the devotion. It is also a way for students to get experience working with kids...CYM offers a unique opportunity to lead youth and help them grow in their faith, even if it is just for one night,” Watts said. “It pushes us outside our comfort zone and to become the leaders God created us to be.”  

Clubs and intramurals at Concordia University, Nebraska provide a place for students to pursue their interests and passions outside of the classroom. With over 35 different on- and off-campus organizations available, there are options for any student. Learn more about clubs and intramurals here.