YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS

NYC 2026: The Church of the Brethren National Youth Conference 2026 will take place July 18-23, 2026, at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. The theme for NYC 2026 is “Light Within Us,” based on Matthew 5:14-16. Youth who have finished 9th grade through their first year of college (or age equivalent) are invited to attend with adult advisors. This will be a week full of fellowship, worship, service projects, recreation, and so much more! Registration opened Jan. 5; visit www.brethren.org/nyc for more information. The cost of NYC is $625 for early bird registration, $650 for regular registration, and $675 for late registration. For any questions, reach out to Rachel Johnson (rjohnson@brethren.org). Harold Rose (Canton) attended the NYC preview event in Colorado this past fall if you have questions about the site (read more at NYC 2026 Advisor Preview: A time for connection, growth, and planning – News), and Christy Waltersdorff (York Center) coordinated NYC at Estes Park back in the 1980’s! 

In addition, NYC youth participants are invited to create and send in various worship elements built around the NYC theme. The plan is to use these worship elements as part of the worship services during NYC, which gives youth the opportunity to help shape what worship looks like. Find the submission form at https://forms.gle/UP9Y5et17G1FANdz5. Contact Rachel Johnson at rjohnson@brethren.org with questions. 

*Currently, five congregations (Canton, Highland Avenue, Naperville, Neighborhood, and Springfield First) have reported that they expect to have youth and advisors attending this year’s NYC. If you have members planning to attend and have not yet informed the district office, please do so as soon as possible. We will not have enough participants to do a bus, so congregations are working on more local transportation options, likely flying to Colorado. 

FaithX: FaithX will offer seven short-term service trips in 2026, along with the option for custom-designed trips for families, congregations, or districts. To prioritize senior high participation in National Youth Conference (NYC) this coming July, the program will offer fewer youth trips. Four trips will be available for junior and senior high youth (Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania), an older adult trip to Camp Ithiel in Florida will take place in February, an adult international trip to Northern Ireland will be offered in June, and the We Are Able trip will be offered in Michigan in July. Additional information, trip descriptions, and registration links can be found at www.brethren.org/faithx. Registration is now open for the older adult trip, and registration for summer trips will open on Jan. 14 at 6 p.m. Central Time.