Youth Ministry

The Rev. Dave Delaney

Director for Youth & Young Adult Ministry
delaney@vasynod.org
(c) 540-529-6893
P.O. Box 70
Salem, VA 24153

In the Virginia Synod, ministry with youth and young adults has been a high priority for generations and continues to be so during this post-pandemic time when we are working to re-engage youth and congregations. We seek to build Christian community among youth of the Synod, provide opportunities for faith-sharing and faith-nurturing relationships between adults and youth, strengthen congregations in their faith formation ministries with young people, call our youth to be leaders and strong disciples in God’s work of bringing salvation and reconciliation to the world, and encourage all young people so discern their calling in God’s glorious realm. This is our mission.

We are grateful for all of our leaders who continue to encourage young people whose lives were dramatically disrupted during the COVID pandemic and the shutdowns it caused. Participant safety continues to be an important component of all our events and ministries.

Five Petal Friday (a.k.a. 5PF) is the biweekly newsletter from the Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministries in the Virginia Synod. This newsletter serves as a way for our office to distribute materials, information, and announcements as well as keep in touch with youth, young adults, and leaders across the Synod throughout the year. If you’d like to learn more about 5PF, click here.

Subscribe to 5PF!

2024-2025 Synodical Youth Events Schedule:

Click here to download a PDF of the 2024-2025 VA Synod Youth Events Poster

Kairos 2024 registration is still open through the end of May! Don’t miss your chance to attend this awesome event; register today! Event information and registration materials are available at this link.

Kairos, our weeklong faith sharing event for rising 9th-12th graders, is scheduled for June 23-28, 2024 at Roanoke College (Sunday evening to Friday noon).

LAUNCH (on-site at Roanoke College)

Launch is an event for just-graduated high school seniors where we take stock of where we have come in life and faith to this point and think ahead to the life, faith, and vocational choices facing us in the next few years!

LAUNCH 2024 has been canceled. Thank you to those who showed interest!

Details for LAUNCH 2025 are TBA.

At the Water’s Edge is a week-long servant event for Youth who have just completed the 6th, 7th, or 8th grade, and their adult advisors. We spend the week together experiencing the Christian life through worship, fellowship, fun and service. And of course, being near the beach, we also spend some time at the water’s edge. Thanks to all who made our July, 2023 event such a joyful time together!

This event is not taking place in 2024.

Lost and Found is back Nov. 22-24, 2024 (Friday evening to Sunday noon) at Eagle Eyrie Conference Center in Lynchburg. Information and registration instructions will be available starting in August, 2024. Additional questions about this year’s event can be directed to Pastor Dave Delaney (delaney@vasynod.org).

In 2025, Winter Celebration will be Jan. 24-26 (Friday evening to Sunday noon, as always) at Eagle Eyrie Conference Center in Lynchburg.

This overnight event is for 9th through 12th graders and their adult advisors to spend intentional time in community with God and each other.

Our 5th and 6th graders had a great time at the 2024 Seventh Day gathering (Mar. 2-3)! A big thank you to the attendees and the leaders who helped fill this event with fun, faith, and learning. The next Seventh Day will be held March 1-2, 2025, once again at Eagle Eyrie Conference Center in Lynchburg.

Bishop’s Day is an opportunity for youth in grades 7-12 and their pastors or youth leaders to explore vocational choices in the church and life with Bishop Phyllis Milton, Youth Director Pastor Dave Delaney and members of the Synod Staff.

Details for this event in 2025 are TBA.

Virginia Synod Youth Assembly for 2024 (originally scheduled on May 25, 2024) has been cancelled. For more information, please reach out to Pastor Dave Delaney (cell: 540-529-6893 / delaney@vasynod.org).

The Virginia Synod Youth Assembly is the annual meeting of the Virginia Synod Lutheran Youth Organization, to which all Lutheran Youth in grades 7-12 in the Virginia Synod automatically belong. The Youth Assembly generally meets at the same time as the Synod Main Assembly on the Roanoke College Campus.

The 2025 Virginia Synod Youth Assembly will take place June 13-15.

Join Pastor Dave in Lynchburg, Virginia as he takes you on a tour of Eagle Eyrie Conference Center, the location of several Virginia Synod Youth Events.

Event Payment for Congregational Groups

Youth Event Leaders Information and Background Check