“Sinner & Saint” was the theme for the second annual OC YOUTHX. More than 175 junior high school students and leaders gathered Saturday, April 13, on the campus of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Orange. That represents a 50% year-over-year increase in the number of participants and congregations from Orange, Los Angeles, and San Diego counties. Most of Concordia University Irvine’s DCE Program students were also there to volunteer to a variety of ways as students connected, learned, and had fun together.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son served as the Scriptural basis for teaching about the realities of living as sinner and saint, and the significance of God’s kingdom over and against the other “kingdoms" in which we live. Rev. Jim Henkell, Ministry Executive for the Pacific Southwest District, and Arleah Lorenz, Associate Director of Student Ministry at Salem Lutheran in Tomball, TX, served as the main speakers and powerfully shared how Jesus washes away our sinner identities in the waters of baptism and calls us saints. Large group gatherings included worship music led by a talented team, including Adam Dougherty, DCE at Salem, Orange, CA, and OC YOUTHX lead planner, Ariel McMahon from musical artists Tribe and Tongue, and Stephan Nosrat from the host church.
Students spent much of the afternoon in breakout sessions, including "Big Sinners in the Old Testament” (Sarah Salzberg, Teacher at Orange Lutheran High School), "Your Identity as Sinner & Saint” (Vicar Ryan Fink, Teacher at Crean Lutheran High School), "Dealing with Anxiety" (Ellie Beavis, Counselor at Crean Lutheran High School), and "Being a Christian Athlete" (Kessler O’Brien, DCE at St. Paul’s, Orange). Attendees also served others by packing care bags for OC Family Promise and writing notes of encouragement to shut-ins at participant churches. The youth and adults also enjoyed games, activities, and meals thanks to volunteers and the team from St. John’s, led by their Director of Family Ministry, Jim Meyer.
This impactful one-day event enabled students to experience the meaning of its theme verse Colossians 1:13: “He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.” Learn more about the conference at youthxoc.com and on its Instagram page. OC YOUTHX 2025 is scheduled for Saturday, March 29, on the campus of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Orange, CA.
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