By the Rev. Ryder Mills, C4SO’s NextGen Coordinator
Over the weekend of September 19–21, 2025, 115 middle schoolers and adult leaders from four C4SO churches in the Midwest Deanery gathered for a retreat. Over three days, the group worshiped, prayed and built friendships through countless games of 9-Square, sand volleyball, and pickleball. For two of the churches, it was the first time their students had gone away together for an extended time—a wonderful launch as their youth communities take shape.
Throughout the weekend, each of the three youth directors taught on our theme: Three Streams—Word, Sacrament, Spirit. We closed our time on Sunday by celebrating communion together. The unifying thread of the retreat was God’s movement toward us—drawing us into His Story, sharing the life of Christ with us through baptism and Eucharist, and guiding us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
As I reflected on our time together, Paul’s words to the Colossians came to mind:
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:6–7 NIV)
Each student arrived at the retreat in a unique place in their life and faith. We had the full spectrum of belief represented, and it was deeply encouraging to see open, honest conversations about God from those diverse perspectives. Many students engaged with God and community in new ways. Some received prayer during our ministry time on Sunday morning, and several expressed interest in exploring baptism. It was also beautiful to watch students from different churches grow closer—those who arrived on Friday as strangers left on Sunday as friends.
(L-R) Nathan Pettit, Ribbin Dorado, Ryder Mills, Mollie Zehmer
This retreat would not have been possible without the leadership team of Ribbin Dorado, Nathan Pettit and Mollie Zehmer, whose experience and dedication made the weekend a gift to all who came. We’re also grateful for support from a Champion Grant through the Next Generation Leadership Initiative of the ACNA, which helps strengthen NextGen ministry across our diocese.
And this is just the beginning! Our hope is that this kind of collaborative ministry between C4SO student ministries will spread throughout the diocese in the coming years. If your church would like to be part of that in your deanery, let’s make it happen. Reach out—we’d love to talk.
Learn more about NextGen in C4SO.
Ryder Mills is C4SO’s NextGen Coordinator. He also serves as Director of Outreach at Christ Church Anglican in Kansas City.