Heartland Churches Hold “Youth Pastor Visit Day”

Kandace Brands, a member of Inwood (Iowa) Christian Reformed Church, works with young people. More than that, Brands works with area CRC youth groups through Minn-I-Kota Youth Network. She was one of the cofounders of that group, which facilitates and supports local youth ministry.

On January 31 “Youth Pastor Visit Day” was held at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa. It was an opportunity for Brands and other area youth group leaders and pastors to listen to and learn from each other. Speakers at the event included Jason Lief, associate professor of theology at Dordt who teaches youth ministry courses; Luke Vander Leest, spiritual life director at Sioux Falls Christian School; and Hugh Halter, a church planter from Denver, Colo.

Brandon Huisman, organizer of the event and a member of Bridge of Hope CRC in Sioux Center, said, “Youth Pastor Visit Day was an opportunity for pastors, volunteers, and students to learn together, share ideas, and find ways to practically apply what they learn to their own ministries.”

The event was held the day before the Dordt Day of Encouragement for leaders in all types of church ministry. Brands said that the event allowed her to not only give support to other youth leaders, but also gain support and encouragement as well. “I came away from the day, as well as the Day of Encouragement, so refreshed and encouraged to continue in ministry,” she said. “Dordt did a fabulous job of recruiting speakers to fill the youth leaders with practical information that they will be able to take back to their own youth groups.”