Report from Min. Angela at Progressive Youth Ministry Conference

In November of 2025, I was blessed to be able to go to a Progressive Youth Ministry Conference in Austin Texas.

At first, I wasn’t so sure I wanted to go, and not due to the conference itself, but because traveling causes me anxiety and this would be my first flight in almost 9 years. But I knew it would be a great opportunity for me personally to push out of some boundaries, but also because I was so intrigued to learn from others and see what I can bring back and incorporate within our church family.

The Conference took place at University United Methodist Church and Austin Seminary. There were three worship services each day and then breakout sessions intertwined. I loved how many options there were for Breakout Sessions. There were several fantastic speakers leading worship as well which made it fun to switch up between each service. But what did I learn? What am I looking forward to potentially adding in at Calvary? Keep reading! Here are a few summaries of three Breakout Sessions I attended.

Breakout Session #1: Children led Children’s Sermons
This session was led by Carolyn B. Helsel, and Amanda Herridge

During this session we discussed Children taking more of a leadership role by actually giving the Children’s Sermon. Finding students that are comfortable public speaking, or maybe would like the challenge. The most exciting piece is that they can create a sermon that other children will relate to, but also that allows them to lead in their own creative way. We discussed using scripts, possibly involving parents or congregants to play a certain role in telling the story, maybe it is using drawn pictures or small items from home. It could also include music. Possibilities are endless.

I thought, how did I not think of doing this at Calvary. It seems so obvious. Of course children could lead, but also Youth as well. We need to see the children more in worship, but also how incredible would it be to have them lead our scripture in a form all their own.

Breakout Session #2: Ignite Us: Equipping Youth and Adults for Faithful Discipleship
Led by Rev. Shannon Lemaster-Smith
This Breakout Session had a similar approach for the leadership of Youth Ministry. Allowing Youth to lead and plan events. The speaker talked about this event they hosted through their church community in which Youth were a huge part of the planning process and leadership of the events. It was like a youth retreat where they led most of the worship, Small group conversations of breakouts, games, prayers, etc. She said that it was something they wanted to do every year, but also something that when new youth came into the mix they wanted to take on a leadership role as well.

I thought this could be an incredible way to allow younger folks at Calvary to join committees, and even possibly create and lead events that may bring others in. It is important to give them the ground to leap off of.

Breakout Session #3 Supporting Neurodiversity within your church community
This session was informative and fun- we were able to sit in their chapel and sit in sensory chairs, playing with different fidget options. It was led by Heather Selement, the assistant director of Big Faith Resources based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Heather talked about the struggles with her own children in her church community with the daughter and herself being diagnosed with Autism. It was overwhelming walking into the church with the ruffling of the bulletins, the sounds of the greeting and welcoming of folks surrounding her, the tension in her body when the organ sounds were a bit too loud to handle.

All of these simple typical Sunday moments don’t necessarily bother most folks, but there are a certain few struggling with being neurodivergent and wanting to be a part of a worship service which for some is too much to handle.

This made me think a lot about teaching in a preschool and having students who were neurodivergent and how overwhelming certain settings or activities could be for them.

At Calvary we share spaces with a rental partner called Play to Learn Therapy who works with several younger children, some who are on the Autism Spectrum or have sensory overload. The Toddler and Pre-K Classrooms downstairs in our Children’s Wing have some fantastic resources that our Calvary kids are able to share as well. These consist of: Fidget toys, weighted toys, calming corner spaces, sensory peapods, etc. Many of these children who struggle in a typical classroom setting can find peace or fine motor activities to grasp onto.

In the Heather’s church, they have Calming rooms for adults near the Sanctury, and another in their Children’s area.

Not all churches are able to create full rooms, but she did give some other ideas based on what folks shouted out. One I thought was neat, were creating a space in the back of the Sanctuary with sensory chairs/or couches, weighted blankets, fidgets for adults and children, even headphones which cut out some sound, especially for those louder moments which may be a trigger for some. She said she would swap out activities to use in the back to see what people gravitated towards most.

I learned a lot from PYM Conference and I feel so grateful to you, Calvary for allowing me to take the time to grow and learn and bring it back to our community to blossom in ways that I didn’t even know were possible.