LifeTeen Leadership Conference Teaches Teens to be Disciples and Faith Leaders

By Carissa Krautscheid 
 
In June, five teenagers from Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish journeyed from Sierra Vista to Atchison, Kansas, to attend the Life Teen Leadership Conference (LTLC) at Benedictine College. 
 
These young men arrived at the five-day conference, questioning their place in the Church, lukewarm in their faith, lacking strong faith-filled community, afraid to show their faith publicly, and unsure how to be men of God. 
 
Nearly a week later, Gabriel, Ethan, Jonathan, Ian, and Alexander departed LTLC with zeal, purpose, community, and joy. 
 
These five teens joined hundreds of others in “a dynamic, prayerful, and impactful week of activities and talks” by renowned speakers including Paul George and David Calavitta. Teens had “time to adore the Lord in Eucharistic Adoration, participate in powerful worship, receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, gain practical leadership skills, and meet other teens from across the country who are committed to discipleship and evangelization. LifeTeen believes in empowering this new generation with practical leadership skills, but not without first teaching them how to be a disciple” (LifeTeen). 
 
Gabriel learned “how to be a man under God. Before LTLC,” he said, “I had belief in God but not really faith in him. LTLC taught me how to get closer in my faith. After LTLC, I am trying to spread what Paul George called ‘Holy Grit,’ which is being tough and being holy at the same time.” 
 
Ethan’s main takeaway was, “If you don’t pray, you’re toast.” He shared, “Before LTLC, I was really afraid to show my faith. I wouldn’t even pray in public. After being there, seeing everyone on fire with the Spirit, going to Adoration, going to the Chapel there, praying with the monks, and seeing their community there – I’m not afraid anymore. I’m ready to share and be open.” 
 
Jonathan was inspired by the sense of community. “You need to have community, and if you don’t, you need to build that community,” he said. “Before I went to LTLC, I felt like my community was losing what it had at the beginning. Then at LTLC, there was such a strong, prayerful community – with the five of us – we would wake up way earlier than we needed to so we could go pray with the monks and that was such a renewing experience for me. They gave us the tools we needed so we could go out and build that community and build that brotherhood that we share. Coming back, I want to help build that same sort of community: I want others to experience what we experienced at LTLC.” 
 
Ian says he needed LTLC. “I was starting to question where I was at in the Church. The talks that stood out to me the most were about not being lukewarm in the Church but being boiling hot. Revelations 3:16 talks about whether you’re not hot or cold, but lukewarm, and God said he’ll spit you out. I took that as a sign for myself that I was becoming lukewarm. So, I really need to work on myself and become stronger in my faith, which persuaded me to get more involved – not only at St. Andrew, but if I move away, to also to be involved in youth ministry at other parishes to try to help the next generation.” 
 
Alexander shared, “Before I came to LTLC, I was trying to figure out what my purpose was in the Church: what was I supposed to do? At St. Andrew, I’ve been a lector, Eucharistic Minister, sacristan, and member of the choir – just trying to figure out what I was supposed to do. I didn’t get any feelings from that and I’d pray to God for that. But I would hear nothing! LTLC was God’s answer to me because, while I was there, I figured out what my answer was: to help the next generation of youth coming in. My generation will be leaving soon, so it will be their turn to keep that torch lit so more youth can become part of the faith.” 
 
LifeTeen’s goal through LTLC is to provide parishes with the “opportunity to form and train youth leaders who serve in leadership roles within the parish.” Rising juniors and seniors are invited to attend LTLC next June, which “helps teens become the leaders and disciples that God is calling them to be.” 
 
These five young men returned home to Sierra Vista, ready to step up as disciples of Christ and as dynamic youth leaders in the Catholic Church. 

LifeTeen Leadership Conference