EVENTS
WHAT WE OFFER.
DISTRICT EVENTS
01
CHALLENGE
Challenge is an every other year growth level conference for junior and senior high students that daily combines great worship and challenging speakers with youth group dynamics for ministry outreach in the site city, training sessions on pertinent topics and recreational activities.
It is an opportunity for youth groups to worship and learn together, to serve together, to play together and to be challenged to grow in their faith as individuals and as youth groups – to become effective Christ followers who impact their world for Jesus Christ.
02
APEX
Engaging real people in real ministry, APEX students receive training on issues in the areas of poverty, compassion and justice. Students participating in APEX are empowered to rise up as tomorrow’s leaders and challenged to continue the mission for the rest of their lives. Find stories from youth workers and students about APEX’s impact, and get details on Summer locations, dates, pricing and registration on the APEX website. Plan for your youth group to serve for an urban church for a week and gain ministry skills that last a lifetime in one of seven US cities this summer. Choose from almost any weekend and several major cities.
NATIONAL EVENTS
01
IMPACT
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High School Winter Conference
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Over 700 High School Students and Youth Leaders
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Engaging & Passionate Worship
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Powerful Speakers
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Breakouts Sessions to address other topics
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Recreational activities
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Hotel accommodations
IMPACT Conference is the annual High School Weekend Winter Conference led and planned by the EFCA Central District. It usually occurs on the first or second full weekend of January every year. Registration materials are sent out by Nov. 1st. The conference runs from Friday night through Sunday noon.
02
WINTER BLAST
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Jr. High Winter Retreats
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High Energy Rallies.
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Top notch speakers.
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Small group interaction.
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Tubing and sledding hill.
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HUGE gym, hot tub, indoor pool, game room!
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Hidden Acres Christian Center, Dayton, Iowa.
WINTER BLAST is the annual Reach Students Central District winter retreat for middle school students. Every year, churches from the Iowa region gather at Hidden Acres in Dayton, IA to worship, learn, play, grow & get away from the normal, everyday things of life. Winter Blast is usually held on three weekends in late January-early February each year. Choose one weekend for your group. Details will be listed here by October of each year.
If you have questions, please contact our Winter Blast coordinator, Joe Budish.
03
BLITZ
BLITZ is an all-night middle school event hosted by Valley Church in West Des Moines, IA each November. The night starts with an opening rally, featuring a worship band, a speaker who will share the Good News about Jesus, and pizza.
Then we will divide up and travel around Des Moines to different venues for fun activities including Sky Zone, bowling and dodgeball.
Not only will this be the middle school event of the year, but it will be a great way to meet new people and get spiritually refreshed.
04
RENEWAL
Renewal is a four-day retreat designed for EFCA youth workers and their spouses to get away to reconnect with God, one another, their calling and their identity. While this retreat is designed for youth workers and their spouses, all EFCA youth workers are welcome. The worship gatherings, schedule and environment are all designed to facilitate these “renewal reconnections.” Our desire is to encourage long-term, healthy student ministries by ministering to the youth workers.
In our sessions, you will experience prayer, worship and the opportunity to interact and minister with and to one another. Our speaker will focus on speaking life into your soul. This is not a training conference. It is a renewal conference. The wisest man to ever live, King Solomon, spoke these words to his son in Proverbs 4:23: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” There are times the wisest and most responsible thing we can do for our own souls and ministries is to focus some deliberate attention on our hearts.
Your afternoons are free to lay by the pool, sight-see, have lunch with new friends or simply reflect and rest.
