The Diocese of Central Florida‘s renewed emphasis on youth ministry comes to life with “Grounded,” the first of three 2024 gospel-focused youth events funded in its operating budget, set to take place Friday and Saturday, March 1-2, at All Saints, Winter Park. Registration begins at 7 p.m. Friday, with worship and teaching sessions slated for Friday night at 8, Saturday morning at 10 and Saturday evening at 7. Main-session speakers are all from the diocese: the Rev. Dr. Jeremy Bergstrom, rector of St. Peter’s, Lake Mary; Mrs. Michelle Tepper, network director, Alpha USA, whose husband, the Rev. Peter Tepper, serves as rector of St. Peter the Fisherman, New Smyrna Beach; and the Rev. Jonathan Turtle, rector of Emmanuel, Orlando.
The weekend comes at no cost to youth leaders and a fee set by each church for its students that may include meals, lodging and extra activities in addition to the $75 All Saints’ registration, which covers all sessions, a Friday-night glow dance party, Saturday lunch and dinner plus a Saturday-night ice cream social and a Grounded T-shirt. Students or groups who have conflicts with any of the sessions may come and go as needed.
“The goal, spiritually, is that kids come to know the gospel in a way that they can ground their life in it,” said the Rev. Jared Jones, rector at Holy Cross, Sanford, and one of the diocese’s three new youth ministry coordinators. Jones initiated Grounded in 2023 at All Saints, where he then served as associate rector for family ministry, and is heading up the event again this year.
“One of the things that students are always wrestling with is identity,” he added. “They’re constantly grabbing for every single thing out there in the world to give them some type of identity. So offering a picture of the gospel as their identity – it’s something we hope roots them, grounds them.”
“Grounded is an event designed for you and your youth group to hear, engage and experience the gospel of Christ alongside other youth leaders and students from across our diocese,” said Stephen Feibelman, youth minister at All Saints. “Our goal is to provide a space where the communication of Christ’s love for sinners is primary, and it is in this space where we believe students will begin to recognize this gospel is not something reserved for later in life. This good gospel news is for them too, and Grounded is an invitation for students to consider the ways God is at work in their lives right now – just as they are.
“We also hope Grounded works as a launching pad for churches with little or no student ministry,” he explained. “It is our hope this event is a witness to the deep hunger our students have for robust, gospel-centered faith and community.”
Grounded began with Jones’ vision to help youth ministers with smaller youth groups have a local event where they could bring their youth without worrying about logistics. Last year’s event drew about 75 students, and the team hopes to host 100 or more this year.
“We’re doing the planning, getting the band and the speakers, providing as much as we can,” Feibelman said. “We’re happy to share what we have with other youth ministries.”
He also encouraged anyone interested in beginning a youth ministry at their church to attend for ideas, inspiration and connection with other youth leaders. “Since it’s free to youth ministers, cost should not be a barrier,” he said. “It’s our prayer that God will give them something to take home to their churches from the Grounded weekend that will really make a difference.”
Although Grounded is based at All Saints, “We really designed the weekend to be very intentionally focused around each youth group,” Jones explained. “So we don’t provide lodging; that’s for the youth pastor to figure out. … Grounded is really a time for you as youth ministers and youth leaders to build relationships with your kids, not just be a part of this camp.”
Youth leaders may choose to commute with their group, spend the night in a hotel or find a host home, which Jones is willing to help arrange. He also pointed out that the times away from All Saints, including Saturday afternoon, which has no scheduled sessions, offer great potential for building unity within a youth group.
In addition, “Throughout the weekend, after every session, we have small group time or youth group time, which is time for you and your youth group,” he said. Each youth group will have its own room at All Saints to visit after the sessions and discuss what participants heard, what they experienced and what they see God doing in their lives.
In addition to Jones, the 2024 Grounded team consists of All Saints staff and volunteers, including Feibelman, his wife, Meagan; and the Rev. Laura Cook; along with others from across the diocese, including Doug Romaine, student pastor at Church of the Incarnation, Oviedo; and Lindy Zepp, youth director at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Orlando.
The 2023 Grounded event, which was not sponsored by the diocese but still reached out to other churches, had a dynamic impact. “I’ve been fortunate to observe a slow-growing spiritual curiosity among our students on Sunday nights at our weekly youth group meetings,” said All Saints youth group volunteer Joe Nooft afterward. “The Grounded conference was an incubator that helped their established interest produce vulnerability. Our students are learning and listening and asking really good, thoughtful questions, and they’re having a ton of fun in the process. This is an act of God – that their hearts are opened to the gospel, that their fellowship with one another is gratifying.”
Students themselves also saw the fruit of that weekend. Trinity Prep student Virgina Ruby said, “Grounded was a very open and formative experience. I enjoyed being with my friends and God and feeling God with me in the presence of the people I love.”
The Rev. Kevin Bartle, rector at St. Mary of the Angels, Orlando, and another of the diocesan youth coordinators, was unable to attend last year but is looking forward to the 2024 version of Grounded.
“I am very excited to be able to experience the event myself this year and am hopeful and praying for another solid response,” he said. “We need events like this that give a chance to present the gospel in message but also give a chance to experience the gospel in community. Knowing that our churches – and their respective ministries – don’t stand alone but are in fact a part of the larger body of Christ is important. Grounded seems to have been designed to give that opportunity while also keeping a focus on helping to develop and build the relationships within our local youth groups. I can’t wait!”
Interested youth leaders may contact Jones for more information, jjones@cfdioecese.org. He is also hosting Google Meet sessions at 10-11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15, and Thursday, Feb. 22, to discuss the event and answer questions; contact him for the link.