[DIOCESAN CHANCERY] --- With the blessing of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America the 17th Annual Orthodox Christian Camp and Youth Workers Conference will take place in Atlanta, GA from Thursday, February 1 – Saturday, February 3rd, 2018. Co-sponsored by our Diocese and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of  the USA,  Camp and Youth Workers from across North America will gather together for two full days of enriching and uplifting presentations and discussions, as well as opportunities to connect with other Youth Ministry professionals. This year’s theme “The Place of Gratitude in Youth Ministry”, will help our Camp and Youth Workers discover a key element of ministry that often eludes us: the “gratitude of St. Paul”, who while struggling to establish and maintain churches, was in fact thankful for everyone and everything. Come and learn what it means to “abound in thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:7) in the midst of the beautiful, but often difficult field of Youth Work.

This year’s keynote speaker is Fr. Alexander Gousettis, the Director of the Center for Family Care of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America. Workshops and Discussion Groups will also be offered which will help youth workers in the parish, among the clergy, at camps, and across programs relate the theme to the specific field of Youth Ministry in which they are engaged. Fr. Peter Paproski, National Sr. ACRY Spiritual Advisor and Northeast Regional OCF Chaplain has been selected to lead the discussion group  Engaging Parishes In Campus Ministry/Keeping Connected To their College Students.

The Conference is open to all Camp and Youth Workers from all Orthodox jurisdictions, and has been attended by Hierarchs, Priests, National Youth Directors, Camp Directors, Parish Youth Workers, Church School Teachers, Parents, and many others who have found the Conference to be an important part of their spiritual and professional development each year.

For more information, visit the conference website here.