The Middle School Youth Gathering (MSYG) was back again, and no amount of rain—and there was a LOT of rain—could dampen the spirits of the 125 students, leaders, and volunteers who gathered in Anaheim to experience a weekend Outside the Box.
After taking a few years off due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the MSYG returned in 2024; this year marked its second year back, building momentum from the previous gathering.
“Where else can we find dance parties, friendship bracelets, Bible trivia, break dancing, roller coasters, campfire worship, inspiring stories of faith, and nachos all in 48 hours?” said Sarah Sumner-Eisenbraun, Pastor of St. Andrews Lutheran in San Diego who moonlights on MSYG weekend as the Mainstage Coordinator.
Indeed, the gathering was one of such epic highs, especially when persistent rain forced the leadership team to pivot away from Saturday’s activities at Knott’s Berry Farm to a slate of activities within the confines of the Sheraton hotel. Team members—including many friends from Lutheran Retreats, Conferences, and Camps led by new Executive Director Sam Campo—planned an engaging Saturday afternoon of songs, games, arts, crafts, yoga, and even a participatory stations of the cross.
“The planning team, band, and speakers are all amazing people who worked hard to co-create a space of divine love and care with the students,” Sumner-Eisenbraun said.
The goal, of course, was to gather a diverse array of young people from across the Pacifica and Southwest California synods for collective worship and activity, a goal summed up well by MSYG Coordinator Ashley Zook:
“I started going to the Middle School Youth Gathering when I was in middle school and Dave Nagler was my youth director,” Zook said. “Our youth group was really small, and so this was one of my first experiences of the Church as a larger thing, of learning there were a lot more kids than just my little youth group.”
“Now I have a daughter in junior high,” Zook continued, “so it’s so great to see her involved in that.”
In addition to all the middle-schooler-focused programming, the gathering featured a leadership track for high school students who also pitched in to make for a memorable, Spirit-filled weekend for all the attendees.
“It is our priority to lift up and amplify the voices and gifts of our youth and young adults as we explore faith and have fun together,” Sumner-Eisenbraun said. “Our theme was “Outside the Box,” which showed up in some surprising ways over the weekend, and we felt the presence of the Holy Spirit every moment.”
“I’m thankful for everyone on the team who has the same vision as I do,” Zook said. “All the new people and those who’ve done this for years and years, who will keep coming back because they share the vision to provide connection for these kids.”
Rain or shine, plans are already under way to capitalize on the ever-growing success of this year’s gathering in 2026. And we can be assured that, even though the theme will be different, the thinking will continue to be outside the box.
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