Speakers, Youth Speech Contest are announced for National Youth Conference 2022

By Erika Clary

The National Youth Conference (NYC) office has been hard at work confirming speakers for the event to take place on July 23-28, 2022. Each week on Saturday, a speaker is announced via the NYC social media pages–all part of a series titled “Speaker Saturday.” Be on the lookout for more NYC speaker announcements, which will be available on the NYC social media (Facebook: National Youth Conference, Instagram: @cobnyc2022).

National Youth Conference 2022 registration is open now. Register at www.brethren.org/nyc by Dec. 31 to receive a free t-shirt.

Five speakers, plus the theme of the Youth Speech Contest, have been announced so far:

Drew Hart is an assistant professor of theology at Messiah University and has 10 years of pastoral experience. He directs Messiah University’s Thriving Together: Congregations for Racial Justice program and co-hosts Inverse Podcast. He is the author of two books, Trouble I’ve Seen and Who Will Be a Witness?, both available from Brethren Press (www.brethrenpress.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=drew+hart&Submit=GO). He can be found on Twitter and Instagram with the username @DruHart.

Chelsea Skillen and Tyler Goss are an energetic, insightful sibling team. They have been active in the church through summer camps, Peace Teams, Brethren Volunteer Service, and denominational agencies, and have spoken at many Church of the Brethren conferences.

Chelsea Skillen runs a small production company with her husband in Petersberg, Va., and is excited about her newest project of writing her first book called How to Rock Your 20s.

Tyler Goss received his master of divinity degree and master of arts in conflict transformation degree from Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va., where he now works as assistant director of Student Programs.

Naomi Kraenbring is an adjunct professor of religious studies at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College, where she loves working with undergraduate students to study many things, especially interfaith peacebuilding. She is also a 2019 graduate of Bethany Theological Seminary and a current doctoral student at the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University.

Osheta Moore loves people! She is a pastor and peacemaker who loves Jesus and is convinced God has a sense of humor. She is the author of two books, Shalom Sistas and Dear White Peacemakers, both available from Brethren Press (www.brethrenpress.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=osheta+moore&Submit=GO). She is an optimistic cookbook reader, a hopeless romantic, and a goofball with a little bit of sass.

Jody Romero and his wife, Vanessa, are church planters and have been leading Restoration Los Angeles, a Church of the Brethren congregation in East Los Angeles, Calif., for nearly 12 years. They have a heart for the underserved and a passion to strengthen local churches. The Romeros also launched RiseUp Youth Conference, which has become a global movement to inspire young people to know Jesus and make him known.

Youth Speech Contest

Do you know a youth who is attending NYC and would be interested in speaking? Encourage them to submit an entry for the Youth Speech Contest! The theme is “Bring Your Own Jesus Story.” Youth are encouraged to consider how Jesus’ teachings are foundational to their life, and then to choose a story about Jesus from the Bible and preach on it. Participants should send a written entry of 500-700 words and a video entry of about 10 minutes length to the NYC Office by email to cobyouth@brethren.org. The deadline is March 15, 2022.

–– Erika Clary is the coordinator of National Youth Conference 2022, working in the Church of the Brethren Youth and Young Adult Ministry as a volunteer with Brethren Volunteer Service.