Leading in Love: Club Ministries Leadership Summit Empowers Youth Leaders

By Neat Randriamialison

From October 24 to 26, 2025, youth leaders from across the Nevada-Utah Conference gathered at the West Jordan Seventh-day Adventist Church for the Club Ministries Leadership Summit. This annual meeting is designed to equip, empower, and encourage those leading in Pathfinder, Adventurer, and Master Guide ministries, as well as teenagers in the Teen Leadership Training program.

A spiritual high point came during Sabbath morning, as Youth Director Dr. Michael Jenkins Jr. was officially inducted as a Master Guide, with pastor Randy Hill from the Pacific Union presiding over the ceremony. Master Guide is the highest level of leadership training within the church’s Adventurer and Pathfinder Club Ministries. However, it’s more than a uniform or a pin; it’s about modeling Christlike leadership to the next generation and helping shape a culture of service and excellence in the church, while also helping them grow as loving followers of Jesus.

With this year’s summit having the theme “Leading in Love,” keynote speaker Travis Sandefur challenged attendees to lead with humility, clarity, and compassion. He reminded leaders that Christ’s love for young people must be both the goal and the motivation behind every act of leadership. This is the kind of love that fosters a healthy culture within the church. The secret, according to Travis, is to have a healthy leadership team.

“If you want to build a healthy culture,” he said, “start by building a healthy leadership team.”

In this model, leaders prioritize the mission above personal ego, support one another, and align around a shared vision. When leadership is healthy, the entire ministry thrives.

The leadership summit was truly more than a weekend of training; it pointed back to the sacred responsibility entrusted to leaders in shaping the faith and character of young people.