WELCOME!

Welcome to the Youth & Discipleship Department of the California/Nevada Region of the Church of God. Our desire is to connect students to relationship with God, through the love of Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit, under the umbrella of His church. Bishop Joel’s passion is to see this generation come to know Christ and dedicate their lives to His plan and purpose for them. The mission of everything that we do is to accomplish the following three goals:

ENCOUNTER: Students will have a genuine, transformative experience in the presence of God.

EQUIP: Students will be trained and discipled to be Spirit-filled disciples of Jesus Christ.

ENGAGE: Students will reach their schools and cities using their spiritual gifts and callings.

We aim to encounter, equip, and engage with every student in our region by discipling and inspiring today's students to be an active, vibrant part of the church today, while equipping and training children's and youth leaders to minister to their students with excellence. We believe that they are not the generation of tomorrow, but they are the generation of today!

Inside this page you will find useful information for both youth and children’s ministry. You can view the Upcoming Events & Resource Information below, where you can download posters/promos, find registration info, schedules, forms, media and much more.

The CA/NV Youth Department exists to serve you, the local church! If you need anything pertaining to youth ministries, please do not hesitate to contact the CA/NV Youth and Discipleship Department. Connect with us, let us partner with you, and let us know how we can be a resource to you, your church, and your youth.

Leader Connect
Calling all Youth, Kids, and Young Adult Leaders! You weren't meant to do life alone. Life can be hard when you try to lead on your own, so let's get together! The Youth & Discipleship Dept. hosts a "Leader Connect"gathering every 3rd Thursday of the month, from 8pm to 9pm, on ZOOM. This is a 1 hour meeting where we will have a time of connection, listen to someone lead a devo/leadership session, and share some ideas with fellow leaders. In order to join this group, you must fill out the Leader Connect Form on the link below. Monthly emails will also be going out to this group with resources, inspirational stories from other local leaders, first looks and inside scoop on upcoming events. Let's connect and lead together!

NYLA Conference
NYLA (National Youth Leaders Association) Conference is a conference for Next Gen Leaders and Pastors. NYLA Conf emphasizes community, ministry, and shared resources. What makes NYLA Conf so special are the breakout sessions offered that address essential topics in the life of the Next Gen leaders. We have something applicable to everyone involved in Youth Ministry and Kids Ministry. This year, NYLA Conf will be hosted in 3 locations for Church of God youth ministers to come, be encouraged, and leave better than when they came. The West Coast Region NYLA Conf will be happening on Oct. 11-12, 2024, at Living Waters Christian Fellowship, in Fountain Valley, CA). The price for this conference is $100/individual, $250/individual & spouse, $300/small group (2-5 people), or $500/large group (6+ people).

Register for NYLA Conference here: https://www.cogyd.org/nyla

West Coast Winterfest 2025:
West Coast Winterfest is more than a conference, it’s revival! Winterfest is a two-day gathering for Youth and Young Adults from all over the west coast. At Winterfest, students are able to worship, have fun, and encounter God in a new way. With relevant messages, high energy music, and Holy Spirit led life changing altar moments, there is no conference quite like Winterfest. The weekend will consist of 3 General Sessions for Youth & Young Adults, a Creative Leadership Session for all Pastors, Leaders, & Young Adults in attendance, a Breakout Session for Youth, a concert, food trucks, after party, and much more.

West Coast Winterfest 2025 is happening on January 17-19, 2025, at Free Chapel OC, located in Irvine, CA. Early Bird tickets are $99 per person if registered by Oct. 14th, and then price will go up to $109 for Standard Registration. Special Guests including speakers, worship groups, and artists will be released soon. Please follow us on Instagram (@westcoastwinterfest) and FaceBook to follow all things West Coast Winterfest.

Register for Winterfest 2025 here: https://bit.ly/WCWF25

World Missions Dept. Presents: Emerging Leaders:
Emerging Leaders 2025 is set to be an unforgettable weekend filled with fellowship, discussion, and inspiring testimonies from our ambassadors. This weekend is designed for Young Adults who have an interest or call for missions. Join us and be apart of a transformative weekend where you will be inspired and equipped with tools needed to finish the great commission. Save The Date: February 28 - March 2, 2025 at the Fresno Ministry Center.

Registration opens soon.

Leader Connect with Joel Reyes Podcast

Our Leader Connect is now a podcast! If you ever miss a Leader Connect meeting, you can still hear and receive the information by listening to the new Leader Connect Podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts. New episodes will be released every 2nd Tuesday of the month. Listen to the latest episode on the link below.