When is UNITE and who is it for?
The Missouri Conference’s UNITE 2025 will be held on July 12-16, 2025, and July 21-25, 2025. The programming for the two weeks are nearly identical. Both weeks will be hosted at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri. UNITE is tailored for incoming 6th graders to graduating seniors with a schedule that is conducive for your whole group.

What should I expect at UNITE?
Expect an amazing and powerful week that will be transformational for your students and leaders. You will hear from great speakers, experience high-energy worship, share spiritual growth, choose from engaging and diverse electives, play mega games, eSports and sports tournaments, swimming in the pool, and much more!

What is the 2025 theme?
The theme this year is Encounter! Students and leaders will experience a powerful week of Encountering God in a fresh, personal way! We’ll explore how God truly sees us, loves us, and calls us to deeper connection- with God, with others, and with the world around us. What can stories in scripture teach us about Encountering others with an open heart, breathing in hope, and trusting God in the waiting? Through moving worship, meaningful spiritual practices, and real moments of connection, we’ll encounter the life-giving energy that comes from knowing God’s Spirit, sharing Jesus, and stepping boldly into the purpose that God has for us. By the end of UNITE 2025, we’ll be ready to go, carrying the Good News with us wherever we step next- because this week will change everything!

How can I sign my students up?
Bulk seat buy for 2025 is now available! Each church has the opportunity to reserve a block of tickets for their group as early as October each year prior to the event. Then, students will sign up with their local United Methodist Church. If your student doesn’t have a youth group, please contact us to explore potential accommodations.

How should I prepare for the event?
Youth Leaders: First, pray for a great event! Next, select your week and register your group for bulk registration on our website. It is O.K. if your final numbers need to be adjusted; we will have those conversations in Spring 2025. Then, download the media package and begin conversations with your students, parents, and leaders to get them hyped and excited for UNITE! It is never too early to begin registration within your local church. As you invite adult leaders to join the trip, plan a time to meet together a few weeks before the event to be prepared as a team.

In early summer, begin to gather and organize required documentation: medical release forms, Safe Gatherings for each adult leader, and media releases for students and leaders, etc., so in-person registration and check-in goes smoothly. Keep an eye on your email as we share unique aspects of this year’s event and special materials to bring.

Parents: First, pray for your student! They are about to experience something incredible. Stay in communication with your student’s leader for group-specific information such as payment, when and where to meet, how to stay in contact, and specific additions to the packing list. Your leader will send you a link to fill out medical forms, media releases, and any other documentation required for the trip, and please don’t wait to fill those out. Please also communicate any additional needs or accommodations that will make this experience better for your student.

How many adult leaders do I need to bring with me? What will they be doing/asked to do?
Conference Safe Gathering guidelines require one adult for every eight students. Your leader’s focus is to build relationships with your students and to help facilitate small discussions. UNITE’s small group curriculum is designed to empower students in a way that it can be student-led. You and your adult leaders are responsible for the safety, accountability and overall experience of the students in your group. Be intentional to have fun and be present with them in worship sessions and experience God together! Keep an eye on your email in the months before the event for additional resources on how to prepare your leaders, connect prior to the event, and even some tips on who you can invite.

How old do adult leaders need to be?
In accordance with Conference Safe Gatherings policy, persons supervising minors must be at least four years older than the oldest participant in your group. Ideally, your adult leaders would be at least 22 years old as some groups bring students up to 18 years old.

Parents: Let’s talk details.

Your best resource for most event details will be your local church leader! This may be your student’s youth director, a pastor, or a really engaged adult volunteer. They will help you with vital information, such as: registering your student, final cost and pay schedule, when and where your group will meet and return before and after the event, a packing list, roommate assignments, cell phone policies, accommodations specific for your student, etc. They will be your main contact before, during, and after UNITE, so please stay in communication with them as needed!

Main Youth Leader: Let’s talk details.

You hold the responsibility of your group’s communication with the UNITE team and distruibiting any relevant information from the UNITE team to your leaders and parents. You also get to make decisions for your group, such as: final cost, the cell phone policy, when and where your group will meet and return before and after the event, sharing the packing list and adding to it for group-specific needs, creating roommate assignments, communicating specific accommodations for your students and adults to the UNITE team, group expectations and consequences, any gatherings before or after the event, etc. Keep a close eye on your email for information in the months and weeks leading up to the event, including resources to share with adult leaders. If you have any questions, want to bounce around ideas, or need any support, please reach out to the UNITE team!

How is it different from other youth conferences?
UNITE is a uniquely United Methodist experience. We are intentional about creating a space for our students to grow spiritually, be empowered, feel encouraged and create opportunities to connect with other student voices across the Missouri United Methodist connection.

Where does UNITE find its presenters?
UNITE has recruited a diverse and skilled group of people both locally and nationally who know how to resonate with a student audience. Many of these people have had experience in student ministries or just have a passion for young people to know and understand the Good News of Jesus.

What if we have a mission trip planned or mission trips are a big part of our youth group culture?
Great! We love that! UNITE is not meant to compete against or take the place of mission trips; rather, UNITE seeks to be another experience where your students can see God at work in their lives. There are plenty of churches that offer both a mission trip and a conference in the same summer, alternate experiences every year, offer mission trips during spring break, etc. The choice is yours as a church, and we encourage you to look at both if your schedule allows the unique opportunities each experience could provide.

How will this benefit my church?
One of UNITE’s biggest goals is to empower students to use their gifts, talents, and passions for the local church. After the event, it is normal to see students seeking to get connected with ministries within the church and even create new ones. The energy that these students come back with will reenergize the church as a whole.

Who do I contact for more information?
Contact Missouri Conference Youth and College-Age Ministry Coordinator Rev. Angel Garcia at agarcia@moumethodist.org.