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"Sir, we wish to see Jesus" // John 12:2b

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Church Partners

Higher Things is blessed with the opportunity to make the Gifts of Christ Jesus known to youth and young adults through the generous support of congregations and organizations.

 If your church or organization is interested in supporting HT, please fill out this form. We would be blessed to contact you. 

...Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:1-2)

In 1998, several LCMS pastors began planning a smaller, more regionally minded, cost-effective conference for youth, designed to be uniquely Lutheran. A year later, those plans were unveiled for the Dying to Live national Lutheran youth conference, held in the summer of 2000. Over 700 youth and adults from 25 states attended what was, for all intents and purposes, the first Higher Things conference. Based on the success of that first conference, more plans developed for what would become Higher Things.

The name for the emerging group was chosen just before the first conference, as it had become obvious by then that the event would serve as the impetus for something worth continuing and expanding. The new organization’s theme verse was: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians. 3:1-2).

Twenty years ago, Higher Things was started by a handful of pastors and laypeople who cared very deeply about the young people of the church. Today over 1700 LCMS congregations have been impacted by the mission of Higher Things. 

Higher Things is many things, all of which seek to keep young people focused on Christ and His gifts as they grow and mature in their faith. It is parents teaching their children the catechism. It is youth workers and volunteers reinforcing what is preached from their congregations’ pulpits and confessed in their pews. And it is pastors keeping their young sheep Lutheran as they grow up.

In two decades, we haven’t wavered in our mission to assist parents, pastors, and congregations in cultivating a distinctly Lutheran identity among their youth and young adults. We work to bring the Gospel of Christ, and Him crucified to youth via our events, app, confirmation curriculum, Reflections, videos, articles, VBS curriculum, and more! Higher Things strives to be available to youth from their cell phones and computer screens all the way to their summer plans.

Our plan for the future? We will keep putting the Gospel in the ears of youth as long as the Lord allows!

...to make the Gifts of Christ Jesus known to youth and young adults.

Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, was crucified for your sins and raised for your forgiveness, and the forgiveness, life, and salvation He won for you on Good Friday and Easter are delivered right to you in His Holy Spirit-filled Word and Sacraments. This is the heart and soul of our preaching, teaching, and worship because this is the full substance of the entire Christian faith. Jesus died, Jesus rose, Jesus delivers FOR YOU. 

Jesus’ salvation, won and delivered, is for all people of all nations, and Higher Things believes that this is regardless of age group. For over 20 years, we have been blessed by God to assist in delivering Jesus’ cross-won, empty-tomb-certain salvation to thousands of youth and young adults through our summer conferences, regional retreats, and digital resources. We are humbled to assist the local congregations, their pastors, parents, and youth leaders as we do the same thing they do: delivering Jesus through His Word and Gifts. 

By the Spirit’s working upon us, we rejoice wholeheartedly in the completely free salvation and forgiveness that Jesus won for us, delivers to us and also delivers through us to others. By the Holy Spirit’s working upon us through Christ’s Word and Gifts, He enlivens us to go about our work of passing on to the next generation what we believe, teach, and confess about Jesus and what He has done for each of us and for all.

CONFERENCE ENTERTAINMENT

Higher Things® offers an incredible, multi-day experience to registrants who attend one of the many events each summer. These conferences are held on college or university campuses around the country, giving registrants a taste and feel for what going off to school will be like. Hey, group leaders and pastors…remember dorm beds and cafeteria food? We’ve been at it since 2000. Higher Things has hosted between one and five Lutheran youth conferences each summer! Conferences in any given summer are planned around the same basic structure, but each has its own distinctive “personality” and dynamics, making each a singular, unique experience.

We do all this because we are convinced that youth need solid teaching and experiences that will nurture lasting Christian faith. Rather than treating youth as an adolescent subculture and confusing them with once-in-a-lifetime “mountaintop” experiences that cannot be replicated outside the conference events, Higher Things believes in challenging youth to learn the pure doctrine of the Christian faith. By teaching them the same message that they are already hearing at home and at church, youth grow in the fullness of the Christian faith as they come to appreciate historic liturgical practice and its unique focus on God’s gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation for us delivered in Word and Sacrament.

CONFERENCE CATECHESIS

Higher Things® offers an incredible, multi-day experience to registrants who attend one of the many events each summer. These conferences are held on college or university campuses around the country, giving registrants a taste and feel for what going off to school will be like. Hey, group leaders and pastors…remember dorm beds and cafeteria food? We’ve been at it since 2000. Higher Things has hosted between one and five Lutheran youth conferences each summer! Conferences in any given summer are planned around the same basic structure, but each has its own distinctive “personality” and dynamics, making each a singular, unique experience.

We do all this because we are convinced that youth need solid teaching and experiences that will nurture lasting Christian faith. Rather than treating youth as an adolescent subculture and confusing them with once-in-a-lifetime “mountaintop” experiences that cannot be replicated outside the conference events, Higher Things believes in challenging youth to learn the pure doctrine of the Christian faith. By teaching them the same message that they are already hearing at home and at church, youth grow in the fullness of the Christian faith as they come to appreciate historic liturgical practice and its unique focus on God’s gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation for us delivered in Word and Sacrament.

CONFERENCE WORSHIP

Higher Things® offers an incredible, multi-day experience to registrants who attend one of the many events each summer. These conferences are held on college or university campuses around the country, giving registrants a taste and feel for what going off to school will be like. Hey, group leaders and pastors…remember dorm beds and cafeteria food? We’ve been at it since 2000. Higher Things has hosted between one and five Lutheran youth conferences each summer! Conferences in any given summer are planned around the same basic structure, but each has its own distinctive “personality” and dynamics, making each a singular, unique experience.

We do all this because we are convinced that youth need solid teaching and experiences that will nurture lasting Christian faith. Rather than treating youth as an adolescent subculture and confusing them with once-in-a-lifetime “mountaintop” experiences that cannot be replicated outside the conference events, Higher Things believes in challenging youth to learn the pure doctrine of the Christian faith. By teaching them the same message that they are already hearing at home and at church, youth grow in the fullness of the Christian faith as they come to appreciate historic liturgical practice and its unique focus on God’s gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation for us delivered in Word and Sacrament.

CONFERENCE INFORMATION

Higher Things® offers an incredible, multi-day experience to registrants who attend one of the many events each summer. These conferences are held on college or university campuses around the country, giving registrants a taste and feel for what going off to school will be like. Hey, group leaders and pastors…remember dorm beds and cafeteria food? We’ve been at it since 2000. Higher Things has hosted between one and five Lutheran youth conferences each summer! Conferences in any given summer are planned around the same basic structure, but each has its own distinctive “personality” and dynamics, making each a singular, unique experience.

We do all this because we are convinced that youth need solid teaching and experiences that will nurture lasting Christian faith. Rather than treating youth as an adolescent subculture and confusing them with once-in-a-lifetime “mountaintop” experiences that cannot be replicated outside the conference events, Higher Things believes in challenging youth to learn the pure doctrine of the Christian faith. By teaching them the same message that they are already hearing at home and at church, youth grow in the fullness of the Christian faith as they come to appreciate historic liturgical practice and its unique focus on God’s gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation for us delivered in Word and Sacrament.

CONFIRMATION CAMP

Faith is important to your kids and to the youth of your church. Higher Things wants to make the gifts of Jesus known to them just as much as you do. After a summer of taking a break from studying the catechism, the HT confirmation camp is a fantastic opportunity to dust off those catechisms and deep dive into two Chief Parts before the year begins. There are also tons of benefits to kids when they get to experience time away from their normal life in an environment like a camp. Give them that experience at Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca and let them have fun with all sorts of camp activities like horseback riding, rock climbing and zip lining, canoeing, and campfires.

RETREAT IN A BOX

The Higher Things Retreat in A Box is the answer you’ve been looking for if you’re putting together any sort of gathering for youth. Everything you need to run a church retreat, lock-in, circuit gathering, or youth program for the year is included in this product. Make it work for you! You will get three professionally-produced plenary sessions, as well as worship materials, administrative documents, entertainment opportunities, and planning guides. Buy yours today and use it forever!

HT RETREATS

Are you missing HT conferences during the year? Attend one of our many regional retreats! Hosted at a church or a camp, these one or two day events will fill you with all of the great things you get during a summer conference, but in a more intimate way. Picture the sanctuary of your local church filled with teenagers, eager for the organ to begin the opening lines of the liturgy or their favorite hymns, listening intently as they learn how their Lutheran faith applies to their lives and relationships, and laughing as they horse around playing games and getting to know other youth from the area. When you attend a Higher Things R\retreat, you challenge youth to Dare to be Lutheran, inspiring them to deeper faith and love for their neighbors.

Find a retreat near you to be refilled with the same reverent worship, robust teaching, and playful fun that Higher Things delivers at summer conferences, but in a smaller way. See you there!
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WHAT IS A HIGHER THINGS CONFERENCE

Higher Things® offers an incredible, multi-day experience to registrants who attend one of the many events each summer. These conferences are held on college or university campuses around the country, giving registrants a taste and feel for what going off to school will be like. Hey, group leaders and pastors…remember dorm beds and cafeteria food? We’ve been at it since 2000. Higher Things has hosted between one and five Lutheran youth conferences each summer! Conferences in any given summer are planned around the same basic structure, but each has its own distinctive “personality” and dynamics, making each a singular, unique experience.

We do all this because we are convinced that youth need solid teaching and experiences that will nurture lasting Christian faith. Rather than treating youth as an adolescent subculture and confusing them with once-in-a-lifetime “mountaintop” experiences that cannot be replicated outside the conference events, Higher Things believes in challenging youth to learn the pure doctrine of the Christian faith. By teaching them the same message that they are already hearing at home and at church, youth grow in the fullness of the Christian faith as they come to appreciate historic liturgical practice and its unique focus on God’s gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation for us delivered in Word and Sacrament.

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