What to Expect

Thinking about bringing your youth group to YG this year? Here’s a bit of what we’ve got planned!

Main Speakers

Ben and Emma are the Lead Pastors of Avant Life Church, which they planted after hearing the clear call of God to move from Australia to Canada to pioneer this new work. Since then, they have miraculously seen God establish His church with three campuses in Squamish, North Vancouver and Surrey. Ben and Emma love developing leaders and are passionate about calling the people of God to live a life of miraculous faith and powerful freedom. They love to see people step into the God-ordained purpose with bold faith and humble surrender.

Out of YG, a group of musicians has come together to worship, write music, and lead together! Back again this year is Homecoming!

Hailing from the vibrant cities of Vancouver, Kelowna, and Edmonton, HOMECOMING is a dynamic worship band that has been making waves in the Canadian music scene. Formed by a group of passionate individuals who grew up deeply influenced by music and worship in their church youth groups, HOMECOMING brings a fresh and powerful voice to the landscape of contemporary worship music.

04:30PM - YG Registration Opens
06:00PM - Doors Open
07:00PM - SESSION #1
09:30PM - After Party
08:00AM - APA doors open
09:00AM - SESSION #2
11:30AM - Lunch
01:00PM - Workshop Block #1
02:00PM - Workshop Block #2
03:30PM - Dodgeball Tournament @ SPC
05:00PM - Dinner
06:30PM - Doors open
07:00PM - SESSION #3
09:30PM - After-Party
11:30AM - Doors Open
12:00PM - SESSION #4
02:00PM - Dismissal

Here's a glimpse into who’s sharing at YG’s workshop blocks this year! Take a look and plan out who you’ll want to see!

CAMPUS PASTOR | CLA Maple Ridge
Mark is married to Jenni and together they have served in ministry for over 3 decades. 25 of those years were spent in Next Gen Ministry. He is passionate about shaping new generations of disciples and leaders. He enjoys family, outdoor adventures, great coffee and authentic Italian Pizza. Currently he is serving at CLA Maple Ridge as Campus Pastor and continues to be involved in mentoring young leaders though coaching and training initiatives.

NEXT GEN LEADER DEVELOPMENT | Fellowship Pacific
Krista serves Fellowship Pacific churches by developing next-gen leaders and managing Immerse, a leadership education program offering master’s degrees in Biblical Leadership and Divinity. She’s passionate about coaching young leaders and helping churches grow through mentoring, leadership training, and care initiatives.

Krista lives in Mission, BC, with her husband, Jerome, and they attend Ridge Church. She loves cooking for friends and is thrilled to be a grandma! Her first grandbaby, Michael, was born in 2023, and two more are on the way in 2025. Krista can’t wait to connect with you at YG!

YOUTH PASTOR | The Way Church
Daniel Smith lives downtown Vancouver with his wife, Mariah, and their baby boy, Wells. In his free time, you can find him training for his next marathon, changing a diaper, expressing his thoughts through writing, or working with his wife on their new YouTube channel. Daniel currently serves as a Pastor at the Way Church, and on the team at The Way College. Recently, Daniel completed his Master of Arts in Christian Studies and wants to dedicate his life to pointing people to Jesus

FOUNDER | Renewed & Transformed Ministries
Kyla Gillespie is the founder of Renewed & Transformed Ministries and is a missionary with Commission to Every Nation. Her deep desire is to help Christians be better equipped to love the LGBTQ+ community. 
Kyla is a podcaster, a speaker, and writer—often speaking about her own experiences with same-sex attraction and gender dysphoria. She loves to fish, play hockey and currently lives in Coquitlam, B.C, where she is an active member of Gospel City Church.

COUNSELING DIRECTOR | Summit Pacific College
Melody is a Registered Clinical Counselor with the BC Association of Clinical Counselors. She has worked at Summit Pacific College for many years and understands the pressures youth and young adults face in this complex world. Melody is dedicated to serving the Lord through counseling, teaching and mentoring. She is very thankful for, and enjoys her ministry with the Students at Summit Pacific College."

LEAD PASTOR | Village Church Vancouver
Michael holds a BA in Pastoral Leadership from Pacific Life Bible College and an MA in Christian Studies from Regent College. He began as a Youth Pastor at Youth Church, served six years as a Youth Pastor at Village Church, and later led Village Church Calgary before launching Village Church Vancouver. Witnessing the transforming grace of Jesus firsthand fuels Michael’s passion for God’s redemptive story.

CAMPUS PASTOR + CHILD & FAMILY LEADERSHIP DIRECTOR | Summit Pacific College
Hey, I’m Kim! I’m left-handed, and I love bike rides and reading books at coffee shops. I’m a Campus Pastor and the Child and Family Program Director at Summit Pacific College. I’m passionate about seeing students grow into who God has created them to be and living their lives as followers of Jesus. I believe that living for God is the best thing ever!
I also love a good laugh and believe that fun is a key part of life. I can’t wait to connect with you at YG—see you there!

CHURCH ENGAGEMENT | Alpha Canada
Jeremy and his wife Hannah live in the small East Coast town of Sussex, New Brunswick where they both grew up. Since saying yes to Jesus in 2014, Jeremy has served at churches in Moncton, Atlanta, Halifax, and most recently Groundswell Church in Truro.
Jeremy is currently serving on the team at Alpha Canada where he has the privilege of journeying with churches + organizations seeking to create space for the next generation to explore life, faith, and purpose using the Alpha Youth video series.