Youth & Family Ministry

Deacon Stephanie Engel (They/She)
Program Director @
Sugar Creek Bible Camp – Ferryville

Stephanie has a rich ministry background through Young Adult in Global Mission, Outdoor Ministry, and Congregational Ministry. Stephanie served as a full-time youth director (6th-12th Grade) before joining the team at Sugar Creek. They are passionate about curriculum development, event planning, inclusion, team building, and radical hospitality. Stephanie also serves on the Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Curriculum Committee and has been part of the LOM writing team. Outside of ministry, they enjoy board games, quilting, and making homemade soap! Stephanie also enjoys trying new coffee shops and bowling alleys with her spouse and child as they travel throughout Wisconsin.

Connect at program@sgrcreek.org.

Paula Evenson (She/Her)
Director of Kids & Family Ministry (Birth-Grade 6) @
Bethel Lutheran – Madison

From Paula: “I’ve worked in ministry/faith formation for less than 2 years in a large downtown church but have over 30 years working in the early childhood/after school field including teaching kids and adults, directing and curating programs, policy, regulation, and consulting. My degree is in adult education and I’m currently learning in a Faithful Innovation/ Missional Leadership cohort program. My strengths are in administration, health and safety, supporting teachers/parents and curating programs/environments with the latter two areas bringing me the most fulfillment. My husband and I have 4 small rescue dogs. Spending time barefoot on the sandy shores of Lake Michigan brings me deep joy and where I feel most connected to God. I would describe myself as a curious lifelong learner.”

Connect at paula@bethel-madison.org.

Karla Cornell-Wevley (She/her)
Education Coordinator @
Covenant Lutheran – Stoughton

From Karla: “Before taking this job, I was a teacher for thirty-two years. As my retirement date approached in the spring of 2022, the Education Team from my church approached me about a part-time position working with the children at my church. My husband and I had joined in 2001, and all three of our children had grown up participating in church activities. During that time, I helped with some activities they participated in. My job includes developing programming for children 3 years old through 6th grade, supporting them and their families, planning intergenerational events, and other duties as needed. I use my background in teaching, lots of googling, feedback from the congregation, professional development opportunities, and work closely with our pastor to develop opportunities for our youngest members to feel seen, valued, and cared for in our congregation. I love listening to podcasts and learning new things. I can’t say I remember everything I hear about, but the process of thinking about new information keeps me mentally active.”

Connect at edcoordinator@covluth.org.

Rev. Callie Arendt (she/her)
Pastor @
Bethlehem Lutheran – Brodhead

From Pastor Callie: “My primary formation for youth ministry came from working at an ELCA summer camp for 6 summers. This experience grew through teaching Sunday School and leading the high school youth group in my home congregation for 4 years. I have expanded my knowledge on children, family, and youth ministry curriculum throughout seminary as I worked on developing intergenerational curriculum for my capstone project. I am currently the pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Brodhead, where I work with a wonderful team of volunteers dedicated to the faith formation of our children and youth. My strengths in this ministry lie in adapting curriculum to meet the needs of the context it will be used in, planning creative forms of worship, building relationships with youth, and classroom/group management. For those who work in this ministry looking for extra support and conversation, I am available to listen and help work through different situations that may arise. Something that brings me joy is Zentangling, which is the art of meditative doodling. This is one of my primary forms of spiritual practices and has brought me much peace and comfort. When we reach our Spiritual Practices portion of confirmation, Zentangling is one of the many practices I teach to the youth and encourage them to explore.”

Connect at pastor@bethlehembrodhead.org.

Renee Engen
Sunday School & Confirmation Coordinator @
First Lutheran – Janesville

From Renee: “Hey friend! My name is Renee Engen, my husband calls me Nay, the kids call me Miss Renee, and when angry, my mom called me Renee Lynn. But Renee will do. During my time at First Lutheran in Janesville I’ve served across the younger generations and most recently am working to connect youth and families with role models and equipping spiritually vibrant homes! I love new challenges, learning and teaching how faith and culture intersect, and I am interested in the new and old ways God’s Kingdom lives on earth. I also enjoy pie. May you run the race, friend, and be reminded daily that God loves you, God knows you, and God cares for you.”

Connect at rengen@flcj.org.

Heather Greenley (she/her/hers)
Children & Youth Ministry Director @
Central Lutheran – Edgerton

From Heather: “I’ve been leading in ministry since I was 12 (shoutout to my early Sunday School days!) and have spent the last 10+ years walking alongside kids, youth, and families in faith at Central. I believe creating strong relationships with children and families is the heart of ministry because faith formation flows best when people feel seen and loved. A fun fact about me: I went to college on a music scholarship to professionally play the bassoon (yes, it’s a real instrument, and no, I don’t carry it everywhere). Email is the best way to reach me, especially if you want to talk faith, youth fun, or music!”

Heather also serves as Convener of our Synod Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Team

Connect at youth_clc@yahoo.com.

We are excited to offer a new youth ministry program—“Alive” Youth Night, a series of youth-focused events for middle and high school students and youth leaders from synod congregations.  All congregations are invited to join us from 5:30 p.m. – ~7:30 p.m.for an evening of dinner, games, icebreakers, fun, worship and music. The cost of the event is just a suggested donation of $5.00 to cover the cost of food (paid via cash/check [payable to the host church] onsite). We ask for an RSVP with an estimate of attendance prior to each event for planning purposes but know that everyone is welcome.

Want to know more?

If you have any questions please contact Marie Leafblad via her contact information on the synod staff page.

A hallmark of youth ministry in the ELCA and the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin is the ELCA Youth Gathering. Every three years, high school youth and their adult leaders from across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America gather for a week of faith formation known as the ELCA Youth Gathering. Through days spent in interactive learning, worship, Bible study, service and fellowship, young people grow in faith and are challenged and inspired to live their faith in their daily lives.

An important part of the Gathering’s ministry are the two pre-events, the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE), a faith formation and leadership development event primarily for youth of color, and the tAble, a gathering that gathers, blesses and empowers youth with disabilities.

The 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering will take place June 28-July 2, 2027 in Minneapolis. Visit the ELCA Youth Gathering page to learn more at https://elca.org/gathering.

For more information on our synod’s plans visit our synod page at https://scsw-elca.org/elcayg2027 or if you have questions about starting to plan with your congregation please reach out to the synod office.