Youth ministry is the focus of this segment of Money Matters. The budget for youth ministries programming is $18,500 for 2022. Laura McLean is a product of conference youth ministries and currently leads Youth and Young Adult ministries in Holston Conference.

The ministries of Holston Conference have been an important part of my life. I grew up in Knoxville, attending Cokesbury United Methodist Church where I was taught about Jesus and encouraged in my faith. When I got to middle school, I attended Holston Conference Youth Assembly and from there on, I was active in youth ministry at the Conference level. I served on the Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM) and responded to a call to lay ministry at Resurrection. I attended Emory & Henry College where I participated in campus ministry and continued to explore my calling to youth ministry. After graduation, I moved to Athens, TN and served as the youth director at Keith Memorial UMC. While I was there, I was a District Youth Coordinator and watched youth from our group as they became active in Holston Youth ministry through Assembly, Resurrection and CCYM. Events and groups that were formational for me and my faith were also formational for the young people with whom I had the honor to work.

In 2008, I enthusiastically accepted a position on the Holston Conference staff working with young people. Every day I see the difference that the UMC makes in the lives of young people through events and ministries. These vital ministries would not be possible without faithful people in local churches giving tithes and offerings. The money for campus ministries and the youth ministry budget goes directly to making impacts on the lives of young people. I am so thankful I was given the opportunity to develop and deepen my faith and to walk alongside others as they do the same here in Holston.