March 23, 2026 • Jacob Anders

Highlight the Next Generation – Youth Emphasis Week 2026

Youth Emphasis Week 2026 is scheduled for April 19–25, 2026.

Youth Emphasis Week is a time when we place a special focus on the young people of the Church. Each local church will decide for itself how to carry this out, but I want to strongly encourage you to set aside this week to highlight the youth in some way.

If you already have a plan, wonderful. If not, here is a suggested outline you can use as a guide:

Sunday, April 19
Join together for a prayer service that evening, seeking God’s blessing on the week. If your local church already has Sunday night’s service, perhaps you could gather an hour before evening service begins to pray.

Monday, April 20
Hold a Bible study with a focus on youth. Have a discussion with your youth about which topics they would most benefit from.

Tuesday, April 21
Take part in an evangelistic outreach of some kind. Knock on doors, go into the world, and take the gospel to every creature!

Wednesday, April 22
Have a youth-led worship service or devotion.

Thursday, April 23
Plan a youth activity night for fellowship and fun.

Friday, April 24
Dedicate this day to a service project. Each local church can decide what works best for their youth. This might include helping at a church with no youth, cleaning up a neighborhood or park, visiting a nursing home, collecting food or clothing for those in need, writing cards to the shut-in, joining in a community prayer walk, or working together on a project around your own church grounds. The goal is for the youth to serve others and make a difference for someone else. 

Saturday, April 25
Conclude the week with a youth rally. Join together with youth from nearby churches and have a rally that will inspire and encourage your youth! 

This week presents a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the youth, involve them in the life of the church, and remind them that their labor in the Lord is not in vain. Let’s begin making plans to emphasize the work of our VLBs!”

Please prayerfully consider how you can emphasize the youth during this special week. However your church chooses to carry it out, may the Lord bless every effort to encourage and equip this generation.