Kaleo Conference Summer 2024 - Youth Leadership Initiative

Kaleo Youth Conference

Conference for 7th – 12th grade students at Azusa Pacific University on Saturday, June 22, 2024

Our Theme

Character, Hope, Love

Kaleo is a one-day conference at APU for 7th to 12th grade students, where they focus on God’s call on their lives. Kaleo, or κᾰλέω (kaléō), means to call and invite. Students will explore and discover God’s call – deepening their faith and reflecting on how God leads them in their unique purpose in the world. We encourage students to live for Jesus in their daily activities and big life decisions. Our conference theme this year focuses on character formation that Jesus does in us as we follow his call.

“And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5

A group of happy teenagers smiling while looking at the camera

Conference Information

Our conference will have a mix of engaging general sessions, workshops, and activities. Chick-fil-A dinner is included with your ticket.

Registration is for students 7th to 12th grade and their leaders.

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Date: Saturday, June 22, 2024

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Time: 2pm-9pm

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Location: Azusa Pacific University, East Campus

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Cost: $25

Kaleo Minor Release Form
Kaleo Adult Release Form

Registration is now open and the last day to register will be Sunday, June 16, 2024. We will need release forms for minors and adults attending the conference.

Register Now

Conference Schedule

Check-In Begins: 12:45 pm

General Session: 2:00 pm – 3:15 pm

Workshop #1: 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Workshop #2: 4:45 pm – 5:45 m

Dinner: 5:45 pm – 7:00 pm

General Session #2: 7:15 pm – 8:50 pm

Conference Speakers

Sean Fenner

Sean is the Co-Lead Pastor at Light and Life Christian Fellowship in Long Beach. He is a Long Beach native and lives in the Houghton Park neighborhood with his wife Sarah, and his sons Aslan & Caspian. He is gifted as a pastor, discipler, mentor, and speaker with an intense passion to awaken this generation to an authentic relationship with Jesus. Sean is deeply passionate about discipleship in multi-ethnic ministry, urban spaces, and on campuses. His leadership focuses on community and life transformation to bring about renewal, revival, and restoration.

Erica Rodriguez

Erica is an incredibly gifted speaker who has traveled the world to help those who are marginalized and in need. Shaped through her own trials and circumstances, her mission is to empower and equip others to find beauty and purpose in their brokenness. She currently works as director of Donor Development at Rescue A Generation. Erica has been a team member of a global organization called Hour of Power for the past few years and is currently their live-stream host. She has also had the opportunity to speak at Conferences, Youth Events, and Churches around the world. With her passion to love people, she is determined to use her voice, share her story and preach the Gospel.

Jose Rodriguez

Growing up in the inner city, Jose was faced with many of the same challenges that students are faced with today. Impacted by his environment, he made some poor choices. He joined a gang, got arrested for stealing cars, and even was suspended from school pretty regularly. His story is one that many can relate to today, but it is also a story of a complete turnaround. Jose now is the founder and CEO of Rescue A Generation Inc., a non-profit that focuses on reaching students who are struggling in school due to behavior, suspensions, and family issues. He is a well sought-out motivational speaker who speaks to students in a variety of venues across the nation. His passion for young people, authenticity, and boldness gives him the tools to effectively rescue this generation. He is author of Rescue a Generation: Reaching the Least, Last, and Lost where he shares inspiring stories of urban youth being transformed by the gospel.

Hosts

Coba Canales

Coba serves as Dean of Students at Azusa Pacific University and has been in ministry with college students and young adults for 18 years with time spent in church ministry and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He was born and raised in Carson, CA in a pastor’s home and observed authentic incarnational ministry as his parents selflessly served inner-city bilingual communities. He is ordained with the Assemblies of God fellowship and finds deep joy in helping young adults discern their call while developing ministry leaders to impact the world for Christ. Coba and his wife Drea met in youth group (what???) and have been married 16 years with 3 awesome kids.

Wisdom Mira Wee

Wisdom is a youth and young adults pastor at Christ Church Sierra Madre, in Southern California. Wisdom is a graduate of Azusa Pacific University, where she obtained her BA in communication studies, her MDiv in seminary, and her husband Jonathan at an open mic event freshman year. Wisdom is aggressively passionate about sharing who Jesus is, and undoing who Jesus isn’t. Apart from being a pastor she is a Los Angeles native, a boba connoisseur, and everyone’s hype woman.

Worship

Jesus Use Me

Jesus Use Me is the sound of a new generation of worshipers who are moved to live out their faith in action. Believing the Christian faith isn’t just for Sunday Mornings but a daily decision to follow Jesus. Jesus Use Me is made up of musicians and worship leaders from churches across Southern California and anchored by the husband and wife duo David and Leah Gaulton who are worship leaders and co-founders of the Jesus Use Me Movement. Their passion is to unify and serve local churches to see revival come to our communities and cities. Text us at (714) 274-7080 to stay connected to Jesus Use Me.

Workshops

Traci Birge, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Biblical and Religious Studies, Azusa Pacific University

Stephanie Gala

Director, Academic Success Center, Azusa Pacific University

Will Hooper

Director of Los Angeles and Orange County Strategic Cities, Alpha USA

Bobby Lopez

Co-Founder and CEO of Passion SoCal Network

Gregg Moder, D.Min.

Professor, Department of Practical Theology, Azusa Pacific University

Leah Fortson Reed, Ph.D., M.Div.

Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, Azusa Pacific University

Hung Thach

Team Leader, Cru High School Los Angeles

Vanessa Cruz

Program Director for Congregational Leadership, Urban Youth Workers Institute

Kaleo Conference FAQs

What is the purpose of the conference?

A one-day conference at APU for 7th – 12th grade students, where we focus on God’s call on their lives: κᾰλέω • (kaléō) to call, invite. Students will explore and discover their call – deepening their faith and reflecting on how God leads them in their unique purpose in the world. God’s call impacts students’ daily activities and their big life decisions.

What age does a student need to be to participate?

Students 7th grade through 12th grade are invited. This range includes students who will be beginning 7th grade starting in the Summer 2024 and high school students who graduate this Spring/Summer 2024.

Can adult leaders attend?

Yes, we encourage adult youth leaders to attend and bring their youth to the conference. We don’t have adult leader specific workshops so we ask leaders to attend workshops with their youth.

Where is the conference location?

Our conference is being hosted on Azusa Pacific University’s east campus. The address is 901 E Alosta Ave, Azusa, CA 91702. Parking is free.

What time does the conference start/end?

Check in will begin at 12:45pm. Our first general session will begin at 2pm sharp. From there, the day will consist of a series of general sessions, workshops, food, and games all leading up until we close our time together at 8:50pm!

What meals are provided?

We will be providing dinner catered by Chick-Fil-A for all those who register! The dinner will be served starting at 5:45pm.

How many workshops are provided?

We have 8 different workshops for attendees to choose from, which will cover a variety of topics pertaining to our youth. Each specific workshop will be offered twice. Continue to check our website to see additions to our workshop list.

Will I need release forms?

Yes, release forms are needed for everyone attending the conference. You will find the links for release forms when you register and you can find them below: