Alien Fellowship. No, we’re not going to visit Area 51 or open any secret government documents on UFOs. Instead, we’re going to discover just how alien we sometimes seem as followers of Jesus Christ to those who do not know Him. Although we’re aliens in this world, we’re not alone. We’re part of a fellowship that is tighter and stronger than any ever written about because Jesus Christ is part of our fellowship! We might be aliens in this world, but our hope is out of this world!
When & Where
Frankenmuth
July 28 - July 30
Harvey Kern Pavilion601 Weiss Street
Frankenmuth, MI, 48734
Presenters
Keynote Speaker
Swen Swenson
Swen has spent more than 40 years investing in the lives of young people through youth ministry, camps, retreats, and church gatherings. He loves sharing messages that are practical, memorable, and rooted in faith.
Breakout Speaker
Amanda Jung
Amanda Jung is a mental health counselor who has her own private practice. She is also taking classes at Concordia Theological Seminary in Deaconess Studies. She is married to Pastor Chris Jung and they (along with their five-year-old daughter) attend St. Matthew, Lexington. Her top three favorite books of the Bible are Leviticus, Psalms, and Acts; she invites the youth to ask her why.
Breakout Speaker
Karen Kempin
Karen Kempin lives in Midland with her pastor husband Dan, and they have been blessed with four children. She has served as a D.C.E. and classroom teacher, and currently serves at St. John’s, Midland as Director of Worship Music. Her family roots are in Chicago, so don’t expect her to root against the Cubs and the Bears, but she has lived in Michigan for over 25 years and considers it her home. Karen is very excited to be a part of the Jr. High Gathering!
Breakout Speaker
Josiah Schultz
Josiah Schultz is the Director of Christian Education at Our Savior, Gladwin. He is a lifelong Lutheran, zealous for forming disciples in the church. He earned a degree in Theology and Christian Educational Leadership from Concordia University Nebraska and served congregations in Wisconsin and Arizona before returning to Michigan. Josiah finds joy in expressing faith and creativity through a variety of art forms and likes to share his love for musical performance as well. He is always eager to learn something new.
Music
Swen & Dean
Swen and Dean are two brothers whose lives have been inseparable from music, ministry, and the open road for more than three decades.
Raised in a home filled with gospel songs and heartfelt prayer, the brothers discovered early that worship was more than Sunday mornings; it was a way of life. Thirty years in, they’re still two brothers, one mission, lots of songs, and an unshakable conviction that the love of Christ is worth every mile.
Music
Swenless
Meet Swenless…
Stephen Tietjen is a doctor of Chiropractic from Ft. Worth, Texas. He has owned more guitars and attended more proms than you and your friends combined.
Paul is from Minneapolis, Minn. and is a graphic designer. His current kickball stats have him at 88 career home runs.
Ted hails from Maple Grove, Minn. and is a huge Minnesota Vikings fan. He has been a Youth Director, Event Ministry Director, actor, and currently is a radio producer.
Dean is Swen’s brother and partner in ministry. He loves Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups the most. He’s a Marriage and Family Pastor at his church but can’t figure skate. He can’t wait to be with you, again, in Michigan.
Registration
Congregation Enrollment is now open!
You must register your congregation in order to receive a specialized congregation link for your individuals to register.
Deadline is April 30, but we suggest you enroll your congregation ASAP!
Youth Leader How To Guide - pdf file.
Program fee per person: $100 (includes t-shirt) - Early Bird Rate (March 15-April 30) $150 - Late Registration (May 1-May 31)
Please note: in order to guarantee the early bird pricing, ALL individual attendees must enroll by April 30. If the congregation enrolls early but individuals enroll after April 30, late fees will apply.
Cost per room at Bavarian Inn Lodge: $150 * per night (tax exempt) *4 people to a room
Congregation Enrollment
$100/person + lodging
Early Bird
This is congregation enrollment only! Individual attendees will register through a special congregational link that will be sent to the Primary Adult Leader.
Media Kit
Alien Fellowship Logo – png file
Announcement Slide for Powerpoints/Screen Projection – Standard Size (4:3)
Announcement Slide for Powerpoints/Screen Projection – Wide Screen (16:9)
Parent/Youth Information Sheet – pdf file
Additional Information
Housing Information
Participants will be staying at the Bavarian Inn Lodge in Frankenmuth. Please note: there is a program fee and a housing fee based on the number of rooms reserved. Rooms will be $150 per room per night ($161 if not tax-exempt).
Participants
A youth participant is any current 5th–8th grade student (2025/2026 school year). All participants must register through an LCMS church and complete their individual enrollment online via a specialized congregation link (Parents/guardians must complete their child’s enrollment – the youth leader cannot do this for them.)
Adult leaders must be age 21 or older and affiliated with an LCMS congregation. Pastoral verification is required of all adult leaders.
There is no minimum or maximum for the size of a church’s group, though it is suggested that there be one adult leader for every 6 youth. If a group is to have both male and female youth participants, there must also be at least one male and one female adult leader who will remain with the group for the entire gathering.
Conference Sponsors
- The Oscar & Keturah Haab Foundation
- Concordia University Chicago
- Michigan District, LCMS
- Generous Individual Donors