MUUUCE 2024: Three days of fun and faith
From Aug. 8-10, Buffalo Covenant Church in Buffalo, MN, became the epicenter of energy and excitement as 435 middle schoolers and leaders from 29 Northwest Conference churches gathered for MUUUCE (Most Unbelievable, Ultimate, Urban Camping Experience). These three days were packed with fun, laughter and moments of deep spiritual connection.
The theme for this year, “No Matter What,” resonated deeply with the middle schoolers, reminding them that Jesus’ love, forgiveness and presence are constant and unwavering. The worship sessions, crafted specifically for middle schoolers, featured inspiring speakers—Tiger McLuen, Heather Flies and Cesar Castillejos—who delivered powerful messages about God’s love and care.
One eighth grader captured the essence of these sessions, saying, “God wants us to love Him, love others ,and just as importantly, love who He made us to be! I love being a Nerd!”
The fun began on Thursday night with the MUUUCE Blitz, an evening filled with enormous inflatable games, a mini-golf course designed by Bruce Williams from Dassel Covenant Church in Dassel, MN, an interactive game show and arts and crafts stations where students could unleash their creativity. Popcorn, nachos and ice cream fueled the excitement.
Friday took the adventure to the next level with a visit to Valleyfair, where students enjoyed a full day of rides, food and the thrills of Soak City Water Park.
But the excitement didn’t end there—Friday night was packed with activities to keep everyone engaged and entertained late into the night. Whether it was a massive game of Capture the Flag, gaga ball, a cozy bonfire with s’mores, a video game tournament or a huge trivia party with prizes, there was something for everyone.
Of course, no MUUUCE would be complete without plenty of food. Throughout the weekend, participants devoured 150 pizzas, 800 hot dogs, 450 bowls of ice cream and 70 pounds of sausage.
MUUUCE 2024 was more than just a fun event. It provided youth ministries with a vital opportunity to connect with their middle schoolers and set the stage for a strong fall ministry season.
MUUUCE has a rich legacy, dating back to 1986 when youth pastors from Faith Covenant Church in Burnsville, MN, envisioned an event just for middle schoolers. Today, the MUUUCE leadership team is made up of leaders from several churches who dedicate months of preparation to ensure the event’s success. This year’s team included Anna O’Connor (Bethlehem Covenant Church, Minneapolis), Cheryl Theilen (Northwest Conference), Darren Olson (Buffalo Covenant Church, Buffalo, MN), Dave Macalena (Buffalo Covenant Church, Buffalo, MN), Ginny Olson (Northwest Conference), Greg Schanil (Alexandria Covenant Church, Alexandria, MN), Karina Johnson (Roseville Covenant Church, Roseville, MN), Kohl Hanson (Karmel Covenant Church, Princeton, MN), Rocky Hovda (First Covenant Church, Willmar, MN), Tony Ducklow (Summerfest), and Zach Klein (Community Covenant Church, Upsala, MN). We were also thrilled to have Matt Eng join us for the second year in a row, capturing the MUUUCE experience through photos and videos.
MUUUCE wouldn’t be possible without the incredible generosity of Buffalo Covenant Church. With over 155 volunteers—from high schoolers to seniors—serving in every capacity imaginable, the event ran smoothly and left a lasting impact. Whether it was making coffee at 5:30 a.m. for youth leaders, preparing meals, ensuring security or running games, these volunteers poured their hearts into every detail.
As the students headed home, they left with tired bodies but full hearts,—and the powerful knowledge that God is with them, No Matter What.
