2020 Cohort Dates & Coaches

Retreat Dates: UPDATED July 1, 2020


The LEAD experience requires attendance at all 4 retreats. Students are not permitted to arrive late or leave early from any retreat.


REVISED: Retreat #1: July 11, 2020. Day-long retreat at Reveille UMC in Richmond, VA.


REVISED: Retreat #2: November 20-22, 2020. 3-day mission/leadership retreat in the Richmond, VA area. 


ADDED: Retreat #3: January 29-30, 2021. Overnight retreat (Fri-Sat) at Lake Anna, just north of Richmond, VA.


Retreat #4: March 12-14, 2021. Final service-based retreat and closing celebration in Goshen, VA. This retreat is on the same weekend as our JOURNEY Middle School Weekend. 


Meet your LEAD coaches below! 

2020 LEAD Coaches

Wow, we are so excited to introduce you to our 2020 LEAD coaching team!  

  • Matt Nickerson

    Hello! I am excited to be able to serve as a coach for LEAD Four:Twelve this upcoming cohort! I am 28 years old. I am married to my love Michelle and have 3 wonderful kids as well as 2 dogs and 3 cats. We currently live in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. I have served with Jeremiah Project in various roles since 2008 and have always loved the working in youth ministry. I also have served at our local churches youth group and work closely with another ministry in Harrisburg, PA called the dream center. Jeremiah project has always given me the opportunity to express my fun-loving youthful side as well as share my love of Jesus Christ with students in a perfect way. I personally love teaching others about Identity in Christ and who God has designed us to be when we walk in relationship with him. I can’t wait to meet every one of you and I hope to be able help you learn to walk in a deeper understanding of who you are with God, and how he designed every one of us to have a special impact on our friends, colleagues and community. I’ll leave you with one of my favorite bible verses. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!”.  2nd Corinthians 5:17


  • Erin halye

    I have been serving as the part-time youth leader at Gum Spring UMC for 6 years.  I love working in youth ministry and watching my youth grow in their faith through weekly youth meetings, weekend retreats, and summer mission trips.  For the past four summers, I have also staffed numerous JP mission trips. In addition to working in youth ministry, I have been a math teacher for the past 10 years - four years in high school and six in middle school.  I really enjoy building relationships with my students and encouraging them to push themselves in all aspects of their lives.  I live on a small 15-acre farm with my three horses, a dog, two cats, a snake, and thirteen ducks.  I am a huge Broadway fan and love heading up to NYC to enjoy a show or just jamming out to musical tunes in the car.  I have seen at least 30 shows on Broadway, but my all time favorites are Wicked and Come From Away.  I am extremely excited to serve as a coach for the 2020 Lead Four-Twelve cohort.  I cannot wait to see all God has planned for the next year!


  • Karen GOins

    Karen has worked with youth for almost 20 years, by serving as a youth director, and volunteer with youth groups. Currently she works with children and teenagers in the foster care system in Williamsburg, VA. Karen has staffed with Jeremiah Project in multiple roles from a year-round staffer to Camp Director, to a Young Adult Staffer (a few years ago)! She loves spending time with her two sons and husband, Jason, doing anything outdoors. As a family they enjoy camping, skiing, biking or just taking a walk. She is looking forward to supporting these growing leaders through Lead Four:Twelve!