Down a gravel path, in the basement of the Allen Building, behind a locked door covered in caution tape and handmade “do not enter” signs, you will find the Conference Support Summer Staff. Their home is known as the “Cloffice” (closet office), and it is exactly what it sounds like; a windowless room packed with everything from flashlights to pool noodles.
If you have ever been given a paper packet in your small group or been served communion during youth conference worship, the Conference Support team is to thank. I was given the opportunity to shadow the team and quickly came to realize that Conference Support is the glue that holds each chaotic and amazing week of Montreat Youth Conference together. They are one of those teams you might not see during your time here, but they are everywhere, working quietly behind the scenes to keep things running. During the first week of June, I was given a temporary pass to the Cloffice, a sunflower sticker on my nametag, and entered the world of Conference Support.
I spent time with Hudson and Ryleigh Sunday evening in Upper Anderson as groups arrived and registered for the first week of Montreat Youth Conference. Even though it’s Hudson and Ryleigh’s first year working with Conference Support, they were completely on top of every detail and immediately made me feel welcome. As the Back Home Leaders came flooding in, the two of them made the check-in process look easy and welcomed everyone with a smile. They set a warm and welcoming tone for the week ahead.
On Monday, I worked with Josie, the Conference Support supervisor. Josie is sharp, passionate, and a little chaotic in the best way possible. She is the kind of leader who is always three steps ahead but still makes time to joke around and encourage her team. She told me that their motto is: “We will try everything once. If it doesn’t work, we will go back and figure it out.” I think this sums up Conference Support perfectly; equally organized and adaptable.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Deanna, a returning member of Conference Support, showed me the ins and outs of each Conference Support responsibility and what really goes into making a conference happen. Deanna is outgoing, upbeat, and brings an infectious energy to everything she does. Whether she was explaining the schedule or cracking a joke, she made every moment fun and engaging. I got to make copies for the Planning Team, sound meter evening worship, go on a supply run, and so much more. Deanna has mastered logistics and showed me how everything happens at a specific time for a specific reason.
What surprised me most about my time with the group wasn’t the work, it was the team. In a role that can feel thankless and invisible, they have built a strong community. They are a tight-knit group who look out for each other, create a light-hearted work environment even in stressful situations, and keep the Montreat magic alive all summer. The proof of their bond literally hangs on the Cloffice walls where both “inside jokes” and thank you cards reflect years of the Conference Support legacy. It was truly an honor to be welcomed into that space, even just for a few days, and to get a glimpse of the heart and humor that powers their work behind the scenes.
When I exited the Cloffice for the last time, I didn’t just walk away with notes and photos. I walked away with a new understanding of what it takes to make Montreat feel like Montreat. It’s not just the keynotes, energizers, and The Huck’s ice cream. It’s also the quiet work that goes unseen. It’s the people who show up early, stay late, and wait for the exact right moment to make magic happen.
Kayden Foyles is the marketing assistant at Montreat Conference Center as part of Summer Staff. She is a rising senior at North Carolina State University studying Communication Media.