2018 Youth Service Fund grant recipients
Over $9,000 was raised for Youth Service Fund at Annual Conference 2017. Such wonderful generosity has led to the ability of the Young People’s Ministry Council to give grants to six Susquehanna Conference congregations, and two Susquehanna Conference youth attending Global Convocation. Award amounts for these eight applicants equal $4,388.11. The YPMC also voted to send $250 to the following Annual Conferences devastated by natural disasters in 2017: California, Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico. The stipulations on these funds is that they be used to assist in rebuilding youth ministries devastated by the natural disasters. Per UM Discipline guidelines, the YPMC will also be sending 30 percent, or over $2,800, to the National YSF to assist UM youth nationally and internationally.We are overjoyed with the prospect of being able to impact so many lives through the ministries of these congregations and individuals because of our Annual Conference’s generosity.
2018 Grant Recipients:
- St. Paul’s UMC, Mountain Top: Congolese Youth Group Start
- First UMC, Millersburg: Mission Trip
- Runville UMC Charge: Mission Trip
- St. Paul’s Calvary UMC, Williamsport: Kid’s Club
- Hershey and Hummelstown UMC’s: UNITE Youth
- Eatonville UMC, Tunkhannock: Youth Rising Afterschool Program
- Hannah Carter: Global Young People’s Convocation, South Africa
- Alex Clark: Global Young People’s Convocation, South Africa
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Youth leader certification retreat
Perkins School of Youth Ministry is partnering with Susquehanna Young People’s Ministry to offer an intensive training weekend for youth leaders. During the three-day retreat, attendees will participate in 15 credit hours of hands-on learning lead by youth ministry experts from Perkins School of Theology. Some of the 12 teaching modules offered will include: Organizing Your Ministry, Trips & Event Planning, and History of Youth Ministry. After completing the courses, youth leaders will receive a certificate in Foundations Youth Ministry from Perkins School of Theology.
The certification retreat will be held Friday, August 17, through Sunday, August 19, 2018, at Mt. Asbury Retreat Center. Cost for the event, covering training, personal workbooks, lodging, and meals, will be $300 per person. Those interested in more information or attending should email Audrey Wilder, Director of Young People’s Ministry, awilder@susumc.org.
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Northeast Jurisdiction Council on Youth Ministry Mission of Peace
The Mission of Peace is a yearly journey of discovery and Shalom to nations in our global community, sponsored by the Northeast Jurisdictional Council on Youth Ministries. Each year, every annual conference in the Northeastern Jurisdiction may select up to four youth to share in this experience. On each MOP, participants worship in churches, meet youth in churches and civic organizations, and share with people who have a similar longing for peace and understanding.The Mission of Peace for 2019 will be to the Philippines, December 28, 2018 - January 15, 2019. This trip promises to be an outstanding experience. It is the hope of the NEJ CYM that each conference of our NEJ will participate in the Mission of Peace 2019. The Susquehanna Conference last sent a youth on a Mission of Peace in 2012. We would love to send some in 2019. If you have a youth that is interested, please contact Audrey Wilder, awilder@susumc.org, for an application. Applications are due March 1, 2018.
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Top youth ministry resources for the new year
As we begin the new year, why not add a few of these great books to your reading list this year. While maybe not hot off the presses, these are helpful books to add to your libraries and to practice in ministry.
One Body: Integrating Teens into the Life of Your Church, by Sam Halverson, The Youth Cartel 2014. I very often hear, “We don’t have enough youth for a youth group.” Despair no more! Halverson’s book is a great answer to small churches with few youth, or large churches with siloed ministries. This inclusive and practical way of doing youth ministry points out all the intuitive things you’ve been doing and gives you incentive to try more.
