Assistance needed to help youth affect change as leaders
By Ed Preston“Youth leadership is more than just a pie in the face. Youth leadership brings a necessary perspective, is the hope for future leadership, and a way to bring young people to Christ. We are leaders in the church now, as middle- and high-schoolers, because we know that one day we will be in your position helping our own children become church leaders.” With this important observation, Julia, Jacob, Lydia, and Hannah offered the report of the Young People’s Ministry Council.
Julia shared that while impacted by the surrounding culture and having ways to connect and share Christ, “My faith puts me in the minority opinion.” Even so, she asserted that, “Leadership as youth in the church helps me bridge this gap.” The youth lifted up the new, fresh voice they can bring to the table of local church leadership. They offered the ability of the youth voice to help bring change in motives, opinions, and ministry options. “In twenty years I will be 36,” said one youth. “Where do you want me to be in church leadership?”
But youth leadership isn’t just about the church, it’s also the individual relationship with God. One story shared was of a church camp experience during a time of grief over the loss of a friend to cancer. “It wasn’t until church camp that I realized that the Holy Spirit has been working in his life for the future of youth. When he passed away, it was known that we were not alone. As brothers and sisters we need to make sure that the youth know they are never alone. Three levels of assistance are needed in helping youth affect change as leaders: personal, local church, and conference. On the personal level, mentoring, intentional messages of support, and personal openness to their perspectives. At the local church level, having voices on committees, sharing meaningfully in worship, and being given resources to advance their faith journey through service would help youth grow. Giving youth the grace to try and sometimes fail as part of learning and growing is part of the total support that helps them become effective leaders. At the conference and jurisdictional level, the youth need to know that you really care about us being here.”
Youth seek conversation about examples of their impact and the difference they make. Finding new ways to increase youth attendance at Annual Conference is a challenging conversation which they desire to have. We were left with these words: “I encourage you all to go back to your home church and empower your youth to be leaders for the kingdom of God.”
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| Bishop Jeremiah J. Park (right), Audrey Wilder, and the Annual Conference prayed over the delegates to the Global Young People’s Convocation being held in Johannesburg, South Africa, this summer. (Left to right) Christina McDermott, Hannah Carter, Alexander Clark, and Taylor Johnston. This is a unique discipleship opportunity for these young poeple. Follow their experience on Instagram @youngpplministry. |
And the winner is ... Young People!
By Bethany Wood
One of the Annual Conference fundraisers for the Youth Service Fund was a Pie-in-Face Challenge. Candidates included Rev. Dr. Tom Salsgiver, Audrey Wilder, Kevin Witt, John Konieczny, Rev. Beth Jones, Rev. Marian Hartman, Rev. Barry Robison, and Rev. Larry Leland Jr.
People were encouraged to “vote” by dropping spare change or loose bills into competitor-labeled buckets at the Young People’s Ministry display table.
Audrey Wilder, Director of Young People’s Ministry, stated that she should have learned [by now] how competitive this Annual Conference is, and its history of giving great support to the Young People’s Ministry.
Other fundraising efforts included a gift basket silent auction, a charging station, text2give, and the sale of printed AC workbooks. Over $7,700 was raised for the Youth Service Fund, of which a significant amount came from the pie challenge. The bottom four candidates raised $361.25 collectively. The top four candidates and the amount they raised were: Rev. Marian Hartman, $487.43; Rev. Larry Leland Jr., $632.71; Rev. Beth Jones, $659; and the “winner” – was Audrey Wilder, with $1,005.51 in “votes.” Wilder donned a red rain poncho and a shower cap to receive not one, but four pies to the face to celebrate a resounding Youth Service Fund victory.
In addition, sales of Better Together t-shirts and Polo shirts helped raise over $2,900 for Annual Conference Youth Scholarships, to help youth offset the cost of participating in Annual Conference.
