A growing number of youth workers are finding
that their job descriptions are being expanded to include family
ministries. This year the Youth Leader Retreat (YLR) will focus on
Family Ministry. We will be returning to Lake James Christian
Assembly in northeastern Indiana. The dates are March 1-4.
Our speaker is Reverend Doctor David Henry.
Seminars include the "Biblical Basis for Family Ministries" and
"How to Integrate a Family Ministry into your Youth Work." In
addition to Dr. Henry, youth workers or directors of family
ministries will talk from their own experiences. The program
begins Thursday evening with a presentation on "Diversity and
Unity of Theology". The program will close Saturday night with a
communion and closing worship service.
YLR is a great place to network, to meet others
who do what you do and go through the same joys and frustrations
that you do. In the past, YLR has focused on topics of interest to
high school and junior high youth, but in the past several years
has been expanding to include all youth and this year will widen
its focus even more to include youth and their families.
Who should attend? Anyone working with
children, youth or families will benefit from this program.
Registration forms will be sent to each church or are available
from the NA office. The fee for adults is $100.00. Child care will
be available during the program time. The fee for children between
4 & 12 is $55.00. The registration deadline is February 1.
The Youth Subcommittee has some money available if you need
financial assistance to attend. Please contact Phil Jackson in the
NA office.
Themes Announced for NAPF and HOPE
Meetings
in Lansing
Plans are well underway for the NAPF and HOPE
meetings in June in Lansing.
The theme for the NAPF meeting is Dive In!
The meetings will start with Steven Curtis Chapman's video
"Dive". Each day will focus on a different Bible verse as we go
through the steps necessary to dive into a deeper faith. Daily
topics will be: standing on the shore/testing the waters (Hebrews
11:1); Taking the leap of faith/jumping into the water (Matthew
14:22-32); swimming with a snorkel/exploring but must come up for
air (Luke 8:22-25) and total submersion (1 Peter 1:13-16, 23)
The theme for the HOPE meeting is Send Me.
We will be discussing making the choice to serve God for
themselves, what it means to be a servant and how to be a servant.
Bible verses are Isaiah 6:8 and John 20:21.
Monday afternoon both groups will be
participating in a mission project. Further details will be
announced in the NEWS and the Congregationalist.
PMV to Follow Lansing Meetings
Pilgrim Missionary Voyages offer high school and college
age young people an opportunity to take a mission trip. This year
there will be a trip immediately following the meetings in
Lansing.
Participants will stay at Olivet College and will work on
projects in that area. The program will begin on Wednesday and
continue through Friday night with departure being on Saturday
morning.
Thanks to Olivet College and the support received for PMV at
the Green Bay annual meeting, the cost will be under $100.
Building Assets in Youth
Do you appreciate the contributions of children in your
church, both in terms of the work that they do and the joy that
they bring? How long has it been since you thanked a child? Thanks
can be a simple thank you, a written note, or a small token.
Young children love to help their parents when
they usher, hand out bulletins, or greet. School age children can
help their parents take offerings. It is a great boost to know
that they can do things that adults normally do.
|
