PASADENA--Denominational leaders, Summer Educational Program (SEP) camp directors and youth pastors gathered at denominational headquarters Sept. 2 to 4 to pray, discuss and plan for a strategic focus on young adult, teen and children's ministries.
The meeting was convened by Dan Rogers, superintendent of ministers, to address the need for involving young people in the mission of the church.
Mr. Rogers explained that "youths are not just the future of our denomination, they are our present. We want our youths to be actively involved in our congregations, in their communities, and in the world at large."
Ted Johnston, district superintendent from Akron, Ohio, facilitated three days of discussions pertaining to how the denomination plans to be more intentional about youth ministry. The discussions began with an affirmation that the denomination values its young people.
The discussion then focused on a denominational vision and mission for youth ministry. The consensus was that at least part of the denomination's mission is to minister to its young people by
* exposing them to the gospel and bringing them into the presence of Christ
* preparing, equipping and releasing youths for ministry in their congregations, their communities and in the world at large
* developing a committed Christian community in which all generations are valued and loved.
This was followed by a discussion of strategic plans to fulfill the mission.
Dave Smith, who has served in youth ministry in the Worldwide Church of God and has earned a master's degree in youth ministry from Azusa Pacific University, urged the team to remember that these efforts must not be confined to an inward focus on the denomination.
"We must look at every opportunity as an excuse to spread the gospel," Mr. Smith explained. "That includes many opportunities that are available outside our denomination."
Barb Egbert, assistant SEP director, expressed delight in the overt and intentional statement of values that came from the meetings. "We need to explicitly tell our young people how much they mean to us," she said. "These meetings are an important step in sending a clear message that our youths are very important to us, just as they are to Jesus."
The committee urges all members of the Worldwide Church of God to reach out to all of our young people and to affirm their value to God and to the church. They also asked Worldwide Church of God members to pray that God would do a mighty work in and through the young people of the church.
YOUTH MINISTRY SUMMIT--Youth ministry leaders meet Sept. 3 at denominational
headquarters to pray, discuss and plan for a strategic focus on young adult, teen and
children's ministries. Dan Rogers, superintendent of ministers, explained that
"youths are not just the future of our denomination, they are our present. We want
our youths to be actively involved in our congregations, in their communities, and in the
world at large." [Photos by Thomas C. Hanson]
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