By Thomas C. Hanson
At the Aug. 21 to 24 district superintendents conference in Dallas, Texas, Dan Rogers, superintendent of ministers, explained that the goal of youth ministry in the WCG is to prepare and equip youths for ministry.
"Our young people are not only our future, they are our present," Mr. Rogers said. He added that the WCG wants its youths to have an active role in local congregations and in outreach ministries in their communities.
"The last couple of years have seen a significant increase in the number of teens and children in the Worldwide Church of God who are coming into a personal and vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ," Mr. Rogers continued. "We all rejoice in what God is doing in the lives of young people in our fellowship.
"It has been an incredible blessing to witness how God is working in the lives of young people. This work of God among our youths has taken place on a personal level, within congregations, at district youth weekends and at the Summer Educational Program.
As we go to press, SEP camp directors, youth pastors and church administrators are scheduled to meet over Labor Day weekend, Sept. 2 to 4, at denominational headquarters, to discuss the vision and goals for youth ministry in the WCG. The agenda will include looking at ways to prepare young people for service in their congregations and communities.
The planning meetings will also focus on how better to minister to children and teens through activities in the local congregations, through activities at the district level and by expanding the number and accessibility of SEP camps.
In keeping with these goals, the church board of directors has decided to offer for sale the Summer Educational Program facility in Orr, Minnesota, and pursue newer and less expensive locations for the church's summer program with the goal of serving even more young people.
"Our summer camp at Orr has been one of the most vital and productive programs of our church over the years," wrote Pastor General Joseph Tkach in the September member letter. "Through the diligent efforts of our highly qualified and deeply dedicated SEP staff, young people leave camp each year with a rekindled excitement about being alive, about hope for a meaningful future and about being a Christian."
However, Dr. Tkach explained, the facility is far from major population centers (the high cost of transportation to Orr prevented many from being able to attend) and the cost of maintaining the property throughout the year is high.
Potential new sites are being evaluated. Plans call for new locations to be rented, rather than owned and maintained all year.
Mr. Tkach said that the church hopes to negotiate any potential sale of the Orr property so that SEP could be conducted in Orr for the summer of 2001.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2000