Site
Contents
 |
General Information about the Area Office
North Indiana Conference Office
South Indiana Conference Office
Prayer Guides
(Courtesy of the NIC Prayer Team)
Area United Methodist
Foundation
For resources to assist your congregation in welcoming guests,
click here
Seashore District Volunteer Center VIM project -- Completed
Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
September 2001 |
Valparaiso youth prompt revival
By Ed Fenstermacher
Special to the Hoosier UM News
Valparaiso First UMC has discovered that the more it invests in the spiritual lives of its youth, the more the youth have brought spiritual revival to the rest of the congregation. What does investing in the spiritual lives of youth look like? According to Tammy Clark, the church's full-time youth minister, it starts with the church praying for the youth, the youth ministry and leaders.
Rather than planning youth events and then praying that God would bless them, the focus is on putting God at the center and focusing on the movement of the Holy Spirit.
Clark warns that such an approach takes times to develop, several years; it's not a "quick fix" for an ailing youth ministry. You won't instantly attract large crowds and experience immediate results.
What's the first step? For First Church it was to prayerfully identify persons to help with the ministry. Twenty adults were identified, eighteen agreed to help, some by praying, others by becoming advocates for youth, and still others to serve as youth counselors.
These people then became the church's primary youth ministry team. Initially, their sole purpose was to pray for the youth and their programs. Eventually, some youth joined them and they began to help plan and lead the church's Sunday evening youth program called "Solid Rock."
Solid Rock begins at 5 p.m. with a senior high gathering. At 5:45 p.m., the junior high youth join them for a time of worship led by the church's youth praise band. At 6:10 p.m. a meal is served. And then from 6:30-7:15 p.m. the junior high youth have their gathering.
On Sunday mornings the youth gather for the "Break Away" program. Enjoying juice and donuts, the youth, with the help of an adult facilitator, respond to a common presentation of the Gospel through discussion and prayer.
Each Wed. morning at 6:30 a.m. the youth meet for "McPrayer"; a time for the youth to pray together at the local McDonald's. Later that evening, youth interested in serious Bible study gather as a part of the church's family night ministry called "Stepping Stones."
As a result, Valparaiso First UMC is now reaching 170 youth with a ministry that is God-centered and prayer-powered.
Last updated on 01/14/2004Ed Fenstermacher is the associate director for church development and
revitalization for the North Indiana Conference.