SIC youth explore a future in ministry

By Becky Minglin

Over the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, 28 of South Indiana's senior high school youth gathered at Camp Indi-Co-So with seven adult mentors to assess their spiritual gifts and attend seminars on lay and clergy ministry opportunities. The Sr. High Leadership Retreat was sponsored by the Division of Outdoor Ministries and the Conference Board of Youth Ministries.

During the two-and-a-half day event, the group heard discussions on ordained ministry, bi-vocational ministry, missions, youth ministry, camping ministries, music ministry, Christian writing and sharing your faith in the secular workplace. Stuart Barnes-Israel, a member of Greensburg UMC and an officer on the CBYM, led a workshop entitled Ministry at School that was based on the challenges he faced in starting a Bible study at school when he was in seventh grade.

In addition to the time spent in large group seminars, the youth spent time in praise and worship led by Jon Hart of Hart and Soul, met with mentors in small groups, played games, wrote and performed skits. The small groups provided 17-year-old senior Gretchen Hargis of North Side Community UMC in Terre Haute a "family" to share with.

Recognizing that God calls everyone, the youth participating came with the hope of growing in understanding of God's call and knowledge of what to do next. Knowing that God is calling him to seminary after college, Chris Burkhart, a high school senior from Southport UMC, appreciated the information on the deacon and elder tracks that was provided by the Rev. Frank Van Allen. Large-group seminars and small-group discussions were what Chris enjoyed the most. He also liked the music of Hart and Soul, who provided praise and worship music for the weekend.

Staci Munroe, a 17-year-old senior from St. Paul UMC in Bloomington was encouraged to attend the leadership retreat by her youth director, Laura Gardner. Staci believes her call may be to nursing school and then as a medical missionary. While still unclear on exactly what God wants her to do, she feels the program provided her with an opportunity to meet other youth with similar goals and to hear their perspectives on serving God.

Freshman, Noah Coley of Center Point UMC, found the retreat to be a "good place to worship God and get information on ministry." Noah liked hearing professionals tell how they live out their faith in the secular world.

Because of the success of this event, Kevin Wrigley, Executive Director of Outdoor Ministries, is already working to set dates for next year's retreat.

Chris Burkhart summed up the weekend by describing it as "Fun. Sleep -- minimal, showers -- cold. God -- present."

Becky Minglin is the SIC youth coordinator.

Last updated on 01/14/2004

Questions or comments: webmaster@inareaumc.org