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SWTC Conference Council on Youth Ministries
NEXT MEETING DATE: July 31, 2010, 10 AM to 5 PM / University UMC, San Antonio TX
 
Welcome new CCYM members,
First, let me welcome all our new members to our committee! It is exciting to have you join us and even more exciting what God is doing in our ministry! I would invite you to check out www.reachingyouth.org and sign up for any upcoming event! This will help those who are new get a taste of what it means to serve on the Conference Council on Youth Ministries.
Our CCYM officers for 2010-11 are: James Kittleman, President; James Duewall, VP; Blake Pitchford, Chaplain; Helen Heston, Treasurer; and David Kassai as Secretary.
The expectations for you as a member include - attending two meetings per year, attend at least one Midwinter and one summer youth event. Also, each student serves until they graduate high school and adults serve four years.
I hope all is well with you and that you will be able to join us during this time in October.
Blessings to you and look forward to meeting you and having you join the great work of God in our midst!!
Rev. Dr. Rusty Freeman
Dir. of Youth, SWTC of UMC
www.reachingyouth.org
210.382.4581
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CCYM Annual Report 2010
Our mission is to organize and implement all SWTC youth activities in order to promote real-life events, which inform, encourage, instruct, excite and enable the making of disciples. 1. The Message We Preach: We proclaim Jesus Christ crucified and risen so that through him people can experience salvation and experience abundant life today and eternal life to come. 2. The Mission We Proclaim: It is our purpose to lead people to God, to develop them into disciples, and to encourage them to go forth into the world. 3. The Means to Prevail: To do all things possible, to remain faithful to the calling of telling others about the hope found in Jesus Christ. 4. The Measure of Promise: To have concrete measurements by which we gauge the effectiveness of ministry in keeping with the goal of “building bridges – making disciples.”
Midwinter Retreats 2010
Our largest midwinter’s culminated with almost 1300 participants and over 100 churches from across the SWTC who gathered to worship, pray and hear a message of hope, grace and love during the MW10 weekend retreats. Dozens of youth responded to a first time decision for Christ, made rededications of their lives to God, affirmed a call to full-time ministry, and felt God close in one way or another. The theme for MW10 was “We Are A Movement” and focused on empowering students to join the movement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A highlight for this year was the addition of two Midwinter Mix weekends, which involved mixing age levels between Jr. and Sr. High students. Midwinter’s continue to be the most effective events to grow young disciples, call forth young clergy, and renew a student-generation to grow in passion and love for Jesus Christ and the Church. In the past ten years, an estimated 12,000 participants have come to Midwinter and a large portion of those have said yes to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Servant Team
One of the greatest additions to the SWTC Youth Ministry is the Servant Team. This group of 20 high school and college age students, 16 to 21, serves as the summer youth event staff for the Southwest Texas Conference Council on Youth Ministry.Congrats to the 2010 Servant Team!Interns: Guys Intern is Spencer Thomas (Kerrville) and Girls Intern is Lillie Davis (Lampasas). Servant Team Guys are: Scott Gallagher (Mason), Eric Garcia (New Braunfels), Todd Jones (Mercedes), Daniel Lumpkin (Lampasas), Hayden Payne (New Braunfels), Sam Peyton (Robert Lee), Austin Skinner (Boerne), Conner Strickland (Austin), and Clay Wiemers (Fredericksburg)Servant Team Girls include: Beth Ann Berkman (Marble Falls), Cheyenne Boyd (Bronte), Diana Brandon (Harlingen), Selina Brandon (Harlingen), Hannah Field (Lockhart), Tandy King (Cedar Park), Ruthie Long (Goldthwaite), Jessica Moore (Del Valle), Haley Payne (Spicewood), Morgan Priddy (Austin), and Kelly Seale (Burnet).
My Mission
The SWTC Youth Council is entering it’s 5th year of the urban mission camp entitled “My Mission” (“Methodist Youth Mission.”) My Mission Xtreme is designed for Sr. High students (entering 9th thru 12th grades) and will be at Travis Park UMC in San Antonio, TX, Friday, June 11 at 6 PM until Tuesday, June 15, at noon. This will be a safe but "extreme" week of homeless street experience, poverty simulation, and service in and around inner-city San Antonio. Students will gain an understanding of what it means to be homeless and to live in poverty. My Mission Impact is designed for Jr. High students (entering 6th to 8th grades) and will be at University UMC in Austin, TX, Friday, June 18 at 6 PM until Tuesday, June 22 at noon. This will be an introduction week to homeless ministry, food bank and clothing shelter mission work, interaction with those in poverty and learning how to become the hands and feet of Christ. Students are invited to attend either as a youth group or as an individual. My Mission is about putting others first, thru serving Christ and Community.
Summer Youth Camps
Summer Camps are a great place to have fun, get sprayed by water guns, and get to know God in a fun environment! With four camps which have grown to over 700 participants, SWTC youth camps offer quality programming and a positive message centered on making disciples of Jesus Christ. The theme for this year’s camp is “Epicenter.” This theme focuses on becoming renewed in the way we worship, do evangelism, serve others and transform our world for Christ. Great speakers, worship leaders, adult volunteers and youths all gather to make summer camps the best! (see www.reachingyouth.org for more info!)
Discovery Zone
“Is God calling you to ministry?” Open to ages 12 to 22, Discovery Zone is a one-day free event for youth who feel a call to ministry. Discovery Zone is crucial in integrating the next generation of church ministers and leaders. Discovery Zone is scheduled from 10 AM to 2 PM, October 23, 2010, at the Loft Coffee house, and allows youth to further explore options in ministry and work in the church. Look for this event on our web site www.reachingyouth.org. The highlight of DZ is the presence of Bishop Jim Dorff, who will be preaching again and helping encourage young people as they consider a call to full-time ministry.
Youth Service Fund
The Youth Service Fund continues to be a vital outreach for the youth of our conference. Each year over $1000 goes to local youth groups for their work with children and youth. YSF funds continue to be raised through “Penny Wars” at all conference youth events, which further the cause of “Youth Serving Youth.” This years funds went to the Imagine No Malaria campaign to eradicate malaria in Africa.
Chrysalis
CCYM in conjunction with Chrysalis is proud to announce the further development and growth of a new SWTC sponsored Chrysalis Board. This now functioning board is working together with individual Chrysalis communities in planning, registration, and coordination of their flights throughout the year. Each individual community will have two representatives who serve on the Chrysalis Board. Adrian Gonzales is the Conference Chrysalis Coordinator and offices at the SWTC.
Youth Worship Conference
Youth Worship Conference is a music, arts and drama, worship-oriented weekend for youth. It’s a brand new, multi-faceted experience to develop passionate worshippers. YWC is geared for students ages 12 to 18 (6th thru 12th grade) who want to grow in practical skills as well as develop a heart for worship leading and participating. It is a Holy Spirit encounter in reawakening our passion for Christ. The First United Methodist Church of Boerne hosted the very first Youth Worship Conference on April 16-18, which had over 300 participants. YWC is a weekend event to help reawaken the passion of worship within each youth and adult who participates. The Friday and Saturday worship sessions were led by Rev. Ryan Barnett and the Mark Swayze Band. Sunday morning was led by Rev. Dr. Rusty Freeman and the Progeny Band. Thanks to the entire YWC planning team for moving the youth of this conference closer to Christ in times of powerful worship, instructive breakout sessions, and awesome fellowship.
Dive N Deeper
Dive N Deeper is a leadership retreat for students ages 16 to 21. It is designed to be a time for deeper spiritual growth, intentional worship experiences, clergy-led small groups, and in-depth Bible study. DND is for those students who have been identified by their pastor and youth director as leaders in their church, youth group, and conference events. It is intended to build up the student leader in faith, hope, and love. DND beings at 6 PM Friday, and concludes at noon on Sunday at Alto Frio Encampment. The event, December 3-5, 10, is limited to 100 people, and will include intense Bible study, clergy-led small groups, powerful worship, as well as time for reflection, solitude and renewal.
Conference Council on Youth Ministry
CCYM is excited about helping carry out the conference theme of “Offering Christ to All.” The CCYM is ready to embrace the many new and growing opportunities in order to “Reach Youth for Christ” within and around our Annual Conference.
“Reaching Youth for Christ”
Rev. Ryan Barnett, Chair
Samuel Sanderford, President
Rev. Dr. Rusty Freeman, Director of Youth Ministries
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