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CCYM {Conference Youth @ Work}
Welcome CCYM members,
First, let me welcome all our new members to this 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 Reachingyouth.org and sign up for any upcoming events. This will help those who are new get a taste of what it means to serve on the Conference Council on Youth Ministries.
The expectations for you as a member includes – attend two meetings per year (CCYM Winter Meeting and Annual Conference) attend at least one Midwinter and one summer youth event. Also, each student serves until they graduate high school and adults serve four-year terms.
The purpose of CCYM is to be an advisory board for all Southwest Texas Conference youth events. For the past 12 years, since I have been in this position, CCYM has grown to help cast God’s vision among students in the Southwest Texas Conference. It’s an exciting ministry!
Please make notes of the following dates for your calendars:
1) CCYM Winter Meeting, during Midwinter 3 in San Antonio, Saturday, January 28, 2012, from 4 to 6 PM. (*see Midwinter website for how to register for this and also for location information on Reachingyouth.org.)
2) Annual Conference, Corpus Christi, June 7-10, 2012. We’d love it for you all to attend as voting members but will need to know if you are able. Talk with your pastor or church about helping with your rooming arrangements and email or call me if you can come (rhf143@gmail.com, 210-382-4581).
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
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Conference Council on Youth Ministry: Report 2011
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 2011
Our largest midwinter’s culminated with 1425 participants and over 130 churches from across the SWTC who gathered to worship, pray and hear a message of hope, grace and love during the MW11 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 MW11 was “No Matter How Far” and focused on empowering students to join the movement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ – “no matter how far” we have to go! A highlight for this year included Bishop Jim Dorff serving Communion to 431 students at Midwinter 6. In addition, a new Midwinter Mission weekend was added and hosted at Blueprint Ministries in San Antonio. Sr. High students who attended served the homeless in the city during the day. 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 15,000 participants have come to Midwinter and a large portion of those have said yes to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Thanks for being a part of this awesome movement of Jesus!
Developing Student Leaders
One of the greatest additions to the SWTC Youth Ministry is the development of student leaders through the Servant Team, Summer Interns, and newly implemented student-chaplaincy program. This group of 22 high school and college age students, 16 to 20, serves as the summer youth event staff for the Southwest Texas Conference Council on Youth Ministry. Servant Team 2011 GIRLS: Beth Ann Berkman (Assist. Chaplain), Cheyenne Boyd, Rebekah Diemert, Katrina Ellis, Phoebe Head, Nicole Johnson, Harlie Pena, Kelly Seale, Samantha Sheffield, Kelsey Smith, Maegan Skinner & Caitlan Teeple. Servant Team 2011 GUYS: Brian Freeman, Chase Harrison, Jordan Mayfield, Austin Mertz, Sam Peyton, Blake Pitchford, Eric Pokladnik, Billy Roy, Richard Smith & Logan Talamas. These students make up the Servant Team and are selected each spring by members of the Servant Team Selection Committee headed up by Rusty Freeman and Becky Jackson. The Servant Team is lead by two SWTC Youth Interns, Clay Wiemers of Fredericksburg and Haley Payne of Harlingen, and Chaplain, Todd Jones, from Austin.
My Mission
The SWTC Youth Council is entering it’s 6th year of the urban mission camp entitled “My Mission” (“Methodist Youth Mission.”) My Mission Mixed is designed for Jr. and Sr. High students (entering 6th thru 12th grades) and will be at Travis Park UMC in San Antonio, TX, Friday at 6 PM until Tuesday 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. For many, 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. Look for My Mission 2012 Extreme (Sr. High only) to be in New Orleans, and My Mission Impact (Jr. High) to return to the streets of San Antonio.
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 three camps which have grown to over 750 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 “No Boundaries.” This theme focuses on the boundless love of God to make us into the people He intends for us to be. Students will return back to the basics in Christianity and in exploring God’s great purpose for our lives and for the sake of those around us who do not yet know 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 2012, 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.” Last years funds went to the Imagine No Malaria campaign to eradicate malaria in Africa.
Youth Worship Conference
Youth Worship Conference is a music, arts and drama, worship-oriented weekend for youth. It’s only in it’s third year but is a new, multi-faceted experience to develop passionate worshippers which drew 400 participants in 2011. 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. University United Methodist Church of San Antonio is hosting the third Youth Worship Conference. 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 are lead by youth director Josh Arrington and the Mark Swayze 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.
The Methodist Youth Tent Revival, October 15-16, 2011is a return to the days of the early Methodist movement when camp and revival meetings were the norm, not the exception. Tent Revival is a time for worship, confession, revival, renewal and fellowship for youth. It’s open to any student from 6th to 12th grade of any church or denomination. It’s for all who want to come and see that the Lord is good.What’s the Purpose?
Tent Revival will focus around on-going worship in the Tabernacle (a free standing tent set up for the event.) Participants may come and go from the Tabernacle, but not the event. Prepare to relax, hang near the river, and enjoy times of fellowship and meals, and most of all - be engaged in 24-hours of prayer and worship for the LORD. What to Expect? A 24-period of prayer, worship and 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 (Location TBA). The event, November 11-13, 11, 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
James Kittleman, President
Rev. Dr. Rusty Freeman, SWTC Director of Youth Ministries
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