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.

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

CCYM Spring 2010 Meeting Agenda and Directions

CCYM Annual Conference Report 2009

Our Mission – www.reachingyouth.org

Our Mission – www.reachingyouth.org
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.”

NEW CCYM Officers for 2009-10

President - Samuel Sanderford (Sierra Vista UMC, San Angelo)

Conference Council on Youth Ministry – Conference Report 2009

Our Mission – www.reachingyouth.org
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 2009
Over 1150 youth and adults from across the SWTC gathered to worship, pray and hear a message of hope, grace and love during the MW09 weekend retreats in January and February. Many 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 MW09 was “Revolution” and focused on empowering students to join the revolution of love Jesus started 2000 years ago. A highlight for this year was the addition of two Midwinter PLUS weekends, which involved two 4 day retreats for Sr. High. 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.

Servant Team
One of the greatest new additions to the SWTC Youth Ministry is two-year old Servant Team. The Servant Team is a group of 20 high school and college age students, 16 to 21 who serve as the summer youth event staff for the Southwest Texas Conference Council on Youth Ministry. Congrats to the 2009 Servant Team Members! 1) BOYS SERVANT TEAM: Brock Bomkamp (Guys Intern); Wyatt Aquirre, Cedar Creek; Dustin Bruce, Lampasas; Eric Garcia, New Braunfels; Kelby Jones, Lampasas; Todd Jones, Mercedes, TX; Brent Phillips, San Marcos; Conner Strickland, Austin; Spencer Thomas, Kerrville; Clay Wiemers, Fredericksburg; Weldon Hemp, Corpus Christi. 2) GIRLS SERVANT TEAM: Shadia Rezaie (Girls Intern); Briana Cochran, Marble Falls; Lillie Davis, Lampasas; Hannah Field, Lockhart; Chelsea Griffith, San Angelo; Tandy King, Austin; Jenny Smith, Mason; Amber Hudson, Cedar Creek; Jessica Moore, Cedar Creek; Shelby Randolph, Lampasas; Madeline Strickland, Lake Travis.

MY Mission
The SWTC Youth Council completed the third year of a new urban mission camp entitled “MY Mission” (“Methodist Youth Mission.”) The week includes staying, serving and at Northwest Hills United Methodist Church in Austin. Each afternoon groups visit the homeless shelter, Capitol Area food bank as well as other ministries within the city. The goal of MY Mission is to reach out with the love of Christ to those in urban and inner city. Over 171 participants attended MYM09!

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 and 600 participants (our largest summer ever!!), 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 “ReThink Church.” This theme focuses on rethining 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 24, 2009, 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 for 2008 and 2009 is the presence of our new 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 mission 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.”

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 Choir Rally
The University United Methodist Church of San Antonio hosted the 48th and final Youth Choir Rally. Next year, YCR will become the YOUTH WORSHIP CONFERENCE offering an array of worshipping leading and instrumental skills for upcoming worship and choir leaders. It marks a significant change in the direction of SWTC youth ministry in helping create worship leaders for the next generation!

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, November 6-8, 09, is limited to 40 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

Reachingyouth.org / Council on Youth Ministry - The Southwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church - Council on Youth Ministry, 16400 Huebner Road, San Antonio TX 78248 - 888.349.4191, 210.408.4538 (wk), 210.408.4553 (fax) / rhf143@aol.com. For general information on the Southwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, a list of our programs and ministries, please visit our annual conference site at www.umcswtx.org.