October 11, 08, 10 AM to 2 PM @ The Loft
Feeling Called to Ministry?
If you are considering a call to ministry please contact Rusty Freeman at 210.408.4510 or your local church pastor. We wlll help you discover the next steps in answering
God's call upon your life.
How to Register for Discovery Zone
It's easy! To register please email Patty Chebultz,Youth Ministry Assistant, pattyc@umcswtx.org, or call at 210.408.4538, 888.349.4191 x538. For more info contact Rusty Freeman, Director of Youth Ministries, at 210.408.4510 or rhf143@aol.com. DZ is free for all who attend. ____________________________________________________________
Do You Feel Called to Ministry?
Since 2001, Discovery Zone has been here to help! If you feel called to full-time ministry and need direction, we would love to encourage you. There is no question that God is calling young people today to respond to His wonderful plan. If the Lord is calling you then let us help. The church is desperate for students who will say "yes" to Christ to carry forth the Great Commission.
We will begin to pray for you and provide you with resources that will help discern God's call upon your life! Please email Rusty @ rhf143@aol.com.
Discovery Zone Day 08 at The Loft. This years' host of DZ will be the Loft Coffee House in Bulverde, TX. The Loft is a ministry of Riverside Community Church, a new United Methodist Church plant led by the Reverend Scott Heare.
What is Discovery Zone? It's a free-event for youth, ages 12 to 22, exploring a call to ministry. Come join us and hear intriguing speakers, inspiring worship, informative ministry small groups, and meet interesting people just like you! If you are thinking about ministry don't miss out on this awesome annual event. (lunch and ministry fair included.
Discovery Zone Day Agenda
10 AM Gathering (coffee, visit display booths)
10:30 Large Group 1
Welcome, Prayer, Worship, Message
11:30 Discovery Zone Sessions 1
1. Youth Ministry
2. Music/Worship Ministry
3. Ordained Ministry
4. Missions
5. General Ministry Questions
6. Seminary: Exploring Theological Education
7. College Ministry
12 PM Lunch (displays) APTS, Asbury, SWTC, Perkins, Cokesbury
12:30 Discovery Zone Sessions 2
(Same as above…go to a new group!)
1 PM Large Group 2
Prayer, Worship, Message & Communion
2 PM Dismissal
Discovery Zone is co-sponsored by the SWTC of the UMC Council on Youth Ministries and the SWTC of the UMC Board of Ordained Ministry.
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45 explore call to ministry at Nov. 11 event
By Rachel L. Toalson
Staff Writer
The morning dawned cool, crisp and sunny for the Nov. 11 Discovery Zone event.
More than 45 youths from 15 churches across the Southwest Texas Conference gathered at The Loft Coffeehouse in Spring Branch to explore their calls into ministry.
The event opened at 10 a.m. with casual fellowship between students and leaders. A corporate worship session followed. Then students broke into groups to visit various discussions about areas of ministry. Topics ranged from youth work and ordained service to missions and college selection.
During Discovery Zone, sponsored by the Board of Ordained Ministry and Council on Youth Ministry, students from 12 to 22 were encouraged to consider whether God was calling them to ministry.
“This is important because of the desperate need for first-career clergy in the conference,” said the Rev. Rusty Freeman, youth ministries director. “We don’t have a lot of young people coming into the clergy.”
Most of those who attended, Freeman said, were high school sophomores, juniors and seniors.
While most at Nov. 11 Discovery Zone were from nearby congregations, some, like Morgan Cole, 15, and Chelsea VanBlarcum, 18, woke before dawn to make it to the event on time.
Both from Grace UMC, Corpus Christi, they were first-time attendees hoping to learn more about the areas of ministries to which they feel called.
Morgan said he thinks youth ministry is his area of service, though he’s not yet certain. VanBlarcum knows hers is missions.Both want to change the world.
“I want my friends to see me as a good example, a good leader,” Morgan said. “I’m hoping to find a new way to show people Christ.”
VanBlarcum said, “As society changes, we need to stay up-to-date on how to stay involved. The youth are the ones who will shape the world.
“I’m looking for different ideas and ways to approach people to inspire and touch them to get involved.”
A display of books, which covered topics such as youth ministry, lay speaking ministry and missions, was arranged behind the corporate worship area for students and leaders to peruse.
Freeman told the group he believes God is calling this generation to accept Christian service with boldness.
“There’s no greater passion I have for seeing the church get younger and younger,” Freeman said.
Discovery Zones, offered several times each year since 2001, have inspired many students to enter ministry, Freeman said. One past attendee is now a church youth director.
