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Youth workers get energized, affirmed at Connection 2005

Apr. 6, 2005

NOTE: Photographs are available at http://umns.umc.org.

By Kathy L. Gilbert*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)-Overworked, underpaid and "pizza'ed out," more
than 200 youth workers gathered at West End United Methodist Church to
be reminded that they are "beloved children of God" "masterpieces of
God's creation" and "called by God" to teach and lead young people.

Speakers and workshop leaders spent four days reminding youth workers of
how important their roles are in the lives of young people and giving
them tips and tools for carrying out their ministry. Connection 2005 was
held March 30-April 3 and sponsored by the denomination's Board of
Discipleship.

The Rev. Michael E. Williams, pastor of Blakemore United Methodist
Church in Nashville, started the conference by telling participants they
were "beloved children of God."

Williams asked the youth workers to think about how easy it is to make
someone feel unloved. "Do you know how many youth, children, adults have
no idea how beloved they are? The most important thing you can be for a
young person is to be someone beloved and an example of someone who is
abiding in God's love."

The Rev. Vance Ross, executive with the Board of Discipleship, energized
participants April 1 by challenging them to remember that to do this
work, "You must be called! You can't do this just because you need a
job."

Vance told participants to remember their "called text," the biblical
scripture that brought them to youth ministry.

"One of the young people in your charge may be God's architect for
changing the world," he said. "You are not here by incident or accident;
you are here by God's providence. What is your call text? What is God's
dream for you and through you?"

Sam Kautz, director of youth ministries for Anoka (Minn.) United
Methodist Church, said Connection 2005 was "recharging." "A lot of the
focus has been to sharpen how we are being shaped and the challenges we
face," he said.

Youth leaders started their days with prayers, followed by a plenary in
which they were challenged to tell their stories and connect with one
another. Workshop topics ranged from balancing family and ministry to
understanding how personality impacts ministry.

"The core team and myself wanted to plan an event that allowed the
participants to be self-cared for while at the same time affirmed in
their ministry," said Susan Hay, director of youth ministry at the Board
of Discipleship. "We wanted to empower them and send them back a better
people."

Dayton Edmonds, a Native American storyteller, led a workshop on "seeing
through different eyes." Telling stories passed down to him by his
grandparents, Edmonds said, "What is good for one is not necessarily
good for another, and what is truth today may be a nontruth tomorrow."

Solomon Odoom, pastor at Floyd Grace (Iowa) United Methodist Church,
said the workshops were "reaffirming and encouraging." Odoom, from
Ghana, West Africa, said when he was a boy, someone helped him discover
Jesus. "It is my mission to help someone else discover Jesus," he said.
"If I had not been helped by a youth worker, I don't know what would
have happened to me."

The Rev. Reggie Blount, who preached April 2, told participants to "live
your life like the masterpiece God created you to be." Youth pastors
must be willing to guide, shepherd, nurture and "be the catalyst that
helps youth stir up the gifts God has already placed inside." Blount is
an instructor of Christian education and youth ministry at
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and senior pastor at Trinity
African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Youth sell themselves short and convince themselves they are inadequate,
he said. "They need to hear a message that says life is hard, and it's
certainly not fair, but God never promised us an easy life. But through
Jesus Christ, God did promise never to leave or forsake.

"Beloved, let's engage the prophetic voices of our youth by offering
them a pastor willing to love, willing to guide, willing to direct,
willing to care."

For more information on youth ministries, go to
http://www.gbod.org/youth/.

*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in
Nashville, Tenn.

News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470
or newsdesk@umcom.org.

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United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org