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Connie Graham
Director of Youth Ministry

Youth Events

Michigan Singers
Michigan Student Leadership Institute
NACOG 2010 Joint Conference
State Youth Convention
Youth Winter Retreat

Youth Leaders

Anderson's/National Youth Web site
Warner Camp
Youth Leader Mission Experience

 

Youth Ministry

Works on ministries that will aid and strengthen our cooperative work with teens. This ministry will oversee:

And consult:

Youth Ministry will continue to explore and implement ministry programs that aid youth, youth ministers (lay and professional) and youth ministries on the state and local level.

 

 

 

 


 

Time Tithe

Summer naturally brings new routines and schedules to our lives. Most of these changes we welcome and embrace, as we do the long awaited warm sun. Many of us probably experience changes in meeting times with Youth, the frequency of gatherings, and perhaps even locations too.
The days begin and end so quickly there never seems to be enough hours in the day to accomplish all the added activities. If we’re not intentional and take reality checks, our personal time with God in the summer can become diluted. And as leaders, we know we cannot lead anyone past the point where we are ourselves!

It’s imperative to keep our love relationship with our Father fresh and new and to model that to our students!

“Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next.”
I Timothy 4:7-8 NLT

Why not try these?
Time in the Car
Besides listening to Christian music, try some other methods to make your commute a time of worship! Make a prayer map of your community. When you pass a church, pray for their ministries; when you pass a school, pray for the students and staff. You get the idea…

Time Shopping
Commit to pray for three people whom you see while shopping. As you wait in line, these are great opportunities- not just letting your mind wonder.

Time at Home
Copy a Scripture you want to memorize on a card. Place it on your refrigerator or bathroom mirror. Spend time memorizing God’s Word as you get ready for your day!

Time at Work
Whether you work at church, or have a secular job, keep a Bible or devotional book in your desk. Arrive 10 minutes early to read God’s Word, or at break time. Listen for opportunities where others need encouragement or help in your workplace.

Be creative. Where can YOU make changes in the coming week in order to find more time for God?

From ACTION 3rd Quarter 2010

Know the S.T.O.R.Y. of Youth

Several years ago I read an educational article with this title, only about children, and saw the similarities with ministering to youth. As parents, Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, friends, and caring adults in the church, we must gain the most information we can about the students in our influence. Do we know their hearts? What is each S.T.O.R.Y.?

Strengths
What abilities come easy for him/her? Can we connect this youth with others in the church with similar strengths? Help them to serve in these capacities NOW, not later.

Topics
Author John Ruskin wrote, ”Tell me what you like, and I’ll tell you what you are.” What hobbies, sports, and subjects at school are favorites of the students? What projects enrapture him/her? Make sure you are asking open- ended questions to solicit the most information possible.

Optimal conditions
A cactus thrives in different conditions than a rosebush. Some youth love to be noticed while others prefer to hide in the crowd. Be sensitive to those that prefer to be behind the scenes- there are lots of tasks to do there!

Relationships
Some youth demonstrate the ability for strong leadership and others more the gift of supporting. We must be careful to not value one over the other.

Yes!
What gives the student satisfaction and pleasure? What makes him/her say, “yes!”- is it the journey or the goal? Does he/she like to keep things straight, or straighten things out? What certainly bothers one person thrills another.

All the youth in our lives are like books with the titles hidden, or CD’s with no cover- we must read them and listen to them to fully appreciate and see God’s potential and giftedness. Resist the urge to label before studying! The greatest gift we can give to our students isn’t our riches, but revealing to them their own.

From ACTION 1st Quarter 2010

Talking to God About Our Students

Whether you work directly with the students in your church or not, you are responsible for talking to God about them on a regular basis! Sometimes you may have some specific requests to bring to God, but often times not. A great way to communicate with God is to use His own Words. When we speak and pray Scripture, we are coming into agreement with God. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that God’s Word is alive and powerful!

Here is a week’s scripture and prayer paraphrasing the Biblical passage to get started.

Interested in more? Try these: Obedience to God-Acts 5:29; Mercy-Luke 1:50; Generosity- I Timothy 6:18; Peace- Isaiah 26:3; Salvation- Titus 3:5; Love of God’s Word- Psalms 119:165.

“Praying to God for someone always makes that one valuable, a gift of God, to be carefully cherished.” (unknown)

From ACTION 4th Quarter 2009

Youth Leadership Summit of the Church of God

“God honors holy hands that are dirty because they have touched people!” 90 High School, college students and adult leaders lived and breathed this philosophy July 3-7 in Washington D.C. at the National Church of God Leadership Summit. The Summit is open to all students exemplifying servant leadership.
Three students and two adults attended from Michigan. Scholarships were provided to these students who applied by the state Youth Ministry. These students have also participated in the MSLI (MI Student Leadership Institute). Students and adults formed Family Groups for the 5 days and toured, served, experienced street evangelism, studied and prayed together. An integral part of the experience was planning for ministry upon returning home.
Participants were challenged with the theme of “Pay Attention…Seriously”, taken from Ezekiel 40:4- “…Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here…” The Family Groups literally went to the streets and neighborhoods of Washington D.C. for “hands on” experiences of:

Each day we were challenged by the inspired words of Suzanne Haley, Dr. James Lewis, Eric Reeder, and Patrick Nachtigall to “walk the paradoxical streets of America’s capital- in the seat of power, surrounded by monuments to the past, promises to the future, and see a large population of displaced persons, but hear God’s voice.”
Following are excerpts from testimonies written by the MI delegates:

Please pray for all the delegates as they set the pace and impact their youth groups, congregations, and communities.

From ACTION 3rd Quarter 2009

Take Advantage of Summer Specials ...

Youth ministry in our local churches usually takes on a total revamping in the summer- often with different events, leaders, and schedules. Summertime can be a time where leaders should reflect and refresh. Someone once wisely stated, “You can’t lead anyone past where you are yourself.”

  1. You need rejuvenating connections with adults outside the church. Get involved in a community organization- look for ones that are outside the Christian culture. You’ll get the chance to have fascinating conversations with people outside your normal sphere, and create opportunities to live out your deepest calling as you impact non- Christian adults.

  2. Find a younger youth minister or volunteer to mentor. When you pour your knowledge, skills, and experiences into another, you’re not only living biblically, but will rediscover a passion that you thought might have gotten buried. Give away what’s precious to others and you’ll be given even more to give away.

  3. Reinvent yourself. In terms of what you’re doing and why you’re doing it, you need a fresh start (not resigning!) Surround yourself with people who are on top of things that are relevant, adjust to new ideas, laugh at your own mistakes and exercise your sense of humor every day- it’s the lubricant of life! Exercise and eat right. Read great books- not eat right. Read great books- not just youth ministry topics either.

New stories worth celebrating from around MI

• One youth group recently had a teen give her life to Christ at a “Power Force Rally” & are seeing growth in her life. Their group had good responses from the State Youth Convention and they are exemplifying the Body of Christ by doing ministry in a local Nursing Home every other month.
• In another church, five students were baptized this spring and they have seen many life transformations this year. 1 H.S. Senior who had been a part of Youth for Christ, started meeting with the Youth Pastor for breakfast, and has since become a Christian and becoming discipled. This Youth Group plans on meeting this summer in small Bible Study groups.
• A father recently shared with me how his son was positively affectedand challenged after our State Winter Retreat this past January. The H.S. student had come home and asked if he and his father could do Bible Study together!
• Another group is excited about the three baptisms that have occurred recently. These students, as well as many others coming, are from the community and NOT “church kids”. Many are meeting in small groups with adult leaders to further their spiritual growth!