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Connie Graham
Director of Youth Ministry

Youth Events

Michigan Singers
Michigan Student Leadership Institute
National Inspirational Youth Convention
Spring Thing
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.

Connie Graham, Director of Youth Ministry

Connie Graham graduated from Anderson University with a degree in Elementary Education and Michigan State University with a graduate degree in Language Arts, which led to teaching in the St. Johns, MI Public Schools for 27 years. During that time she and her late husband were Youth Leaders in the St. Johns Church of God, organizing and leading state camping and winter retreats.

Currently, Connie lives in Midland with her husband Jerry, who is the Youth Pastor of the Eagle Ridge Church of God. In addition to work at the church, she volunteers at the local Pregnancy Resource Center as a Client Advocate, which she finds very rewarding. Connie and Jerry have 4 adult children scattered around the U.S. and are the proud grandparents of 2 grandsons and a granddaughter, with another Graham to be added in May, 2010!

Connie has served on the State Youth Ministry Team for over 11 years and chaired several Task Forces. Connie has been the Director of Youth Ministry since 2005, working with many wonderful Youth Pastors and volunteers in the state in planning events and mentoring.

 

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!

Surgery Follow-up
Thank-you so much to my many friends around the state that have prayed and inquired about my health following my hip replacement surgery. It was such a blessing to have the entire State Youth Convention pray for me during the Sunday morning service.
I’m doing great!

From ACTION 2nd Quarter 2009

The Reversal of Destiny

“Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (I Peter 2:10) Scripture teems with accounts of changed lives- those who had their destinies reversed. They met and had a personal relationship with the Lord, just as we must today. God appoints, or allows circumstances in our lives, no matter our age, to redirect our paths.
I learned a new word this week in Bible Study- “peripety”. It means a sudden turn of events that reverses the expected or intended outcome. A “peripeteia” swiftly turns a routine sequence of events into a story worth telling. The extreme joy for everyone in Youth Ministry would be to experience more of these “sudden turn of events” with students. We provide for multiple events- weekly lessons, conventions, Mission trips, retreats, etc., because we can never be sure when the pivot point will occur. We shout out praises whenever and wherever we see growth!
New “Stories Worth Telling”
from around Michigan-