Conversation on Regional Youth Ministry to Happen in January

If you keep doing the same things, you can expect the same results!

In that spirit, Carolyn Reed, Associate Regional Minister, has been wondering how the Christian Church in Indiana might make regional youth ministry more effective for all of Indiana’s Disciples youth. A conversation a few months ago led to a call for a region-wide conversation on regional youth ministries and its direction. Reed believes that the region may be under-serving populations of youth in Disciples’ congregations in Indiana.

The conversations will take place on Saturday, January 8 from 3:00 until 5:00 p.m. at Westview Christian Church, 5925 W. 34th St., Indianapolis.

Those currently active in regional youth ministry intend to make this an open conversation, as well as an inclusive conversation. Carolyn and the Indiana Youth Commission would like to hear from both those currently invested in regional youth ministry and those who are not. Carolyn has been on staff in the region leading Indiana’s youth ministry for almost 12 years, and this is the first for this kind of conversation in that time.

It is time!

The invitation to attend and participate in this conversation is open to all. The table is open to help discover future direction for regional youth ministry. To help with planning and to insure adequate setup, please email Carolyn at carolyn@ccindiana.org if you are able to attend.

If your calendar does not permit your attendance, join in prayer for the this conversation. If you would like to offer any thoughts in writing, please send those to Carolyn and they will be taken into account.

Youth, Young Adults Share Mission Experiences

Youth and young adult groups from Central Christian Church in Lebanon combined to carry out three mission trips this summer.

Chi Rho youth from Central Christian in Lebanon bring down the walls of a house being razed in Neon, Ky.

A group of Chi Rho youth and their sponsors, 16 people in all, traveled to Neon, a community in southeastern Kentucky, from June 14 to June 20.  While there, the group worked with HOMES (Housing Oriented Ministries Established for Service), a non-profit organization that builds and repairs houses for low income families living the Neon area.

The group’s task for the week was to demolish one of two houses in such bad repair that they were creating a health and safety issue for the surrounding neighbors.  It was the hope of the HOMES staff that after the two homes were demolished and the lots were cleared that the town would use the ground for a community playground.

What at first seemed to be an overwhelming task was accomplished as the group’s skills, confidence and determination increased.  By the end of the week, the youth had made so much progress that they were split into two groups, with one group returning to finish work on the house and another group assigned to help pour footers for a new home being built.

A group of 13 CYF youth and sponsors traveled to Murfreesboro, Tenn., to work from June 21-27.  Hosted by First Presbyterian Church, the group spent the week working on a Habitat for Humanity build.  Although it was was first Habitat build for most of the group, they worked diligently with the Habitat staff and local volunteers to take a house from a slab foundation to locked with windows and doors in less than five days.  The workers from Central even had time to share an evening meal with their sister congregation, Central Christian Church, in Murfreesboro.

Then, during the week of August 2-8, seven young adults traveled to Kent County, Mich., near Grand Rapids, to work with Habitat for Humanity there.  Hosted by Wyoming Park United Methodist Church, the group spent its first day working at the Habitat ReStore, where local builders and stores can donate surplus building and decorating supplies.

The rest of the week they worked at two houses being renovated for Habitat-qualifying families. These are houses that are too good to tear down and just need some TLC to once again be livable and bring pride to the neighborhood. Most of the work involved preparing and painting walls and woodwork, doing small repairs to windows and doors, cleaning, and helping make lists of those things that still need to be completed.

The youth and young adults of Central Christian Church, Lebanon, demonstrated their ability to rise to a challenge and their commitment to giving of themselves to benefit others.

Children Active in Lafayette Congregation

Children from First Christian Church, Lafayette, prepare boxes for Operation Christmas Child

Children and youth at First Christian Church, Lafayette, have been actively involved in outreach ministries.  They recently completed their annual “Tools For Schools” program. “Tools for Schools” helps to provide school supplies for local children.

Children and yout at First Christian will soon begin stuffing boxes for “Operation Christmas Child.”  The boxes will be sent to children around the world in hopes of sharing God’s word with them.  The youth of the church have also helped the congregation reach out to the community, serving lunch to the homeless as well as raising money for the “Hunger Hike.”  The youth are able to share excitement and gain valuable insight by serving their downtown neighbors. 

Michelle Schluttenhofer serves as Director of Children  and Youth Ministries at First Christian. Greg Eberhard serves the congregation as senior pastor.

Reconciliation Grant Helps Youth Attend Camp

Iglesia Hermandad Cristiana (IHC) (Discípulos de Cristo) in Indianapolis, Ind. has had a very full summer.  In the spring of this year, the congregation wrote a grant proposal to the Regional Commission on Reconciliation for funds that would allow them to send their junior and senior high students to the Indiana Region’s camp programs during the months of June and July. 

Youth and other members from Iglesia Hermandad Cristiana pose with Associate Regional Minister Carolyn Reed following the celebration on August 23.

As a result of the grant being approved and additional regional camp scholarships being secured through the Regional Office, 18 youth were able to attend the summer camp programs offered at Camp Barbee and Bedford Church Camp.  In addition, one of the young adults from IHC, Francisco Pérez, was also able to serve as a counselor for the Bedford CYF Camp in July.

On Sunday, August 23, IHC held a special celebration in recognition of the youth that were able to attend, the congregation’s leadership that provided transportation to and from the camps and Carolyn Reed from the Regional staff. 

Alejandra Alpizar represented the youth of IHC and expressed the appreciation for the experience. He indicated that the time at camp is now motivating the youth from IHC to become more involved not only with the local church youth program but also with other opportunities that will be offered by the Region throughout the year.

The youth, mostly Hispanic with one Vietnamese member, were first time attendees to such an event.  One of the purposes of the camp experience, as it was outlined in the proposal to the Commission on Reconciliation, was to provide and share a multicultural experience to the  youth of IHC for this summer’s camp program.

IHC is grateful to the whole Regional staff for their collaboration throughout this process.  We are especially thankful to Cheryl Cloar, who presented the request before the Commission on Reconciliation, Carolyn Reed, who had major responsibility for working with registration and assignments for the campers, and Vonnie Cloud and Enid Colón who worked with finalizing registrations through the Regional Office.

Following the camp programs, the congregation was also involved with different aspects of the General Assembly which met in Indianapolis, IN from July 29 to August 2.  On Sunday, August 2, IHC, together with Meadlawn Christian Church and Casa del Alfarero, served as host to over 150 in worship, primarily Hispanic delegates to the General Assembly, at the Meadlawn Church facility.  The Reverend Héctor Méndez, one of the founding pastors of IHC, was the guest speaker.

IHC is grateful to all who have helped to make this a very memorable summer and commit to working towards other such experiences that can unite us as one Church in Christ.