# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S64 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 64 PARISH, YOUTH, AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES Resources for congregations Leadership development Special ministries, such as junior high, young adults, servant events, civic youth agencies, synodical schools, and other such resources and events On Go 1983 Youth Gathering “Amigos De Cristo” (Friends of Christ) is the theme for our August 13—17, 1983, vouth gathering in San Antonio, Tex. Up to 10,000 youth and adults are expected to participate. Hundreds of people have been involved in the planning and promoting of it. Districts have worked hard at encouraging family units to attend. There is a strong emphasis on “Back Home Ministries,” whereby youth and adults will be encour- aged to continue their ministry as they return to their homes. A post-gathering resource piece is being developed to send to all LCMS congregations after the gathering to share various worship and Bible study resources and models. Synodical youth gatherings continue to be a priority item for the BYS. Much energies and efforts go into such an event, but the results are also many fold. A pattern of sponsoring a svnodical vouth gathering every three years seems to be developing. If this is the case, the next synodical gathering would be held in the summer of 1986. Depending on size limitations, it has also been suggested that the Synod consider two regional events in order to cut down size and travel costs. These recommendations are being studied by the board and staff. District youth gatherings also continue to be held through- out most of the Districts. Thirty-five of the 38 Districts held youth gatherings last year. Twelve Districts sponsored a Midwest Youth Gathering, ‘‘Reflect the Promise,” in St. Louis in the summer of 1982. where over 3,000 youth and adults attended. Youth gatherings are here to stay, at least for the coming years! Resources for Youth Ministry A most helpful resource from the BYS is Resources for Youth Ministry, our quarterly publication. This excellent piece has served adult workers with youth for many years and provides Bible studies, topics, dramas, ideas, music, and other helps. It continues to receive positive reviews from its reader- ship. Some 9,000 copies of each issue are printed. The 1983 theme is ‘‘A Time to Dance.” This theme reflects the contents which attempt to deal with various concerns of youth in the light of the Gospel message of love and forgiveness. Peer Ministry Peer ministry is one of the newer programs developed from a significant grant from Aid Association for Lutherans. It trains adults in Districts toin turn train other adults and youth to enable young people to be more caring and effective in their witness life to other young people. It attempts to help youth be more sensitive and concerned with other youth around them who often come for sharing and counsel. Twenty-three of our Districts are currently involved in this program. It is hoped that thousands of young people throughout the Synod will be helped by this special training program. Peer ministry isa new area for the Synod. In the past there has been strong emphasis on training adults for youth ministry, and now peer ministry helps to train youth for their own specific youth ministries in their daily lives. Other denominations are also looking at our peer ministry program as an effective model and tool for them in their ministry programs. Youth Evangelism BYS continues to work cooperatively with Synod’s Board for Evangelism Services in various evangelism programs. A new program, “Discipleshops,” is being developed at the present time which will help to train youth and adults in witnessing tools and techniques. The BYS also continues to support the work of Ongoing Ambassadors for Christ, which is located at St. John’s Win- field, Kans. This organization continues to give helpful train- ing to young people as they witness to their Lord and Savior. Many young people have been touched by the OAFC program through its conferences and training events. District Network Support for District youth ministry people is also a high- agenda item for the BYS. Through regular mailings, such as the District Bulletin, BYS-KIT, and other materials, the BYS attempts to keep in touch with its network through this support style. A District Leader’s Conference is held bi-annually, which brings together District executives and youth ministry commit- tee chairpersons. The last DLC was held in San Antonio in 1982, and another one is projected for October of 1984. It is at this meeting that priorities are developed and directions for the future years are shared. The BYS staff also continues to be involved in many consultations, training events, and youth gatherings through many of our Districts. We are grateful for this opportunity to be of service to our Districts as well as for the opportunity to assess their needs and resources. Youth-Staffer Program The youth-staffer program continues in a number of our Districts. For the past 15 years it has effectively served a number of our parishes by providing a youth ministry resource person to work specifically with District parishes. Due to budget limitations, some of the support both on the synodical and District levels has been decreased. It is hoped that this program can continue to be one option for Districts to consider as they review their youth ministry needs. This program provides an opportunity for a voung adult, age 18—25, to volunteer a year in service to a specific District. This person is recruited, selected, and trained by the BYS staff and placed in a District for one year. Many of these young adults, at the end of the youth-staffer period, have gone on to full-time professional church-worker careers. New Circuit Associates in Youth Ministry A new program has been developed as an offshoot to the youth-staffer program. This is called the CAYM program or Circuit Associates in Youth Ministry. This is a program where Districts select a young adult currently in their respective District who will then be trained by the BYS staff to serve as a resource person in youth ministry in his or her home District. This person would negotiate with the District in terms of how many days a month he or she would serve as a youth ministry resource person. It is hoped that many Districts will take advantage of this new approach to youth ministry. Overseas Volunteer Program Another strong program geared for young adult involve- mentin Taiwan and Japan is our Overseas Volunteer program. This ministry program is a joint project between the Board for Mission Services and the BYS. We continue to recruit, select, an train young adults who commit themselves to 24 years of service in a foreign country. This program continues to gather effective young adults who are willing to serve their Lord in this way. The BMS and BYS continue to coordinate and monitor this program. Young Adults The BYS is responsible for ministry to post-high-school persons, ages 18—25. We have been working cooperatively with other departments of the Synod in developing resource materials and directions. It is hoped that we can help sponsora number of training sessions for adults involved in young adult work. Additional materials are being developed to enable young adults to be more effective in their ministries. A new young adult catalog is being developed by all of the Synod’s departments. We also support various young adult groups who sponsor gatherings and convocations throughout the year in various Districts. Junior High Ministry A new junior high kit was developed during the past year which has met with great success. It provides models and other