Conference Youth Report

What is a youth worker? What do they do? Yes, they minister to young people and yes, they have a heart for young people. But how do they function-or better yet, how should they function? May I suggest to you that a good youth worker will function like a missionary.

Reality is teaching us that the United States of America is one of the largest mission fields on the planet. Look around today and you will notice that within the American culture is a subculture of youth that has its own language, cultural rules, traditions and idiosyncrasies (there's your big word for this report!). Youth workers function like a missionary to this youth subculture by learning it and infiltrating it with the timeless love, grace and truth of Jesus. The godly youth workers of the Pacific Conference would give their lives for their students and many do every day they set their agenda aside and enter into meaningful and God-centered relationships with students who desperately need Jesus. The face of youth ministry has changed-less frills and more foundation; less dodgeball and more depth. Your youth workers are committed to their students and their Savior more than ever before. This is a good thing-no-it is a great thing for our churches and for our conference.

Please continue to pray for and support your youth workers. Many of them will go days or weeks without recognition of the importance and dare I say, strategic nature of their ministry to students. Encourage them-give them raises-volunteer for their next event-but please don't forget to pray for them.

As you know, this year was filled with many great successes in our camps as well as a few tragedies. I still hear reports from students about how God worked in them at Camp Mayfield and how He continues to change them. We look forward to a new year of God's blessing and leading in our summer camps. We also rejoice in the Lord for how He has continued to heal Bryan Mendez and raise up people to support him spiritually and financially. Please continue to pray for and give towards Bryan in his recovery.

What's on the horizon? Thanks for asking..it is our desire as a board of student ministry to continue to encourage youth workers in our conference through a less formal form of regional pastoring (like what Supt. Bill is moving toward), training opportunities (Youth Specialties), and resourcing. We also are working on some ways to best bring up student leaders within our conference and help direct them in areas of ministry and church leadership.

I sincerely thank you for believing in your youth workers and especially, your youth. Continue to pray for your students, youth workers, and the conference youth ministry.

Peace! (youth slang for "May the peace of Christ dwell with you richly")

Erin Loftis, Conference Youth Director.