Confirmation 2010

Search Team Report:

At the December Congregational Meeting, the Youth Committee search team offered a report summarizing progress over the last year. Here is a synopsis of that report and the proposed advertisement / job description we have developed for a Youth Leader (see following page).

In January of 2009, we engaged the services of Pr. Chris Lyons, a Youth Minister in Oregon. Chris is uniquely qualified for our purposes. He is a successful Youth Minister. He grew up in SLC and is familiar with our needs in SLC. In our review of existing youth programs at Zion, we found there is much to celebrate:

• There is a great motivation to make something happen for young people NOW!

• There are great people already serving successfully in youth ministry!

• The music program at ZELC is a gift to the youth and the congregation. Our pastor is passionate about youth ministry and loves children.

We also identified areas that need to be improved:

• There is an inadequate game plan and lack of vision and direction.

• There is confusion about the best role and function for paid staff.

• There is lack of consistent and coordinated volunteer support.

There is frustration about the roles of parents’ involvement in youth ministry and in support of the faith journey(s) of their own kid(s). Chris offered several recommendations, which we have begun to implement:

• Liz Prystas has developed a prayer program in which we have adults praying daily for students, students praying for adults and students praying for each other.

• Youth Committee is organized, meets regularly and has a permanent seat on Zion’s Council elevating the importance of youth programs generally.

• We know that kids will report 5-6 influential adults in their journey to faith. One youth leader cannot fill all roles for all kids. Each of us must commit to being involved actively in the programs for youth.  In support of Pastor Steve and Confirmation, Christian Ed (currently Marci Hall) has taken over the coordination of the confirmation program.

Only now, with the programs above in place, we begin to understand the role for a paid staff Youth Leader. The Youth Committee will continue its work in support of youth programs. As springtime comes, we will be recruiting for replacement committee members to work in a support role for our Youth Leaders (paid and volunteer) and we’ll ask everyone at Zion to consider in what ways you are available to support this most important task. Available for viewing is the job description and advertisement for our Youth Leader position. We will very shortly be placing this document in both regional and nation publications to search for interested candidates. Please hold the Search Team, our efforts and our candidates, in your prayers as we move forward. Thank you for your current and future support.

Search Team

ZY Jam, Zion’s Youth Praise Band, will rehearse each Sunday immediately following worship.

ZY Jam is for Junior and Senior high school age youth.  Questions, please see Susan Swidnicki or Brian Ruggles or contact Zion church 582-2321 about joining our band. This group will perform several times at Zion throughout the school year. 

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