Student & College Ministries Report 33 rd General Assembly

Transcription

1 Susan Holland Coordinator Student & College Ministries Report 33 rd General Assembly Members of the Student & College Ministries Committee are TE Mark Steimer (2013; Southeast), NO Sam Gyorfi (2013; West), TE Chris Robinson (2014; Southeast/Chairman), TE Dan Weidman (2014; West), NO Chris Brown (2014; Mid-Atlantic/College), RE Douglas Dempsey (2014; Florida), TE Scott Bowen (2015; Central South/College), TE Jonathan Shirk (2015; Alleghenies), RE David DeBruler (2015; Central South). There are currently three vacancies on the committee. Chris Robinson Chairman The Committee met October 26-27, 2012 in Livonia, Michigan and March 15-16, 2013 in Livonia, Michigan. Chairman, Chris Robinson, will be leaving the Student and College Ministries Committee, as of June The committee approved the appointment of David DeBruler as the new committee chairman. The Work of the Committee Priorities and Standards The 33 rd General Assembly approved the combination of the Student Ministries Committee and College Ministries Committee, resulting in the formation of the Student and College Ministries Committee (hereafter, SCMC). The stated grounds for amending the Rules of the Assembly were to maximize the natural connection that exists when high school students become college students, sharing networks and recognizing that many church leaders serve both age groups. A minimum of three committee members, of the twelve member committee, have expertise in college ministries. Furthermore, College Ministries retains some autonomy in its identity through a separate website, benevolence askings funds, and presentation of resources. Student and College Ministries acknowledges that the strategies of Equip, Provide and Connect (Student Ministries EPC ) and Gather, Resource and Develop (College Ministries GraD ) correspond to the EPC Missional Grid components of Equipping, Resources and Gathering. The SCMC further reaffirms their missional commitment to ascertaining the actual needs of leaders, churches and presbyteries and thereafter implementing strategies responsively. The Student Ministries Vision Statement to build a vibrant movement of missional networks throughout the EPC by Equipping youth workers for ministry, Providing encouragement and resources and Connecting them in community, is affirmed. SCM-1

2 The College Ministries Vision Statement GRaD is a movement of EPC College Ministries to Gather, Resource, and Develop EPC leaders to engage and transform today s college and university culture one student and one campus at a time, is currently under review. Goals Accomplished 1. Administration Information Systems SCM is coordinating efforts with the EPC Information Services Department to sort and prepare all existing files for archiving. This project is a one-time project that all departments in the EPC are working towards. SCM would like to acknowledge Dana Cadman, Director of Communications and Information Systems and his staff for their assistance and guidance. Archiving began in early 2013 and will continue for the next several months. The extra work load has reduced the amount of time devoted to Equipping, Providing and Connecting priorities. However, the resulting future SCM office efficiencies in accomplishing priorities will certainly make up for much of the diverted time. 2. Equip (CM-Develop) a. Online Book Study SCM continues its commitment to providing regular training in community opportunities. SCM provides video uploads, discussion forums, and collaboration on homework using the EPC Community ( Thirty-four youth leaders are studying the books, Youth Ministry 3.0: A Manifesto of Where We ve Been, Where We Are and Where We Need to Go and The Beautiful Mess: What s Right About Youth Ministry, both authored by Mark Oestreicher. The author is participating in the online conversation and upcoming conference call. b. YouTube We began creating training videos for the Online Book Study. These videos are now uploaded on the EPC YouTube channel. c. Free Webinars Promoted and participated in several free online webinars sponsored by ministries such as ParentMinistry.net on topics such as Recognizing Depression and Suicide Prevention and Current Social Media Trends of Teens. d. Youth Leader Cohorts Continue to promote and plan for this professional development and coaching opportunity. Second promotional video was filmed, featuring the testimonies of youth leaders who have participated in a Cohort. Susan Holland took an online course in Grant Writing for the Non-Profit Organization, in preparation for writing a grant to raise scholarship funds for Cohort participants. e. New Youth Leader Training Development of plan for recommending resources and coaching for first and second year youth leaders. Ongoing. f. Models of College Ministry (CM-Develop) Promotion of 5 Models of College Ministry for equipping churches, found on the college ministry website at 3. Provide (CM-Resource) a. Youth Membership Curriculum Pursuant to user suggestions, portions of the section on Communion were revised using language from the EPC Leadership Training Guide. Revised manual and downloadable versions. b. Website Transition The EPCStudentMinistries.org site was transitioned to a new host, requiring the assistance of a website designer. The transition was SCM-2

3 necessary due to changes in the original host site. The new site offers most of the same resources; however, there are numerous clinches on the new site. Additional investment in the site was postponed until the EPC.org site completes its upcoming make-over, allowing Student Ministries to transition to a new microsite at EPC.org. Subcommittee created to prepare content and design for transition to micro-site. c. Recommended Missions Opportunities The committee approved several new ministries to recommend: Project 52 (Chris Robinson), Fast of Leone (Jonathan Shirk/Alleghenies) and Juvenile Justice Mission (Eric Kelly). d. Tumblr Site Renewed interest in our Tumblr site, specifically our resources entitled Teen Same-Sex Attraction: Resources for Presenting a Biblical Perspective in a Culture of Tolerance at e. Urbana 12 Scholarships (CM-Resource) College Ministries created a scholarship fund, received applications and awarded scholarships to 23 approved applicants to attend Urbana 12, a missions conference. CM partnered with World Outreach to promote the scholarships and WO luncheon which was attended by 125 EPC young adults. Scholarship recipients submitted Reflections of their experience. 4. Connect (CM-Gather) a. Facebook and Twitter Ongoing connection with leaders in groups while providing resources to use in ministry, training opportunities and parent resources. We currently serve 367 leaders on three Facebook sites: EPC Youth Leaders (212 members); EPC Student Ministries (56 Likes); EPC College Ministries (99 members). We also have 228 Twitter followers. b. Presbytery/Regional Gatherings Several organic gatherings of youth leaders have occurred, initiated by local youth leaders, at the Southeast Presbytery meeting, Detroit area and Alleghenies Presbytery. c. Updated Database In anticipation of the new EPC database, Raisers Edge, SCM requested and were approved for a part-time assistant to contact all EPC churches to update our database. Update was completed in April d. e-letter Template for e-letter was finalized and periodic e-letters are sent out to our database contacts, informing them of upcoming equipping opportunities and providing ministry resources. New Goals and Evaluation Standards 1. Administration Information Systems Complete the sorting, filing and archiving of all Student and College Ministries files by Fall/Winter Equip (CM-Develop) a. Online Book Study Continue to offer book studies and courses online. Next study to begin in the Fall 2013 and/or Winter b. Training Videos and Webinars Reach out to EPC youth and college leaders to determine what topics are of interest and if some of our own leaders have videos SCM-3

4 to share. Videos would appear on website and EPC YouTube channel. During the 32 nd General Assembly, Student Ministries Network Luncheon, several leaders were interested in training videos concerning D-Groups (Discipleship Groups). SCM will work with the Christian Education Committee on this project. c. Youth Leader Cohort Our goal is to launch our first Cohort of 10 youth leaders to begin in the fall 2013 and continue through the Fall Until that time we will continue to promote the Cohort and raise scholarship funds. d. Regional Summits Explore the feasibility of hosting regional summits in presbyteries and locations where leaders are already gathering. The goal is to offer affordable training in community and facilitate discussion to ascertain local needs and resources. Consideration will begin in the fall of 2013 and if launched will begin as early as the winter of e. Models of College Ministry Continue to promote and expand the resources available to assist churches in reaching college students. Ongoing. 3. Provide (CM-Resource) a. Hiring and Keeping a Youth Worker Review and revise, if necessary. Begin this process at the fall 2013 committee meeting. b. Website Transition Created a sub-committee at the spring 2013 meeting to review all content of our current SM and CM websites; prepare current information for transition; identify new resources and training opportunities; and work with a web designer to upgrade the site, while still maintaining our visual identity. Work will continue until EPC.org transition is complete, estimated completion date is early c. Resource Sharing Our goal is to build into our new website a means for leaders sharing resources with other EPC leaders. Explore options during website transition and continue working on the details of this Share Tank through Fall/Winter d. Committee Commended Resources Expand our list of resources to specific areas of need, including Apologetics and Master Plan for the Spiritual Development of Students, Junior High through College. Ongoing. e. Parent Resources Explore the need and potential resources for being more intentional about coming along side parents by resourcing/training churches, ministry leaders and parents. Fall 2013 meeting and ongoing. f. Urbana 15 Scholarship Fund The recent success of our Urbana 12 scholarship program necessitates the need to begin raising funds, in anticipation of the 2015 conference. 4. Connect (CM-Gather) a. Training in Community See Equip above, for the ongoing development of opportunities to connect with other ministry leaders during various training events. b. Facebook, Twitter and e-letter Attracting new leaders to these connection points is ongoing. Serving leaders by providing resources, equipping opportunities and ways for leaders to connect using these vehicles, is also ongoing. Our goal is to make sure all EPC leaders are aware and see the value of connecting. SCM-4

5 c. Surveys One means of ascertaining the needs of those we serve is through the use of Survey Monkey. Surveys are being developed and distributed to youth leaders, college ministry leaders, young adult ministry leaders and parents of teens/young adults from the summer to fall of Results will be analyzed at the fall 2013 committee meeting. Implementation of suggestions and findings will thereafter be determined. 5. Finances In the past, Student Ministries produced income from program fees. Now that Student and College Ministries is no longer creating, maintaining, or sustaining youth/mission trips, program fees are no longer an avenue for income. As a result, the Committee needs to develop income from other sources. "Askings" from GA is our first strategy. Secondly, if permitted, Student and College Ministries may embark on some fund raising strategies. Finally, there are numerous grants available that the Committee can tap into. It will be a goal of Student and College Ministries to develop skills in writing, applying, and acquiring potential grants. Recommendations to the General Assembly None. Respectfully submitted, Chris Robinson, Chairman Susan Holland, Coordinator June 2013 SCM-5