N.Y. Ministry Reaches Out to Youth Leaders Through Web
Wednesday, Jun. 27, 2007 Posted: 3:50:39PM EST
A local youth ministry located in Deer Park, N.Y., is running a new website in an attempt to help other group ministries around the United States grow.
The group, which runs out of Deer Park Presbyterian Church, is sharing resources and creating a forum for other youth leaders to speak out on. They hope that it can grow into a valuable supply for church leaders and growing youth.
“We, youth leaders, need to help our young people enjoy their youth as we teach them the love that emanates from our creator,” explains the group on the new website, ChristianYouthGroup.org. “When we accomplish this, Christian friendships are formed.”
The idea for the site came after a recent initiative by the church that ended in March as part of World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine campaign, which offers aid to in-need children around the globe.
Group organizers realized that they wanted to share all the great things that had happened within their ministry and to show what was working for them. They also recognized that others could give their input as well and create a forum for youth leaders to help each other gain valuable skills.
As part of the many sections on the site, Tim Ferguson, the head of the Deer Park church, encourages all youth leaders to visit the “Testimonial Page” and help each other evolve.
“The more people that share their thoughts and ideas on the site, the better youth workers we shall all become,” he explained in an email.
In addition, an “Activities Page” lays out two kinds of activities that will either teach or simply be fun and bond youth groups together. A companion book written by Ferguson, titled Not the Same Old, Done-it-before Youth Meeting, also provides helpful tips to aid youth leaders in expanding their ministry’s success.
A unique “Youth Speaks Out Page” has turned into a cross-continental dialogue ongoing between the church’s New York kids and children in the East Africa and Uganda.
The web page also includes a “Question of the Month” to address popular topics inside youth ministries such as “Why does God allow children to suffer?”
Ferguson hopes that all the content will provide a strong tool that can build up Christian youth and improve their leaders around the globe.
“My wife, Linda, and I have been richly blessed and I trust that all of you, my fellow Christian youth workers, have been equally touched by your youth ministries,” concluded the ministry head on the website. “This site was created to develop a special place to share ideas and experiences. It has recently been blessed by a group of young people from Uganda who have been sharing their stories with young people from New York. I look forward to hearing and learning more from them and from other Christians across the country and around the world.”
