Next Generation: Upcoming Workshop to Empower, Equip Youth

Mar 1, 2016 | UA News

Article and photos by Urban Alliance staff.

Be among the first youth ministries to participate in a workshop especially developed by World Vision to empower young people to reach their generation and develop meaningful peer-to-peer relationships.

Young people are important and critical members of the body of Christ. Youth ministries within congregations are a needed and vital part of the life of the church. Helping young people connect meaningfully to the church and their role in it requires intentional partnership with adults who are charged with discipleship and the development of young people.

Using the Community Youth Development framework, this workshop will address the following: 

  • The church and the role of youth ministry through the lens of Community Youth Development
  • Development principles within the context of Christian spiritual formation
    • Character development consistent with Christian discipleship
    • Compassion for others
    • Cultivating a heart of forgiveness
    • Christian leadership
  • Building a sense of missional community within youth groups
    • Building peer relationships within youth groups

Discussion will focus on the image of God found in one another and our need to understand the importance of relationship/friendship as a way to discover God.

Date: Saturday, March 19, 2016

Time: 9:30am-1:30pm

Location: Urban Alliance, 62 Village Street, East Hartford, CT 

Churches are encouraged to register 1-2 adult leaders and 2-3 youth. Registration deadline: March 11, 2016. Click to Register Here!

Churches in the Urban Alliance network that participate in this workshop are eligible to apply for a grant to put what they have learned into action.

Questions? Please contact Rosaicela Rodriguez, Urban Alliance’s Director of Implementation, Children & Youth, at 860.986.6052 or rosaicela.rodriguez@urbanalliance.com.

The staff at Urban Alliance are familiar with Pastor Frank because he is a regular attendee to many of the trainings Urban Alliance provides on subjects like domestic violence, addressing childhood trauma, and better counseling techniques. โ€œThatโ€™s been so valuable to me to be able to bring that back, not only in my counseling but also in my teaching and preaching ministries, โ€œ shared Termine.

Pastor Frank was also one of the original members of the Micah group, a group of pastors that meets at Urban Alliance to discuss and strategize about challenging issues that face the church today. One of those earlier discussions on justice, incarceration, and returning citizens was particularly memorable. โ€œWe all lamented the fact that these men and women were coming out of prison into our churches and just kind of being thrown there,โ€ said Termine, โ€œWe could do better than this.โ€ That discussion planted the seeds that eventually led to the creation of Second Chance Churches – an opportunity for churches to provide support and mentoring to returning citizens that continues today.

When we asked Pastor Frank what he would say to another church that was unaware of Urban Alliance, he said, โ€œIf you are looking to get out in the community and make a difference in the community, Urban Alliance is a super way to do it. Weโ€™re a small church โ€ฆ we canโ€™t do everything. Urban Alliance is a pathway to get our people involved in ministries that are already doing it, doing it well, and just need extra volunteers.โ€

Pastor Frank Termineโ€™s story embodies many things we are trying to accomplish at Urban Alliance: supporting organizations in the communities they serve with training, resources, and opportunities to make a difference. Pastors and non-profit leaders face a wide range of challenges and, therefore, need a wide range of help and resources. Your support can help turn stories of struggle into stories like you find at Calvary Church.

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