Youth in our churches

Youth ministry is an important aspect of all of our churches. Young people are influenced by many events, both in the community and in the church. Following is an update on youth in Canada, as well as the participation of a young person from our constituency in the larger youth ministry – at Mennonite World Conference.

NYC’02 continues to have impact

The National Youth Conference 2002, held over a year and a half ago in Calgary, may be a distant memory for some but several church congregations and youth are still keenly aware of its impact.

On the Saturday night of the conference, a vision God gave to several people from across Canada who were praying for us, was made reality! Hundreds of youth (individually and with their entire youth groups) responded to the call of God by His Holy Spirit to live vital, discipled lives of faith upon returning home.

This commitment made on the part of the youth who came forward has been lived out in the homes, communities and congregations of our country in incredible ways. Here are a few examples.

• Three out of five youth baptized on June 29 at Glencairn MB Church in Kitchener, Ont. mentioned how NYC’02 was the place where they decided to make their relationship with Jesus Christ a priority and evident in their lives at home, school, church and where they are employed.
• Westside Community Church youth group from Morden, Man. decided to serve at New Direction for Life Ministries (they work with those who are sexually addicted and in a homosexual lifestyle) hospice in Winnipeg after being made aware of this important ministry through a workshop at NYC’02.
• The youth leaders and youth of McIvor Ave. MB Church in Winnipeg decided to be far more servant-minded in their programming. This has led to a complete overhaul of the youth program and to two short-term mission trips last summer (July 2002) and this summer (August 2003) to native communities in northern Manitoba.
• Three out of five youth baptized on June 22 at Jubilee Mennonite Church in Winnipeg, mentioned how NYC’02 was the place that their faith relationship with Jesus Christ became personal and real.
• Several youth groups from B.C. to Ontario are serving on short-term mission with YMI as a result of the challenge laid before them at NYC’02.

Thank you to all of you who prayed for NYC’02 and who gave sacrificially to make it an experience which drew youth of our country closer to Jesus Christ.

Please begin praying for NYC’04 taking place in Toronto, Ont. December 27–31, 2004. We want to see God by His Holy Spirit move in mighty ways among us once again.

—Sherryl Koop, Youth Ministry Director

MB youth delegate to Zimbabwe for the Global Youth Summit of the Mennonite World Conference

The Mennonite World Conference takes place in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe from August 11–17, 2003. However, on the days leading up to it, several hundred youth and young adults from around the globe will be attending the first ever Global Youth Summit of the MWC from August 7–10. They will spend time worshipping together, having discussions on issues that face youth in their areas of the world and how the church can help to address these issues, visit local congregations in Bulawayo, attend workshops and enjoy getting to know one another.

The Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches was asked to supply a delegate to the Global Youth Summit and we are delighted that Hannah Sehl from Waterloo (Ont.) MB Church will be representing us.

Hannah is an 18-year-old woman who has an incredible heart for missions and the continent of Africa. She will be on a short-term mission with Waterloo MB Church youth prior to the Global Youth Summit and looks forward to the combination of these two opportunities. Hannah is a bright, delightful young woman who can articulate her faith relationship with Jesus Christ very succinctly and who loves to serve Him in her local congregation and community. She longs for the opportunity to further serve the Lord in an international setting sometime in the near future.

Your prayers for Hannah and all the other delegates at the Global Youth Summit are greatly appreciated.

—Sherryl Koop, Youth Ministry Director