K IDS
GOING BEYOND SERVICE TO THE ELDERLY, FORMING MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS .......... 2
ISSUE 1
OCTOBER
2011
CONFESSIONS OF A CAMP COUNSELOR .............. 3
Y OUTH L EADERS—FINDING THE P URPOSE FOR Y OUT H M INISTRY .................. 4
INFORMING ABOUT AND ENGAGING IN GOD’S EXCITING WORK AMONG THE YOUTH OF THE GREAT SOUTHWEST
The end we ought to propose to ourselves is to become, in this life, the most perfect worshippers of God we can possibly be, as we hope to be through all eternity. - Brother Lawrence (17th Century)
Dealing with the ebbs and flows of youth attendance By Captain Elizabeth Welch, Casa Grande Corps There are times in the life of a Corps when it can lose generations of children. Tough economic struggles add to the difficulty in keeping kids involved on a regular basis. Many children face evictions and living in cheap hotels. These kinds of situations have most likely affected the programming at many Corps, and Casa Grande is no exception.
had left over water from the summer hydration program. We decided to offer water to children walking home from the elementary and middle schools across the street from us. We also began to send home flyers for parties. After a poorly attended Valentine’s Day party, we felt a little discouraged, but were determined to start some kind of weekday programming.
In August of 2009 we suffered the loss of 4 households, which left us with no children on Sundays. That summer, we
In March of 2010, we began promoting a two - day afterschool program filled continued on next page...
YOUTH SPOTLIGHT: Name: Alberto Castillo Team: Alaska, San Francisco Best experience: Our second week in Alaska we didn’t do much work but became really close to the people who lived there. The elders invited us into their home and we got to eat some of the food. That was when we really fell in love with the people. Learning experience: I learned wherever you are whatever the circumstances are you can trust in God and God is always with you. Different person: After Service Corps I now thank God every morning and every day for every little thing. I also really want to be more involved in the Corps. I’d rather do stuff with my church family than be with my friends.
Tucson South turns service into friendship By Glenda Avalos, Tucson South Corps The Lord has blessed the Tucson South Corps with willing youth who love to serve others. This May we visited two nursing homes, La Colina and the VA, sharing with the residents some fellowship time, a special presentation and also presented a Mother’s Day card to all the mothers there. The children loved the time they spent with the residents.
In June the children visited again for Father’s Day. We actually visited the nursing homes several times during these months so the children have been able to develop friendships with the residents. Our good Lord is wonderful and we pray that he may continue to use us in a mighty way and to minister to these children; may their love for the Lord grow as they do.
Optical Illusion: What do you see? The Youth Department is announcing the first annual Southwest Youth Facebook photo contest! Take your best picture and post it on the Southwest Youth Department Facebook page (Southwest Y-Department) by Christmas. In the winter issue of SWYNews we will announce a grand prize winner!* * Grand prize to be announced with winner
Stare at the four black dots in the center of the image for 30 seconds—then quickly close your eyes or look onto a blank white screen or paper. Who do you see??
Dealing with the Ebbs and Flows of Youth Attendance continued from page 1... with Art, Homework Club and Troops, and soon added two more days of afterschool tutoring in the computer lab. We had over 20 children sign-up, 100% of them coming from kids who utilized the hydration program. Since that time, we have continued to promote Sunday School and Sunday Services. As time has passed on, we have seen a lot of children come through our doors for water and through our programs. The average time we have most children is about three to four months. It wasn't until one little girl was offered the opportunity to earn her Commissioner's Sunbeam that things began to change. When Destiny Guerra heard about this wonderful medal that a Sunbeam could earn, her whole world opened up. She began to attend on Sundays. She has fallen in love with the monthly corps family potluck. All of the things she had done only for Court of Awards she could not do on a regular basis. Two months after she began to attend, we have seen seven children attend one Sunday from our summer and afterschool programs. We just gave out our second certificate for attending four Sundays in a row on August 21st. Things are a little louder on Sundays and a little more complicated. However, this is a welcome sound and a wonderful, invigorating complication to have. Our first Court of Awards was held with our new kids in June, 2010. Some of these relationships have taken a year and half, while others only a few months. Either way, it can be done when you build relationships of trust and mutual love. Don't give up when kids come and go because sometimes the blessing is worth the wait.
CAMP PONDEROSA RANCH 2011 WARNING! Reading the following may result in: The Sudden urge to dance The need to play hacky sack/ninja And maybe the worst of them all - The bubbling in your stomach, overflowing, popping out of your mouth at the top of your lungs, YOU CAN’T RIDE IN MY LITTLE RED WAGON!!!(or insert your favorite camp song here → __________) Now, if you have never worked at camp before, you may have never felt these uncontrollable urges. But if you have, you
someone can fellowship with other believers and put into practice what they’ve learned. When I think about camp the verse Hebrews 10:25 comes to mind, “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near”. This past summer God spoke to me in so many different ways, from the camp staff, to the songs that we sang, and through each camper that was there. It’s not only the campers that are being fed and nourished in Christ at camp, it’s also the staff. Just working with my fellow staff and
know that any (or all) of the above side effects are unavoidable, and may happen at any given moment. Hi, my name is Cody Trimmer and I am a camp addict. I have worked at camp the past four summers of my life as a dishwasher, a C.I.T., and a Senior Counselor. All four of those summers have been life changing and God filled. There is just something about camp, the moment you step onto a campground (especially Camp Ponderosa Ranch) you instantly feel God’s presence around you. For me camp is the perfect place to grow spiritually and as a person. It is a place set off from the world where
working with the campers brought so much joy into my life throughout the summer. Even after the summer ends there is still joy knowing that God decided to use me to do His work, and I am reminded of it every time I see a camper run up to me with a huge smile on their face saying “Hey! Remember me from camp?” There is nothing better in the world than to know that I helped changed someone’s life for better. I am so thankful to God to allow me to be part of the camp ministry all these years. God has been so good these past summers by allowing me to gain all of the great friendships and memories that I have now.
Song SPOTLIGHT: Little Red wagon
A camper favorite this summer was “Little Red You can’t ride in my little red wagon The front seat’s broken and the axel’s draggin Wagon.” Here are the words so you can sing Chugga, chugga, Chugga churgga chugga this fun and engaging song with your kids! Chugga, chugga, Chugga churgga chugga! 2nd verse, same as the first, If you don’t know how it goes, find someone only a little bit louder and a little bit worse… who was at camp this summer and they’ll Repeat… 3rd verse… 4th verse… last verse know… oh they’ll know alright...
Youth Leader’s Corner The Purpose of Ministry
U PCOMING Y OUTH E VENTS
By Matthew Downs
As a youth leader, many times you may find yourself knee deep in a program wondering, “Why are we even doing this?” It is a question that can plague even the best pastors out there. In order to avoid this, it is vital for a Corps youth leader to identify the purpose of their ministry. What is the end-game or the anticipated result? Identifying a Biblical purpose for ministry is key to staying in-line with God’s vision for your youth. In searching for the purpose of ministry, one must look to Jesus Christ, who was the perfect embodiment of biblical ministry. During his time on earth, he poured himself into a group of followers, modeling ministry for them
The Salvation Army Southwest Division Youth Department 2707 E Van Buren St. Phoenix, AZ 85008
and equipping them to spread the Kingdom of God after he ascended to the right hand of the Father. Based on his model, direction, and continued support through the Holy Spirit, these followers went on through their ministry to multiply like wildfire and eventually change the world. The ultimate purpose of ministry is therefore found in Christ’s teachings, specifically in two key passages in Matthew. First, in Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus offers “The Great Commandment,” which is essentially to love God and love other people with everything one has and is. This is the goal of the Christian life and the motive for Christian ministry. Secondly, in Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus gives “The Great Commission,” in which he tells his followers to go and make disciples of all nations, leading them to faith in him and teaching
them to obey all he commanded.¹ This is the mission of the church after Jesus’ ascension. From these cornerstone teachings the purpose of ministry can be determined: to lead people into a life-changing, all encompassing discipleship of Jesus Christ and to assist them in growing ever closer to him through obedience of his commands, namely, to love God and love others. It is with this Biblical purpose in mind that you can begin to develop the individual purpose of your ministry and can start to adapt your programs to fit your desired outcome and to ultimately be more effective. In this way, you will no longer have to ask, “why?” 1. Rick Efird and Jonathan Logan, “Understanding God’s Design for the Church,” Blueprints for a Biblical Ministry, (MI 501, Phoenix Seminary course notes, 2011).
October 8 Arizona Youth Rally BLOCK PARTY October 22 New Mexico Youth Rally BLOCK PARTY November 4-6 Corps Cadet Retreat WITNESS January 21 Youth Leaders Training / Appreciation Day February 3-5 Young Adult Retreat