Hi all, the annual report for BSBC Youth is below. Note especially the last paragraph about our plans for '07.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
We have a very fine group of teens to work with, and it is a great blessing to see them grow in Christ. We also have an excellent staff of adult leaders who contribute their time and talents. Clint and Kristen Adams, James and Vicki Keys and Carl Blasdel III share the teaching duties. Stephen Kozy, with the help of Brittany Harrison, leads worship music, and Libby Johnson coordinates attendance and follow-up. At our weekly Wednesday meetings and Sunday School, we taught on such topics as the book of John, handling depression, moral purity, friendships, and the truth about the Da Vinci code.
The main thrust of the ministry in the last year was evangelism. We desire to be a group of teens and leaders that see the dire need of the lost people around us, and have the concern and passion to reach out to them with the love of Christ. To that end, we formed an E-Team (“E” for evangelism) at the end of 2005. The purpose of the E-Team is to keep the youth group unified and focused reaching out to their peers. Each member of the E-Team has a role to play on the team, taking on roles such as a greeter (welcoming visitors to events), a follow-upper (contacting those who have been absent for a few weeks), or a prayer warrior. We also clearly present the Gospel at every Wednesday night meeting. We can praise the Lord for five salvation decisions in the past year.
The theme of evangelism carried into our summer events. The teens set up a BSBC booth at the Firestone Park Community Festival in June, and passed out hundreds of VBS flyers. We also gave out the Gospel by sharing tracts and Bobby Keys’ magic shows. The pivotal week of the year was the first-ever youth missions week, “Operation Akron”, in August. For five straight evenings, the group shared the Good News in “Spicertown” and throughout Akron in practical and creative ways.
We enjoyed many other rich times of fun and fellowship throughout the year. In March, we shared an evening with the Oanas and Johnsons. We had our second Amazing Race in September, and our Fall Retreat in October took everyone to the “Faith Zone”. Camp Patmos continues to provide vital spiritual fuel for the teens, as many were greatly built up in their faith at summer camp weeks. Our teens also were exemplary in their service at the Camp Patmos “Extreme Makeover” service weekend in May.
We praise the Lord that many teens are active in the ministries of the church. We aim to guide the teens to not just be in a “youth group” but a part of the church body at BSBC. Teens play key parts in the choir, nursery and Vacation Bible School ministries. The teens also put on the “Son is Risen” service on Easter morning.
As we look to 2007, we aim to continue our focus on outreach, and to start a discipleship course for new converts. We hope to reclaim some who have sadly fallen out of fellowship with the church. We are also looking into the possibility of a regular ministry to the children at the Haven of Rest Harvest Home. Please pray for God to work mightily in the teens’ lives, that they would stand firm in Christ, and that more teens would be saved in our midst.
