East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church

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YOUNG PEOPLE'S MINISTRIES

Leaders of Young People

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Youth Leaders Network was established to help connect youth leaders with one another for support, encouragement, prayer and training. It doesn’t matter if you get a paycheck for the ministry you do or not, laity and staff members can all come together to help each other. Working with teenagers has big rewards; however, sometimes it can be difficult. YLN is where you can celebrate or cry out, and we understand it all.

Upcoming Events

Reframing the Future: A Small Group Coaching Cohort | Beginning after Easter
This cohort will support leaders as we rethink, refocus, reimagine, and relaunch ministry coming out of the pandemic. There are four small group coaching times and three one-on-one coaching times. This free opportunity is for paid staff, volunteers, teams, and pastors in conjunction with the Holston Conference and the South Carolina Conference.

This event is now full and registration is closed. However, you can use the link below to express interest in joining, and be put on a waiting list to join, future events.

Interest Form

Hey, Church Leaders!
If you are passionate about teens, join us for this awesome book club starting in January! Take your pick of the books you want to read and discuss each month. You can do one or all twelve!

Book Club List

March
May It Be So by Justin McRoberts
Topic: Study on the Lord's Prayer

April
Life Interrupted by Priscilla Shirer
Topic: Uses Jonah to show how free it can be to go with God

May
Lead Small by Reggie Joiner
Topic: How to lead every size small group

June
Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers: Prayer for Ordinary Radicals by Shane Clainborne
Topic: A life of prayer fuels a life of social engagement

July
Inspired by Rachel Held Evans
Topic: Wrestling through the Bible and the process of doubting, imagining, and debating Scripture's mysteries

August
It's Just a Phase by Reggie Joiner
Topic: Child develop phases and what the church can do about those phases

September
Marching Off the Map by Tim Elmore
Topic: Inspiring students to navigate a brand new world

October
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
Topic: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World

November
4 Views on Pastoring LGBTQ Teenagers by Mark Oestreicher
Topic: A frank and compassionate conversation with four in-the-trenches youth workers who have wrestled with these questions

December
Love Does by Bob Goff
Topic: Shamelssly show love and grace to those around you simply

Zoom Meetings

Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.
Meetings last Tuesday of each month, excluding November and December which will be held on the second to last Tuesday because of the Holidays.
Join Meeting
Meeting ID: 873 0797 4777
Passcode: 001086

Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m.
Meetings last Wednesday of each month, excluding November and December which will be held on the second to last Wednesday because of the Holidays.
Join Meeting
Meeting ID: 811 7715 2521
Passcode: 2211

Thursdays at 12:00 p.m.
Meetings last Thursday of each month, excluding November and December which will be held on the second to last Thursday because of the Holidays.
Join Meeting
Meeting ID: 938 682 2639
Passcode: profound

Fridays at 10:00 a.m.
Meetings last Friday of each month, excluding November and December which will be held on the second to last Friday because of the Holidays.
Join Meeting
Meeting ID: 811 7715 2521
Passcode: 2211

Earlier in 2021

January
Disruption by Mark Oestreicher
Topic: YM in this season

February
This Book is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell
Topic: Lessons on how to wake up, take action, and do the work

Regional Coordinators

Curt Campbell (Northeast region): E-mail
Stefanie Williams (Northeast region): E-mail
Tim Beck (Central region): E-mail
Chasity Opphile (Southwest region): E-mail
Char Messenger (Southeast region): E-mail

Regional coordinators have been put into place to encourage local youth ministries. The coordinators are available to meet on a regular basis with youth leaders, volunteer or paid, and pastors to encourage vital youth ministry through helping with planning, visioning, goal setting, brainstorming and dreaming about how God is calling the local church to be in ministry with teens. They are also in place to help connect youth ministries with one another in order to maximize resources of time, money and volunteers.

Each region is working on creating their own network of Youth Leaders as well.

Practically Honest
Please feel free to reach out individually to them or contact Kaye Wolfinger, Director of Young People’s Ministries to find out more information, via E-mail or call (330) 499-3972 ext. 116.

The Regional Coordinators have been busy working with Kaye to create a unique training and connection opportunity for youth workers and parents of teens through a new podcast, Practically Honest. We share practical tips in an honest way to help navigate life and ministry with teens. Check it out!
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