Presbyterian Mission Agency youth ministry Archives

Minute for Mission: Youth in the Church and World

Posted July 27th, 2022

In the middle of the chaotic summer of 2020, I find myself one early Saturday morning at the recently opened pool that we use in the summer. Perhaps due to my vocation (youth ministry), I really enjoy and learn from observing and listening to young people.

‘Why does the church need youth ministry?’

Posted May 24th, 2022

Gina Yeager-Buckley began the conversation on “Why does the church need youth ministry” with the Presbyterian Youth Workers Association by asking participants to describe what their stories would have been like without it.

‘It’s hard to kill your darling’

Posted May 10th, 2022

The pandemic has indeed nixed the planned in-person Presbyterian Youth Triennium this summer. But youth leaders across the country are coming up with local and regional gatherings and other offerings for youth and young adults, including six presbyteries in Pennsylvania planning an event they’re calling the Presbyterian Youth Tri-PENNium, to be held at the Krislund Camp & Retreat Center in Madisonburg.

Single mom, committed church member juggles school and employment to better serve children during pandemic

Posted February 24th, 2022

Ellashia Spaulding is a committed lifelong member of Memorial Presbyterian Church in Roosevelt, New York, and is doing great things in her community.

The jig’s up

Posted September 7th, 2021

For really good ideas on how to serve the faithful at Park Ridge Presbyterian Church in suburban Chicago, the Rev. Amanda H. Joria often relies on her mother.

Presbytery takes steps to welcome transgender teens

Posted August 25th, 2021

The Presbytery of New Covenant in southeast Texas has had a strong youth ministry for decades. A highlight has been its Youth Conclaves weekend retreats that are led by the youth themselves. These retreats are a time to meet other Presbyterian youth and a time to grow as disciples. Our presbytery also recognizes that youth is a time of exploration and identity formation — including gender or sexual orientation. This became apparent in February 2020, when a request was received regarding a young person who was hesitant to attend a retreat weekend because of who she is. Katrina is transgender. She had attended the previous year when she hadn’t fully come out, and she stayed in the boys’ cabin. While she knew she didn’t want to stay there, she wasn’t sure she would be able to stay with the girls. The presbytery’s General Council made a quick decision, with a hastily written policy, that Katrina could attend and stay with the girls. We felt that, at the very least, she could feel comfortable, and we were covered legally. We knew, though, that inclusion of transgender youth in church events had to be addressed because there were more teens like Katrina among us.

Pentecost Offering nurtures youth and at-risk children

Posted May 18th, 2021

The Church’s annual Pentecost Offering supports ministries that help children at risk, youth and young adults through the Presbyterian Mission Agency.

Presbytery takes steps to welcome transgender teens

Posted April 30th, 2021

A Texas presbytery created an inclusionary policy letting transgender teens attend and feel comfortable at youth retreats.

Youth ministry in the marketplace

Posted April 20th, 2021

A church-based nonprofit helps youth from various backgrounds gain life and job skills through training, coaching and mentoring.

Youth workers and mental health

Posted May 8th, 2020

As a way to mark May as Mental Health Awareness Month, Brian Kuhn, director of the Presbyterian Youth Workers’ Association and a licensed professional counselor, offered a webinar Wednesday that outlined the top 10 mental health issues all youth workers should be aware of.