Youth, College and Career Committee Timothy A. Barrett
Two thousand sixteen was a unique and eventful year for I. P. C.’ s youth, college, and career ministry. Several items directly impacting this reality include how our building renovations affected our programming schedules, continuity of leadership with our career demographic, an open door for ministry on a local university, and changes in our student ministry.
Youth: In 2016 we completed our first full year with sixth graders as part of the student ministry. When we started the fall of the year, the full plan for integration of sixth graders would be implemented. This change had been talked about for years. It seems the integration of the sixth graders into the Student Ministry has occurred with minimal disruption and to the pleasure of most; for this we are grateful.
There were several highlights of the year for our student ministry. Early in the year the theme for the Winter Retreat was“ The Greatest of These,” taken from 1 Corinthians 13. Thirty-one students and eight chaperones studied this chapter at Camp Glisson in Dahlonega, Georgia. In June, twenty-two middle school students and chaperones attended The EDGE conference at Covenant College. This was our third consecutive year attending. In July, we held our third Mission Savannah in the community. The theme for this event was“ First,” taken from Matthew 6:33. Ministries and organizations we served during Mission Savannah included Coastal Jail Ministry Transitional Program, The Dream Campaign, and Fresh Air Home.
Teaching series included: ‒ Learning to Pray from the Apostle Paul( high school) ‒ The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit( middle and high school) ‒ Biblical Conflict Resolution( high school) ‒ Relating & Dating( high school) ‒ The Word on the Word( middle school) ‒ The Westminster Confession of Faith( high school Sunday School) ‒ The Shorter Catechism( middle school Sunday School) ‒ Believing God by R. C. Sproul, Jr.( high school) ‒ Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges( middle school Sunday School)
We enjoyed hosting a Friday morning Chick-fil-A © Prayer Breakfast for our youth and collegians at Point Pleasant in the summer. Nearly seventy I. P. C. youth and family members spent a day of recreation at Wassaw beach, and our youth had the opportunity to serve our church family and community for several days cleaning up debris left from Hurricane Matthew. All in all, it was a very busy and exciting year to be a part of I. P. C.’ s ministry to our youth.
In the spring of 2016 we said goodbye to Caroline Johnson as our Youth Assistant, and in the summer we welcomed Kirstie Brodmann into this role. We also enjoyed the labor of Youth Summer Interns Nathaniel Mullins and Larissa White. The ministry was also made possible by a large team of volunteers who taught Sunday School, led small groups, served as chaperones, cooked meals, and much more. I speak not only as chair of this committee but for Paul Rodgers and all in our church family in thanking all volunteers for their service. May the seeds you’ ve sown reap a harvest greater than you could ever imagine.
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