Youth

Mission Statement: Bind the youth program to the elements of “Christ, Commitment, and Community.”

Goals

  1. Develop Christ-centered programs by adding spirituality to all aspects of children’s ministries. This could be achieved by spending 10 – 15 minutes discussing the spiritual significance of competition in athletics. A family life center would offer this opportunity seven days per week.
  2. Unite Commitment and Community as a single approach to serve our youth spiritually, physically and mentally. Programs will be developed to be short and to the point giving families an opportunity to participate daily in an Orthodox environment while leaving plenty of opportunity to be involved in other activities.

Plan

These plans can be implemented or expanded with the construction of the new family life center.

  • Appoint or hire a Youth Leader to assist our priests to develop an annual youth program and budget. Work with each youth program chairperson to develop a plan to achieve our mission statement and goals.
  • Survey our youth periodically to get a better sense of their priorities and needs in the context of spiritual growth and to strengthen their sense of ownership of the youth program.
  • Provide resources for participation in sports such as CYC League for soccer, softball, volleyball, basketball, dodge ball, and baseball; host sports camps that emphasize these ideals.
  • Host an Internet café environment in the family life center to provide an atmosphere for youth gatherings to socialize while still being productive (i.e. doing homework, working projects together etc.)
  • Facilitate mentoring programs that engage adults, young adults, and children to develop their relationships.
  • Establish pre-school/after-school programs.
  • Facilitate a parish-wide outreach initiative by developing a “youth service” list of those willing to provide helpful services such as babysitting, tutoring, pet care, house chores, etc.
  • Host camps and overnight retreats which have tremendous appeal, including making better use of our Cedar Hill property.
  • Host movie nights/young adult nights in the family life center as an excellent place for young people to get together with their Orthodox and non-Orthodox friends. This would also serve as an opportunity to minister to our youth as well as market to the non-Orthodox youth about how great it is to be Orthodox.
  • Expand parental involvement to nourish the parent-child bond as a part of an education and social experience.
  • Utilize the family life center to host special events such as the annual Oratorical Festival. Offer festival winners a chance to go to Ionian Village and to Fanari. Host a “Sights and Sounds” competition for the Diocese for children that play instruments, dance and have talents other than sports. Awards will be given by age and participation.
  • Develop more innovative and effective means of communicating activities and projects to all members of the youth program, including email exchange, monthly bulletins, and a dedicated portion of our website.