Glynlea Grace United Methodist Chruch

This summer, Glynlea Grace UMC will be one of the four churches participating in the Summer Youth Worker Program (SYWP). It will begin on May 23^rd and end on August 8^th.This program will provide each church with a college student intern to lead the youth ministry for the summer.  This intern will be responsible for a Sunday night program with other participating churches, a Bible study, and other fun activities to grow the program.

The interns will be supervised by Michael Hudson, an ordained elder in the UMC with 13 years of full-time youth ministry experience. This will be his third summer running this program. He will  meet with the youth workers weekly to discuss programming, progress, obstacles, and their own spiritual growth.

On Sunday nights the participating churches gather together at a rally point (we may have one fixed location or may rotate churches based on facilities and participating churches) and hold the Sunday night program.  This program will be called the Youth Rally.  The team of Youth Workers will lead games, worship, small groups and a message.

During the week each Youth Worker will conduct a Bible study at their assigned church.  They will also build relationships with those youth and minister to them throughout the summer.  They will attend worship at that church throughout the summer.

This program will also include a backpacking trip with Wilderness Trail. They are a backpacking ministry in Virginia.  This is a wonderful setting for groups to grow closer to God and each other during a fun week in the mountains.  The scheduled week to attend this retreat is June 16-23, 2010.  The cost is $260 per youth. Scholarship money is available. Money will not be a reason for any youth not to attend. For more information about Wilderness Trail, visit their website at, www.wtrail.com. Each church that participates in the SYWP should plan on participating in this trip.

There will also be a Youth Week August 3-8, 2010 that will include day trips to activities like bowling or the beach and evening rallies at different church locations.

The participating churches will need to provide an adult voluneer coordinator. This person will find chaperones and drivers for Sunday nights and other events.  Since the Youth Worker will not know anyone in the local church, it is VITAL that this person help coordinate parents and other volunteers.  This person will be the liaison between the Summer Youth Worker and the church.  This person does not need to attend every event, but they do need to make sure an adult volunteer from the church is in attendance.

The youth will lead the worship service on August 8^th.  It will be a wonderful morning of testimony, music, and energy as the Youth Worker helps the youth conduct the service.