Synod of the Heartland Youth Ministry updates:

There are 8 new youth pastors who have come on board this summer. All have been personally visited and are a part of one of the 4 Youth Clusters around the Synod. New youth pastors are:

  1. Nick Van Der Zwaag at 1st Reformed Church in Sioux Falls, SD
  2. Andy Anderson – American Reformed Church, luverne, MN
  3. Brian Sauter – Bethel Reformed Church, Sheldon, IA
  4. Justin Jennes -1st Reformed Church, Sheldon, IA
  5. Ben Vos – Trinity Reformed Church, Orange City, IA
  6. Mark De Younge – 1st Reformed Church, Sioux Center, IA
  7. David Wilch – Sunnybrook Church, Sioux City, IA
  8. Quinn Terril – Westwood Reformed Church, Omaha, NE

There are currently 3 part-time positions vacant.

Sticky Faith:

If you have read the current RCA Today paper you may have noticed that Sticky Faith received a front page referral and an extensive article in the paper. As a Synod we continue to promote the concerns and practical ministry options to help our students grow into a faith that sticks.

Bob is working extensively to promote and implement the Sticky Faith vision to churches throughout the Synod and Denomination. He has been a member of a cohort group with Meredith Drive Reformed Church in Des Moines and will be a part of an Insider Cohort church this coming year as we learn and resource churches into the next decade of Youth Ministry.

A Sticky Faith spring conference is being planned by the Youth Ministry Office, which will include a Web-conference to allow individuals or church groups to experience the conference in your own homes or as a group in your church. Youth Leaders, Parents, Church leaders, and congregational members are encouraged to learn more about this discipleship challenge. More information will be available shortly and will be sent to your churches.

Summer events:

We had a great summer of ministry events this summer with many youth and adults taking a new challenge to follow Christ.

All 2013 event dates are set:

  • Middle School Retreat at Camp Okoboji, April 12-14, 2013
  • HIS Work Camp, in Tennessee, June 22-28, 2013
  • Power Connection Work Camp in Minneapolis, MN, July 23-26, 2013
  • Power Connection, at Bethel University, in St. Paul MN. July 26-28, 2013
  • Rocky Mountain High, Estes Park, CO. July 26-30, 2014.

Check out the dates and on-line registration at Synodyouth.org

Submitted By Bob Cleveringa, Dir. Of Youth Ministries