Friday, 22. January 2010
The First Baptist Church of Rome is holding its third annual barbecue fundraiser and is currently pre-selling tickets for a Feb. 6 pickup.
The fundraiser, which will be raising money for First Baptist Church’s youth ministry, will be selling tickets for barbecue pickup until the end of the month through tahe church office.
A rack of ribs is $15 and a seven pound Boston pork butt is $25. Both items can be picked up on Feb. 6.
John Uldrick, minister of students, said he hopes people will remember the barbecue and won’t forget the pickup date. “If they purchase a ticket and don’t show up to pick up their barbecue we’ll have a lot on our hands,” he said.
He said a rack of ribs will easily feed two people, and the Boston butt will feed a family of four “several times.”
“My family usually buys one or two and we’ll break it up and freeze it,” Uldrick said.
Uldrick said the funds raised will help offset the cost of trips and missionary work done throughout the year by youth. Those trips include the March Mission Madness in Dalton and a trip to the Passport Youth Camp outside of Charlotte, N.C. The youth participate in daytime mission work and then Bible study by night.
“Any trip we take they’ll be able to use the money they’ll earn,” he said.
Some of the money will also be used to offset the costs of the in-town mission week, when youth go around the community lending a helping hand to Rome’s neighborhoods.
For more information about ticket sales call 706-291-6850.
Posted in Updated* Recent News by Christopher -
Tuesday, 12. January 2010
On any given evening, the auditorium of St. Dominic Savio Church is filled with teenagers who are learning life skills, practicing new hip-hop and salsa steps, and/or rehearsing a new song in Spanish.
Amber Serrano says “Savio” — as youth call their Bellflower parish — is a place where she can relax, a place where she doesn’t have to impress anyone. For Stephanie Chavez, it is a place where she can release her inner child; for Julio Rosales, a place where he can be free, where he can show the best of himself “without being afraid of the crowds.” And Christine Mendoza says it is a place where she can talk about her religion without being judged.
The high school students are part of St. Dominic Savio’s Monday Youth Group, where they learn to know themselves and to develop leadership skills under the tutelage of Juan Carlos Montenegro, a native Ecuadoran who has applied business administration concepts to the youth ministry he directs.
“We are trying to renew the vision of what is a youth ministry,” Montenegro told The Tidings. “Youth ministry is more than confirmation classes or catechism. We help them (the youth) find the gifts God has given them and show them how to use them to help develop the youth ministry.”
Business and fun
The process starts with a simple question: “What do you like doing?”
In his book “El negocio de la salvación” (The business of salvation), aimed at youth leaders, Montenegro uses business jargon to describe the elements of a youth ministry.
“An important point is to know our competition,” he says in the section “Analyzing the competition,” which is part of the opening chapter “Analyzing the needs.”
“We can have a wonderful formation program, the best of the world,” he says. “But if it doesn’t involve any fun — such as Don Juan’s Karaoke at the corner — we won’t be able to attract the youth. Let’s just remember that young people like keeping up with fashion and that is a real challenge for those who work in Youth Ministry.”
“Many times, the best way to appeal to them is by investing a little money in technology. By buying a karaoke [machine], the youth will feel the same happiness they feel at Don Juan’s. The difference will be that they will be away from the dangers of the streets, away from alcohol, drugs, etcetera.”
While there is no karaoke at St. Dominic Savio, every single day teenagers from the parish’s surrounding neighborhoods happily attend the different youth group meetings where they grow together on their spiritual journey and learn to develop helpful life skills.
And the youth do employ new technology, videotaping their outreach activities to share with other youth groups and with the larger church community.
Time alone
It is past 8 p.m. on a Monday, and St. Dominic’s youth are enjoying the company of their peers — and reflecting on matters that they do not usually think about elsewhere.
“Write down how you would collect your thoughts, how you would use your time to be in tune with yourselves when you’re at home,” 17-year-old Monica Rosales asks a group of about 40 teenagers who are discussing listening skills in this Youth Group meeting.
“We don’t have time alone with ourselves to talk and collect our thoughts,” Rosales tells them as they write. “We are too busy texting or watching TV.”
Then she invites volunteers to read the ideas they have written.
“I would read a book,” says a girl. “I would take a nap,” says a second girl. “I would work out,” says a boy. “I would write in a journal,” says another boy.
“Post it next to your bed,” Rosales suggests. She invites the teenagers to incorporate in their lives the ideas they have written. “This will take out all the drama and will calm you down,” she adds.
Rosales is one of many Youth Group members who have trained to be counselors at Camp Savio, a summer program for elementary level children that helps teens develop leadership skills.
“By discovering their gifts they (the youth) learn to develop self-esteem and to make a difference in someone else’s life,” Montenegro explains.
Christine Mendoza agrees. “I was very shy and now I am more open,” says the high school student, explaining that she has “come to know” herself after counseling children at Camp Savio.
‘Assisting’ youth
“Let’s remember that our ‘business’ is to help the youth to be ‘better Christians and good citizens’ as St. John Bosco used to say,” Montenegro reminds the readers in his chapter, “Marketing and customer service.”
“The only way we will reach that is by ‘assisting’ them — and this word assisting has an incredible meaning in the Salesian world. To ‘assist’ means to accompany the youth, to be with them, to appreciate what they appreciate, to listen to what they listen to, in order to help them grow as human beings. St. John Bosco said that ‘Salesian assistance is provided at the playgrounds, where the youth play.’”
Or where they dance.
Daniel Garcia, 18, has loved dancing since he can remember. He joined Savio’s Youth Dance Group last year and he is now the hip-hop instructor.
“This has helped me come out of my shell,” he told The Tidings. “I have learned a lot of patience, to be understanding and not to yell.”
The experience of teaching has made him more determined, he added. “It is good to share with other people what I know. This group gives people the opportunity to dance and to explore their talent, their potential.”
The dance group started two years ago after Johnny Lara, 17, a senior at Downey High School, attended a Salesian Youth Conference and thought of creating a dance group to inspire his peers “to appreciate the gifts they have.” Lara, a lifelong dancer, persuaded his longtime friend and neighbor Liz Cardenas, 18, to take the idea to Montenegro, who gave his approval.
This year the group raised more than $1,700 from their events to help a non-profit organization in Africa. They are preparing for next year’s big fundraiser, “I Am,” to benefit an orphanage in Tijuana.
“As teenagers we tend to be selfish,” said Lara, who works as a dance teacher at Alma Latina in Long Beach, a nonprofit that promotes cultural awareness through Mexican folkloric dance. “”We don’t see the needs of others. We want a cell phone when other people need a glass of water. A cell phone is a want, not a need.”
After an hour of rehearsal, the youth regroup for discussion designed to help them grow spiritually. Self-esteem, recognition and reward are the right formula for involvement, writes Montenegro.
“Once the young person feels comfortable and welcomed, he or she will want to do something, they will try to participate in activities and this will help us fulfill our goal of helping them to develop as good Christians and honest citizens.”
For more information about St. Dominic Savio youth ministry, call Juan Carlos Montenegro at (562) 920-7796, email, youthministry@saintdominicsavio.org or visit www.saintdominicsavio.org.
Posted in Updated* Recent News by Christopher -
Tuesday, 5. January 2010
With the local Voyageur Lions Club’s annual “Polar Plunge” set for New Year’s Day, organizers are hoping this year’s fundraiser will be more successful than ever.
And with just a few days to go, they want those considering taking an icy dip in the name of a good cause to know it’s not too late to collect pledges.
For those wanting to “take the plunge,” which will start at 1 p.m. at the government dock behind La Place Rendez-Vous, pledge sheets are available at Emes Financial-IPC Securities (279 Scott St.) and the Vous.
Jumpers can take the plunge on their own, or as representatives of a local group or organization.
Participating groups receive half of the net proceeds raised by member jumpers while those interested in jumping as individuals raise funds for the Voyageur Lions.
Some of the groups that have signed up so far include the Muskie Sports Association, Fort Frances Squash Club, Dancemakers, St. Mary’s Youth Group, and Fort Frances High School Art Trip Fund.
A handful of the individuals include Aquanaut Jillian Gustafson, Chris Christian of the Borderland Snowmobile Club, local MP John Rafferty (jumping for Special Olympics), Dale Gill, Bill Michl, Jim Martindale, Maureen Hahkala, and Coun. Andrew Hallikas.
Every participant receives a T-shirt. A number of prizes also will be up for grabs, including individual prizes, best costume prizes, and a $500 incentive for the group that raises the most money.
The “Polar Plunge” has been sponsored by the Voyageur Lions Club for nine years. During that time, more than $60,000 has been returned to community youth groups and charities.
Last January’s “Polar Plunge” raised $14,000, with organizers hoping to up that total to $20,000 this time around.
The Voyageur Lions’ charity focus is helping children and youth, but one specific project for which it currently is fundraising is vision-assisted equipment for the new Fort Frances Public Library and Technology Centre.
Posted in Updated* Recent News by Christopher -
Tuesday, 5. January 2010
Realife Student Ministries in Ozark recently celebrated a yearlong effort to raise $200,000 for missions.
The local event, “Overflow ’09,” was also available online as a live webcast so other youth groups from around the country could be a part of the celebration.
In 2008, Pastor Scotty Gibbons, director of Realife Student Ministries at James River Assembly, presented teenagers with an challenge: Raise more than $50,000 for missions in just 11 weeks. In the midst of a down economy, the 1,000-student youth ministry took to the challenge and ultimately gave more than $75,000.
As a result, Gibbons wrote a new book, “Overflow,” an inspirational guide to giving for students. In 2009, “Overflow” quickly sold more than 50,000 copies.
Posted in Updated* Recent News by Christopher -
Tuesday, 5. January 2010
Updated: Sun Dec. 20 2009 17:59:08
Sonia Sunger, ctvedmonton.ca
An Edmonton shelter that works to keep homeless teens off the streets says it is about severely short of its fundraising goal this year and that means teens who need help simply won’t get it.
The Youth Emergency Shelter Society (YESS) says they are already turning away six to ten kids a night and now the organization is about $750,000 short of its fundraising goal.
The organization says the shortfall will force them to make some very difficult decisions.
“Is it the kids who are just coming off the street who are at the highest risk that we would say no to, or would it be the kids we worked diligently through programs for months and are probably six months away from being self reliant and independent?” asked Sue Keating with YESS.
One of the youth who has been lucky enough to receive help from YESS says the organization offers a vital service that the community needs.
“It means a safe place to stay, it means food in your stomach, it means not having to sleep out in the cold, not worrying about anything,” said Martine, a 16-year-old who has been at the shelter for the past month.
Mayor Stephen Mandel agrees, saying Edmonton needs organization like YESS.
“We cannot have the most challenged of our society, the youngest of our society, on the street or without the kids of programs they have,” said Mandel.
Mandel went on to say that the city donated $1 million to existing charity programs this year.
“We’ve been in contact with the Youth Emergency Shelter Society and will make sure they get help,” said Mandel. “We can’t solve all their problems.”
For information on the shelter and how you might be able to help click here.
Posted in Updated* Recent News by Christopher -
