a. Create a sustainable youth ministry. Conduct an analysis of our church’s current youth ministry in collaboration with Youth Ministry Architects and develop and implement recommendations for more effective ministry to students and families.
b. Continue to invest our energies and commitment to reach college students on the campuses of Wake Forest and Salem College(and potentially other local colleges in the future) through a partnership with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and our re-envisioned summer college ministry program.
c. Evaluate and redesign our ministry internships and redevelop our efforts to recruit, train, equip, and send out the next generation of leaders.
d. Continue the implementation of the re-design of our 11:00 am worship service.
Updates
June 2019 Update
We have a strong cohort of summer interns for 2019. Two interns are coming through a summer fellowship program of Whitworth University – Lydia Tombarelli and Emma Thackston. Local product Alex Cockman rounds out our cohort. Interns will work in youth and in worship arts for the summer.
We are completing the year with three fellows as part of the Winston-Salem Fellows program, an expansion from our previous commitment of two in prior years. Fellows complete a rigorous program of discipleship, leadership training, work in the community, and commitment to a local church.
The church has launched a trial pastoral residency program that is geared to providing future pastors experience in a church setting. Kendra Norton began this year-long residency in March 2019.
August 2018 Update
Work with Youth Ministry Architects contributed to incorporation of plans and processes known as “sustainable youth ministry” (SYM). SYM is becoming part of how First Pres makes decisions about youth programming. Including youth in the large group sessions at retreat is one visible example of the youth/children discipleship plans in action.
Following a significant review, First Pres has ended its formal partnership with InterVarsity at local colleges and universities. A discernment team is currently exploring how God is calling us to invest in college students.
After redesigning and promoting youth ministry internships, we were excited to welcome three new interns this summer: William Edwards, Alec Forsyth, and Rebecca Wilhelmi (See the July 9 issues of First This Week for the welcome announcement).
This fall we will welcome three new fellows into the life of the church and youth ministry through the Winston-Salem Fellows program.
January 2018 Update
- Youth Ministry Architects were engaged and helped develop a strategy for Sustainable Youth Ministry
- We have partnered with InterVarsity at local colleges and universities the last 2 years, but that partnership is under review
- Youth ministry internships have been redesigned and are promoted during the summer
- Three new “fellows” of the Winston-Salem Fellows program have become engaged in the church and in youth ministry as volunteers