the STATEMENT we make

Over the past few years I have worked on a very fluid vision statement for our youth ministry. Vision/mission statements are good so that we might be centered on not only the small picture but on the larger picture.

It also has come out of listening and watching the youth live out their faith in small and big ways.

Here is what our mission statement is currently.

PGUMC youth is a place where we want to embrace the way of Jesus for ourselves and others. We want to do this by creating an environment where youth are loved, encouraged, and inspired for the sake of our families, schools, and world!

All hinges on us embracing the WAY of Jesus. And recognizing that this relationship is not isolated or insular. This relationship has implications for how we live in our families, schools, and world. It is also recognizing that this embrace is a life long journey where we are constantly growing in love of God and love of others.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit and God's unrelentless grace we measure ourselves through three distinctive goals of what this looks like. This is what we mean when we say "creating/fostering environments."

1. We want to be Jesus centered. The gospel should and always be the imperative in front of us. We should constantly be asking, "where is the gospel of Jesus Christ leading us?". How are we collectively and individually experiencing/living out the WAY of Jesus?
2. We want to foster a place of deep relationships. We want our youth group to be a place where youth are loved, cared for, and valued. A place where all are accepted and welcomed. A place where youth experience the reality of their deep, God given worth.
3. We are to have missional imagination. We believe that God has used youth over generations to do BIG things. And this generation is no exception. We embrace Jesus not merely for ourselves but for others. Youth are challenged to think creatively on what it means to serve the other. We do this by serving others locally and globally.

I am proud to say that we are making great traction! These aren't scattered ideals out in the cosmos but instead they are very tangible. Not to say that we don't have work to do but we are moving in to good places.

We will look further at the vision statement and distinctives when the youth meet for their leadership meeting this Sunday at 4p.