Youth Resources is interested in your opinion.
Below is the question. You can write whatever you want on the subject using at least 200+ words.
WHAT I’D LIKE TO SEE TO HELP YOUTH WORK IN YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR CITY, YOUR REGION (Greater Twin Cities)
- If I could wave a wand I’d…
- What I saw in the past that I’d like to see again.
- Things that exist elsewhere, and are needed here.
- This can be on a personal, organizational, geographical, or system level
Entries are due by Tuesday, February 1, 2011
We will be giving away a gift certificate for this question. Each certificate will be worth at least $40.00 towards food, or gas, or coffee, or a paid registration to Reload
Youth Resources exists for the advancement of urban youth and organizations that serve them to reduce illiteracy, poverty, crime and fatherlessness.
3 comments:
Bittner, Annette What I’d Like to See in My Community
One of the most powerful and impactful ministries North and South Minneapolis saw in the 90’s was Friday Night Live. Friday Night Live was great because it did a number of things at once:
Discipled youth
Shared the gospel of Jesus Christ
Gave youth an opportunity to worship the LORD in a style and flavor that suited them
Brought various ministries and youth groups together for fellowship
Brought various ministries together with the same purpose and goal in mind: to see young people won to Christ, discipled and encouraged in a safe environment where they could flourish spiritually, socially and physically
I was a youth that was greatly impacted by Friday Night Live, under the leadership of Elwood J. Jones and his wife Betty. He knew how to pull people together for the purpose of serving urban youth. Elwood set an example that the Twin Cities has not seen in such a long time.
I have learned a lot from Elwood and would love to see the model of Friday Night Live restored to North Minneapolis and the Twin Cities. It is high time that this important ministry return. I am a worship leader and know the importance of anointed music that draws a person deeper into the heart and affections of God, while also allowing them to make solid resolutions to follow the LORD, regardless of what the world is doing around them.
Finally, Friday Night Live would provide the support that the harvest of souls in our community needs. There is a great harvest coming and not one church can contain it all. It’s time for churches to partner together in prayer, evangelism and discipleship of young people in our community. This is where my heart is at and would love to be involved in something ongoing in these areas.
Hirsh, Nathan
What I'd like to see help youth work in my community
The twin cities area has a better education system than many other cities, but that does not mean that there is not room for improvement. As of right now elementary, middle, and high schools, use whatever tools they have available to provide the best possible experience for students, but those tools are limited at best. If it was as simple as waving a wand I would wave it and send more money towards programs geared towards the development of new techniques for both teaching and for measuring progress. Charter schools, the gymnasium system in germany, diplomatic schools, and immersion schools are all examples of alternative education systems that are in practice now and in some ways work fairly affectively. I believe that until the education system is reformed properly that, regardless of the intention of our constitution to provide everyone with the same opportunities to grow and prosper, people will never truly be equal. Students living in communities with lower quality education systems not only fall behind because of the poor quality schools, but also may never be able to move forward because the tools we have now for evaluating a students actual intelligence are not truly capable of doing the job. More valid testing methods could help to put students on even ground with each other, helping to provide truly gifted students with the same opportunities for education, and in turn future success in the workplace. Research recently has also shown that many children diagnosed with severe forms of retardation and autism, were completely capable of normal mental function, but simply had severe communication issues. These are not stupid people, yet there is no way they could function as our school systems stand today because we are incapable of recognizing them as intelligent, and then in turn provide them with the same educational opportunities as any other student. Students in high poverty areas and the mentally handicapped both could benefit from funding towards intelligence research programs.
Rachel Hirsh
WHAT I’D LIKE TO SEE TO HELP YOUTH WORK IN MY COMMUNITY, CITY, AND REGION.
The community typically offers various activities and services for young people, but if I could put any program into place it would be an after school program specifically for “latch key kids.” It would be somewhere for them to go so that those critical after school hours are used for them to better themselves and form positive, encouraging relationships instead of getting in with the wrong crowd and making choices that could be detrimental to their futures. This is a group of young people that really tugs on my heartstrings. I care about their well-being and I believe that if they had somewhere to go where they did not feel as if they were being babysat or watched, then they would utilize a venue like this.
It is so important for young people to have consistent, positive adult involvement in their everyday lives and if their parents are not able to provide that then I would like to be a part of something that helps them to see that they are not alone. I was in this position when I was younger and my youngest brother is currently and to come home to an empty house everyday can be discouraging to say the least. The door to temptation opens wider and wider with each day, but I would love to be able to give these young people a place to go that encourages them to be the best version of themselves – I want them to know that someone is willing to spend time with them, love them, and care about them.
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