NTC leaders add to rich Exploration 2009 experiences

Editor’s Note: The following reflection on Exploration 2009 was written by Rev. Andy Stoker, NTC associate director for Life Stage Ministries, who served as local arrangements coordinator for the event. BY DR. ANDY STOKER Assoc. Dir. Connectional Ministries Young people from all over the country came to Dallas Nov. 13-15 for one purpose: To discern their calls to ministry. More than 800 participants converged in Dallas for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s...

The future is now!...From Bogata to Burkburnett

BY RICHARD B. HEARNE NTC Board of Laity, Chair If one is around church folk very much, we all hear from many different persons and points of views regarding the future of the United Methodist Church. Some will tell us that it is contemporary worship services, traditional worship services, small group clusters, large churches or small churches or maybe even medium size churches. While I know all of these are valid and have merit, I am certain that the future of the United Methodist Church is...

Confirmation class shows hope for youth, church

Confirmation classes are signs of life and future ministry in United Methodist congregations. Community UMC, Dallas, made a stride toward that future with the presentation of its first confirmation class since the merger of Lambuth and Crest-Moore-King UMCs to create the new church.  Members of the class include: Donnie Ferrell, Jada Gibbs, Shatibra Gibbs, DeVon Kerney and Trey Young. These young people will continue their growth in Christian faith as members of the church’s first...

Youth Exploration 2009 set for Nov. in Dallas

Youth and Young Adults, seniors in high school through age 24, are invited to consider participation in EXPLORATION 2009, scheduled for Nov. 13-15 in Dallas. The gathering will address The UMC’s need for young clergy by offering youth and young adults who feel God’s call a chance to explore that call. The Rev. Tyrone Gordon, St. Luke “Community” UMC, Dallas; Dr. William B. Lawrence, Dean, Perkins School of Theology, SMU; Bishop Sally Dyck, and the Rev. Motoe Yamada, a...

Stonebridge UMC goes on road with 'Godspell Jr.'

BY AMY PAWLAK Stonebridge UMC, McKinney Each year, the children’s and youth music ministry at Stonebridge UMC, McKinney, warms worshippers hearts with their performances on Sunday mornings and at special events. The church family hears the strong voice of God through their tender voices, but this incredible ministry doesn’t limit itself inside the walls of Stonebridge UMC alone. Every summer it reaches God’s people across the country as the Upper Alley Singers...

Mentors sought for at-risk youth

Bethany Graham, a Perkins School of Theology intern serving with the Central Dallas Ministries Transition Resource Action Center (TRAC), is working to help sign up mentors for at-risk youth ages 14-24 who emancipate from foster care or juvenile services with no system of support. At any one time, there are an estimated 1,000 youth in the North Texas area in need of transitional living services, such as housing, vocational training and health services. TRAC provides such a safety net, but more...

Hamilton Park youth outreach presents 'Cool Jazz' concerts

  The Hamilton Park Youth Development Corporation, a State of Texas not-for-profit organization, will host the COOL JAZZ @ The Park® FALL 2008 SERIES featuring a variety of local jazz musicians and vocalists at the Christian Life Center of the Hamilton Park UMC, Dallas. The Fall Series will include: Sept. 12, Gino Iglehart Oct. 10, Montrose, featuring vocalist Rhonda Nicole Nov. 7, Shelley Carroll, featuring vocalist Ardina Lockhart Dec. 12, Hamilton Park...

Faith...passing it forward

BY DR. JOAN LABARR Editor On a hot August Friday night in San Antonio, I could think of dozens of places I’d rather be than walking through the city streets surrounded by a troupe of greenshirted middle schoolers and a couple of dozen others who had signed up for a ghost tour of the Alamo City. As I clutched my small thermal sensing device, which I’d just learned was our new high tech way to locate ghosts, a curious onlooker asked me what we were doing. I answered that we were...

Youth leadership is key to church growth NTC circuit

BY JOE DAN BOYD Special Correspondent “For the United Methodist Church to grow and move forward, it’s essential that each Conference provide opportunities for youth to hold leadership positions.” That’s the view of Andrew Ponder Williams, a Missouri Lay Delegate to South Central Jurisdictional (SCJ) Conference and Chair of SCJ’s Jurisdictional Youth Team (JYT). Williams described his recent experience, July 7-11, at the 2008 Jurisdictional Youth Ministry...

Youth leaders draw conference applause...express thanks to adult workers

Conference youth leaders – one stepping out, one coming in – received the NTC’s standing ovation following their reports on June 9. Brian Tan, whose one-year term ended with this meeting, thanked God “for giving me opportunity to share my life.” Tan said he has learned that “enough is never enough for Jesus” and that there’s “no room for hatred in the church.” He is a member of Faith UMC, Richardson. Chidi Anyadike, incoming Youth...

NTC Youth Choir to sing at SCJ Consecration

Need 200 high school UM Youth for a festival chorus July 18 at 7:30 pm - Arrive at Biggers Building, Highland Park UMC, Dallas for rehearsal and sleep-over. Bring sleeping bag, toiletries and towel. July 19 at 8:00 am - Breakfast and bus to First UMC, Dallas for services at 10:30 am Parent pick-up at 12:00 pm Cost $15 for food, T-shirt. E-mail Tim Morrison, tmorrison@crumc.org for registration, for copies of music, for T-Shirts, and for any other questions....

Youth attend GC08 to hear Young People's Address

North Texas Conference youth gathered at the 2008 General Conference on April 24 for the first-ever Young People's Address. At lunch the NTC group had the opportunity to speak with the six young persons who presented the address. PHOTO BY MILSE FURTADO ...

'A.J.' Williams, Hamilton Park UMC, leads 30-hour famine for District UMYF

The new president of the Hamilton Park UMC United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF) and member of the NTC Champion Park Hoopers 3-on-3 Basketball Team, Arthur "A.J." Williams, suggested that the Hamilton Park UMC UMYF host the World Vision 30-Hour Famine for the Dallas Northeast District.From April 25 through April 26, 43 youth districtwide participated in the famine where they learned about child hunger throughout the world, especially Africa, and raised money for this effort. Four youth,...

'Fast' has new meaning for NTC team

The Boy's Team from Hamilton Park UMC, Dallas, had a very personal experience with hunger in the 30 hours before the tournament. Player A. J. Williams, a tenth grader at Allen High School, convinced the team to participate in the Youth Group's 30-hour fast, identifying with the hungry children of Africa and the world. Part of the experience was to make personal sacrifices and donate the savings to feed the hungry. The young men had only water and juice until just before the tournament when...

Youth Annual Conference takes 'transformer' twist

BY MILSE FURTADO Staff Writer The 2008 North Texas Youth Annual Conference (YAC) brought together some 100 young people, from rising eighth-graders through rising high school seniors, to the Bridgeport Camp and Conference Center, Feb. 22-24. This year's theme for the conference was "Transformers: Disciples in Disguise." Every local church in the NTC was invited to take at least six voting United Methodist Youth and two youth alternates, eighth grade and up. Churches were also welcome to...

Gleaning Ministry schedule announced

Helping Hands Gleaning Ministry, a non-profit, 501(c3), hunger relief ministry, will begin its sweet potato gleaning season with a gleaning on Sept. 15th, and continue each Saturday through Nov. 10th. The dates are tentative depending upon the weather allowing for the harvest. The "BIG JAM Make A Difference" gleaning event will be held on Oct.13th in a field near Emory in east Texas. In 2006, over 300 volunteers gleaned 37,000 pounds of sweet potatoes on this one-day event, that...