Youth groups offer a foundation for faith

Apples ripening, grapes sweetening, corn being combined, church youth groups regrouping -- it's fall, for sure.

As youngsters head back to school, youth groups around the Valley move into full gear, with middle and high school students meeting weekly for fellowship, scripture, lessons and activities.

Each group is as individual as its church, but several abiding traditions transcend the differences.

Many churches divide the groups into middle school and high school ages, host retreats and trips, emphasize faith and welcome all youngsters, whether they attend the home church or not.

There's room for fun, too.

As camaraderie-building activities, members play volleyball, attend movies, hike in the forest or engage in water balloon fights.

Lessons, however, are the integral part of all youth groups.

Youth participants at Memorial Bible Church near Gleed are currently studying the life of Peter.

Groups at Holy Family Catholic Church on Tieton Drive often take a parable, such as Jesus and the lost sheep, and translate it to contemporary times.

Themes are often emphasized.

During Lent last year, youth members at Central Lutheran Church on Yakima Avenue watched different clips from movies about faith, centering their discussion on ethics and the portrayal of Christ.

The golden rule of youth directors is simple; if you make solid connections with young people, chances are you'll make a lasting impact on their lives.

"It's building the personal relationship and engaging them," explains Lori Emard, youth director at Holy Family.

Shawn Niles, interim youth director at Memorial Bible, agrees. "The most important part of the job is relational -- I care about you; I'm here."

Or, as Nathan Gerhart, Central Lutheran's youth director, says, "I think most ministry happens one on one, and it takes time to build. The best thing we can do is be open."

Youth groups are also about developing a relationship with God, the three youth leaders agree.

That's important because faith gets people through difficult times when nothing else will, Gerhart points out.

The goal is to build a foundation in faith that will carry the youth through adulthood. "My hope is to have them for life," Gerhart says.

Youth at Memorial know they have a place where they belong, says Niles. "We tell them you have a lot to offer, you're the church of today," he stresses.

Holly Gonseth believes her two children, Patrick, who graduated from high school last spring, and Emily, who is 16, have greatly benefited from the Central Lutheran youth group.

"It's built a stronger relationship with God," Gonseth says.

She was also impressed with the youth group trip the siblings joined to New Orleans last summer to help with the continuing cleanup from the floods. "They didn't go as tourists; they went as servant tourists," Gonseth said. "Helping the people had a big impact on them."

Just as faith can be an anchor, so can a youth group when a youngster is undergoing something traumatic.

"Some weeks our whole lesson will go out the door, and we minister to each other because of what someone is going through," Emard said.

However, there's also the issue of competition for time; sports, jobs, friendships and school work all take their toll on youth group attendance.

"We're not in the 1950s anymore," Gerhart concedes. "Wednesday night isn't seen as traditional church night."

Nick Thomson, who is 16, has experienced those competing forces, but he's managed to balance stresses on his time so he can make Holy Family's weekly youth group. The West Valley High School junior works part time at a grocery store but makes sure he gets off every Wednesday night.

"I like it (the youth group) because it's fun, Lori (Emard) is always happy and I get to be around friends," he explains.

If Thomson didn't attend a youth group, he doubts his moral foundation would be as solid. "You learn a lot about yourself through church, and this has opened my eyes to hanging out with all kinds of people and helping others."

The Holy Family youth program is different than many others in its emphasis on smaller groups. High school students don't meet in one large group but instead gather in about eight different homes. Two or three volunteers host each group of about 10 teens.

"So many students get lost in a crowd, but when it's smaller, they feel more comfortable to speak freely," explains Emard, who has been youth director for four years, following 15 years as a volunteer leader.

Emard says teens need an outlet where they can be themselves and won't be embarrassed.

Niles, an ordained minister, meets with 30 junior high youth on Tuesday nights and 45 high school students on Sunday nights in a youth room with foosball and ping-pong tables and high-tech music equipment. Dinner together and music are important parts of every meeting.

This year they're experimenting with SALT, a Servant and Leadership Team, instead of Sunday School for high schoolers. They serve as helpers before Sunday services, in the parking lot, coffee bar area or at the door as greeters.

About 15 high school students meet regularly at Central Lutheran on Wednesdays.

Gerhart's also committed to discovering the personal interests of youngsters and then trying to match them with an activity at church, whether it's helping with Sunday school for a girl who wants to be a teacher, or making videos with someone interested in photography.

"I want to find those gifts in kids and inspire them," Gerhart said.

* Jane Gargas can be reached at 509-577-7690 or jgargas@yakimaherald.com.

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