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Youth News You Can Use! - Main Section
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- SPY NEWS - 2008-07-29
Come check out the youth band at Zoo City on August 1 between 8-9 pm as we kick off the first Faith Night, Zoo City is located in the old Mansour's Building by The Landings on Airport Thruway.
Sunday, August 3, we are headign out to Jack and Libbie Key's River place. We will meet at the Church at 3:30 to head out. Please do not be late, or you might get left. Okay actually you will get left. We will be back at 8:30.
Summer is ending and school is beginning and we're ending it all/kicking it all off with our Wii Work celebration on August 24 from 5:30-8:00. If you went to a Wii Work project during the summer then you are entered to win a brand spankin new Nintendo Wii, BUT HERE'S THE CATCH...YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN (so don't miss out on this awesome night of worship, fun, and fellowship. We'll See You Soon!!
In Christ,
Stephen
- SPY NEWS - 2008-06-21
HUGE Wii WORK OPPORTUNITY!!!! Next week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (July 1-3) we are going to follow through with the biblical call to bear one another's burdens. Each day we will meet at St. Paul at 8:45 to head out and help a family in our church who needs help getting some work done on their house. We will be back at the church at 12:15 for pick-up. Don't miss a day of the awesome opportunity to serve!
In Christ,
Stephen
- SPY NEWS - 2008-05-26
What's Up! I've got the calendar together for June. As you will see, we will be busy. I should not hear about any youth being bored in the month of June. Some of the events do not have times yet. That is mostly because I have not been relayed the times from a third party. However, I will get the times out through emails and word of mouth. Sorry for the inconvenience. I will be driving the bus for just about all of the events, so if you need a ride because your parents are at work, you just need to let me know.
Please fill out the form below! Print out a copy for any friends you want to come along and get their parents to fill it out. This will cover you for all in town events this summer! This brings me to a second BIG part of this email.
SAFE SANCTUARIES
We all suffer from stricter and tighter regulations in our occupations, and youth ministry is no different. Because of the stupidity of some of my fellow youth leaders around the United States and right here in Georgia, we are all now experiencing a major shift in how ministry can be done. In an effort to protect our kids, the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church has mandated that all United Methodist Churches in South Georgia must adopt and implement a safe sanctuary policy. This policy simply mandates some practices that I have always practiced in ministry, such as- not meeting one on one in an isolated area with youth and permission slips for trips. However, it also mandates many more specific issues. These are some of the major issues that affect youth ministry and you:
- 1. A child must be picked up by a parent or legal guardian from all events, unless the leader has a written signed note from a parent or legal guardian specifically authorizing another adult to pick up their child. This is also true for leaders. Therefore, Nick, Jonathan, Emily, and any other adult or youth leader must be authorized by the parent in writing in order to take a child home.
- 2. There must be two authorized adults present whenever their are youth present. The adults cannot be married. Therefore, Emily and I cannot take any youth home or supervise youth by ourselves. We must have another adult present, even if the parent has authorized us to take their child home. This also has implication for out of town trips. Adults cannot room with youth unless there are two non-married adults in the room. Most of the places we stay are only four person rooms, which would force us to a one to one chaperone ratio. So, youth will room by themselves on trips, and chaperones will room nearby.
- 3. All volunteers and staff must fill out an application, be interviewed, have a background check, and have been involved in church at St. Paul for six months.
- 4. I must have a permission slip signed by a parent or guardian for each youth at every event. That permission slip is located at the bottom of this article. Susan Scroggs, the program administrator at the church is a notary, and she can notarize them for you. All of the in town summer events are covered by one permission slip. So, please know that when you sign that form, you are authorizing your youth to participate in all After Parties, Special Events, and Wii Work projects.
- 5. Youth who want to help with VBS, must fill out a separate form to serve as "helpers." You can get one from the front office here at the church.
I think those are the major areas. I also attached the full policy to this email. If you have concerns or need further clarification, please let me know and take a look at the policy. Jonathan Smith is the official Safe Sanctuary person here at the church.
I am sorry for any run-ins you have had with the Safe Sanctuary Policy before now. These are really tight stipulations and often very inconvenient. However, the inconvenience is worth it, IF it keeps youth and children safe. So please bear with me as I learn the policy and seek to implement it properly into the youth ministry here at St. Paul.
Hope to see you all soon!!!
In Christ,
Stephen
June Youth Calendar
Youth Event Registration Form
St. Paul UMC Safe Sanctuaries Policy
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