The 2020 “State of the Youthion”
by Rob Roise – Director of Youth Ministries
Psalm 78:1-4
1Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old,
3 things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.
It’s absolutely incredible to look back on last year’s report and see how this Church responded to our call over this last year to bring our Youth Group back Home! You may all remember that at the beginning of our Fiscal Year in 2019 we were underway in our Grace Connection Building Fund with $35,000 in Gifts and Pledges. As we ended this last fiscal year we have less than that left TO GO!
So, on behalf of all the young people we reach through Grace Youth Ministries, I want to thank you, the Congregation at Grace for generously supporting the Grace Connection and bringing our vision to have Youth Group back on premises SO close to reality! We are Excited to see all that God will do in the next seasons of Youth Group and rejoice to be back in Church with the rest of the congregation on Wednesday Nights once the new building is built and ready!
VBS
In the last week of June 2019, the Youth Group put on VBS for Grace LB Church.
We memorized Scripture together with the kids that participated through songs that taught verbatim Bible passages! And we taught on The Fall! Beginning with the Fall of Satan who fell like lightning, as you may have seen in the diorama in the foyer last summer. That led into the reality of the Fall of Man and the hope for our Redemption through Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Son of Man who overcame Satan when He died and rose again.
From July 8-11 our Youth Ministry duplicated this same VBS for Ebenezer LB Church in Rolette.
FUNDRAISING & YC19
As always, whenever we have something like Youth Convention coming up, I commit to providing sufficient opportunity for young people to raise 100% of their money through our own fundraising efforts. And they did! 16 of us traveled to YC19 in Colorado having fully paid for the trip THANKS to YOUR support through our Wilberforce Group Workforce projects, Coffee Shops, Car Washes, and an enormous Rummage Sale that we put on all throughout the summer of 2019!
Ministry Fair
Between Apple Harvest 2018, and what would have been Apple Harvest 2019, I suspect that Youth Ministry received its greatest outpouring of financial support EVER, when we consider all the money you gave for the Grace Connection. So, in order to say THANK YOU for your overwhelming support over the year, and in order to fund the rest of our Youth’s activities for the season without asking for ANY MORE donations, Brandy and Becky over at Thrivent Financial helped our Youth Group put on The Trivent Financial Ministry Fair! Like a Job Fair… where we gathered for an amazing dinner after Church on November 17th. Following dinner, our Youth and Youth leadership represented different ministries that we conduct at display tables containing information for each ministry and provided an opportunity for our congregation to partner with that respective ministry with their Thrivent Action Team! And many did! THANK YOU, Becky and Brandy! And THANK you Thrivent Members for your Generous participation with us!
Events & Activities
We had our Annual Youth Group Christmas Party on Wednesday, December 18th.
On January 24th and into January 25th we went to High Air Ground and Sakura Japanese Steakhouse for our Annual “Why Not Minot Night” followed immediately by a LOCK-IN back at Grace! I know: We’re crazy.
As many of you may remember, we ordered 2020 Youth Group T-Shirts and Hoodies! You’ll be able to identify young people throughout our area as ones from our Youth Group by these beautiful dark gray garments emblazoned by the striking Cross graphic designed by Annie Rodriguez, Willie’s daughter. So, be on the lookout for Grace Youth Group kids around town and greet them when you see them!!
Studies
Over the last year our Youth Group studied the 10 Commandments, the book of Philippians, Apologetics with Anthony Fornes, Fundamentals of the Faith with Jody Roise, The God Who Speaks with Beau Nevin, and The Fall as we prepared for VBS!
Closing
We didn’t know it at the time, but on March 11 we held our final Youth Group session for the fiscal year. From that time onward, we have suspended all Wednesday Night and Sunday Night activities according to the State Health Department recommendations to be safe from the Coronavirus and to slow the spread of the pandemic virus.
As always, it is my great privilege and pleasure to serve partner with you, the Congregation at Grace LB Church, and bring these Ministries to our Young People so that they might hear the Word of God, and come to know and treasure all that God has done for us in Jesus Christ. I have great hope for our Youth Ministry as we move forward, hoping to build The Grace Connection and to see all that the Lord will do through this incredible Youth Group!
Together with you, for their Joy in Jesus Christ,
rob roise
Grace LBYF 