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by Lisa Smith, CAPTAIN –
The Territorial Youth Department is currently faced with some important questions: “How will we know that ministry to youth is a priority in this territory? What will it look like?”
The unanimous cry throughout the territory has been “We need leadership training for those working with youth!” and “We need funds to finance our youth ministry!”
In response to these needs the following exciting initiatives have been put into place.
The first-ever Territorial Youth Workers Boot Camp will be held January 26-30, 2005. This 5-day event will provide in-depth training in youth outreach, discipleship, ministry and leadership through the means of new, as well as traditional, Salvation Army youth programs.
To ensure that every corps in the territory will benefit from this training event, the Territorial Youth Department is offering scholarships where needed to cover travel and registration for one youth worker per corps or outpost.
The territory has also recently developed a youth ministry grant program. In September 2004 six to seven corps from around the territory will be awarded these grants that will provide funding to hire a youth worker for up to three years.
“I believe the Youth Worker Boot Camp and grant program are two steps in the right direction toward making ministry to youth a priority,” says Captain Kyle Smith, territorial youth secretary. “They are designed to help remove the obstacles that lie between where we are now and our ultimate goal: to excel at developing young people into life-long followers of Jesus Christ as soldiers in the Salvation Army.”