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  “J.A.M. [Jesus And Me] exists to REVEAL Jesus’ love for all; to INTENSIFY our personal growth in His Word; to PRAISE and BOND together as one in Christ; and JUMP OUT of our comfort zones for Him.”
Our Mission Statement helps us to stay focused on the call that Christ has for all of us week-in and week-out. |
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The Youth Ministry of Poland United Methodist Church is organized around the five biblical purposes described in several New Testament scriptures. In these two passages found in Matthew, all the verses are summarized in Jesus’ words. The Great Commandment: Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39); The Great Commission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20a). The five biblical purposes are:
Evangelism — “Go and make disciples”
Fellowship — “Baptizing them”
Discipleship — “Teaching them to obey”
Mission — “Love your neighbor as yourself”
Worship — “Love the Lord your God with all your heart”
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| --- sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with those who do not know Him [Acts 1:8]. This is the opportunity for our youth leadership to model the great commission among their peers. As young people grow in their own faith, they are taught that evangelism is not only their responsibility as Christians but also their privilege. INVITE is the key to our evangelism ministries. Our young people are encouraged to INVITE their friends to any and all of our youth activities. |
| Retreats – Each year the youth take part in various retreats and conferences that are designed to grow their faith and reach out to peers. Some of the events of the past include the Conference Youth JAM; District Junior High and Senior High Winter Retreats; District Night at the ‘Y’; and a College Retreat at Ohio Northern University. We have also attended the “Share Your Faith” event in Columbus as well as the Youngstown “True Love Waits” Rally. |
 Basketball Tournament/Open Gym Events – These events continue to be activities that welcome young people to come and participate or just to hang out with peers. These are
a wonderful opportunity for the youth to see that Poland United Methodist Church is interested in what they are interested in and the church wants them to have clean, safe, fun. |
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 --- Hebrews 10:23-25 says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Whenever our young people gather for fellowship, this has become our model verse. |
| Youth Group . – Our Youth Group, which meets on most Sunday evenings
(September thru May), is open to all. Our Youth enjoy many opportunities to serve, grow deeper in their faith and just have fun together. The evening is programmed with games, food, a short message, and most importantly fellowship each week.
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| Super Bowl Party – fellowship opportunity during the super bowl game planed especially for our young people. We watch the game on the big screen, order pizza, and have contests throughout the game. During half-time we usually have a guest speaker. This is truly a great opportunity for our youth and their friends to fellowship together.
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| Fellowship Events – periodic events designed to allow young people to get together, have fun, and grow together. Past events include Cleveland Indians baseball games, paint ball, youth group football games, laser tag, white water rafting, skiing, among others. Come and share you ideas. |
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| Discipleship is where we build up and strengthen the youth in their quest to be like Christ. Deuteronomy 5:1 says, “Then Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: ‘Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I am speaking today in your hearing, that you may learn them and observe them carefully.’” Just as Moses was commissioned to train and teach the people of Israel, we are commissioned to become mature in our Christian walk [Hebrews 6:1].
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| Sunday School – meets weekly at 10:00 a.m. Junior High meets in Room 304 and Senior High meets in the Youth Lounge [Room 301]. This is a time which is aimed at teaching the youth basic Biblical truths and principals. Teaching them to pray, do daily devotions and read their Bibles, are just a few of the ways we disciple them. In the past we have studied other religions and cults [Hinduism, Islam, Mormonism, Jehovah Witnesses, etc.] and the life of Christ. Discussions have also centered on such issues as peer pressure, dating, and relationships.
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| Bible Study – About once a month we come together to learn more about what God’s Word has for us to see. In conjunction with Bible Studies, we open up our Gym for an hour of games and sports. |
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Galatians 5:13 reminds us to “ … serve one another in love.” The mission and ministry of the Poland United Methodist Church’s Youth Program is to teach the youth their spiritual gifts and encourage them to use these gifts in the church [we are seeking to graduate student ministers rather than graduating religious spectators] by treating you as the current church rather than the future church. We believe that it is important that young people learn that it is more blessed to give than to receive. |
| Mission Outreach – Opportunities are provided through out the year for our young people to visit the Youngstown Rescue Mission to serve meals; assist with an inner-city ministry to children called Heart Reach; reach out through the United Methodist Community Center during the holidays; volunteer to be a Salvation Army Bell ringer at Christmas; participate in the Poland Interfaith Food Pantry, among others.
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| Mission Trip – Each year we plan a mission trip to various locations throughout the world. This is an opportunity for the youth and accompanying adults to be trained and to put into practice the sharing of their faith with others. During the summer of 2006, 30 youth and adults
will travel to the Rosebud Indian Reservation in
South Dakota where they will lead a Kid’s Club and helped repair houses. Over the years our Mission Trips have been as close as working with Habitat for Humanity right here in Youngstown; to working with J.O.S.H.U.A [Journeys of Service Helping Upper Appalachia] in Steubenville, Ohio; to working with the
Choctaw Indians in
Mississippi and Chippewa Indians at the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota. Everything from leading VBS, repairing houses, painting, serving meals at the local food pantry, or helping stock food at a county wide food pantry has been done.
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Locally – We are striving to have the youth of our church, ministering in the church by:
Serving on every major board or committee in the church
Serving as greeters from time to time
Serving as liturgists from time to time
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| Celebrating God’s presence and honoring Him with our lifestyle. “Offering our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship” [Romans 12:1]. This does not just mean singing praise and worship, but also other acts of worship, such as, praying [Psalm 95:6], hearing the Word [Deuteronomy 31:11], giving [1 Corinthians 16:1-2], baptizing [Romans 6:3-4], meditating [Habakkuk 2:20], and taking communion [1 Corinthians 11:23-26].
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Youth Services – Opportunities for the youth
to take full responsibility for preparing and leading worship
under the guidance of our Youth Pastor. This takes place at the Easter Sunrise Service for the entire church. |
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At the Poland United Methodist Church the Confirmation process is a two year program, held on Wednesday evenings form 6:15 to 7:45 pm. It is designed to help our youth understand and make a decision about their faith in Jesus Christ and a personal commitment to him. Confirmation, most generally for youth in Grades 7-9, provide a great opportunity and atmosphere for honest sharing about the questions young people may have concerning the Christian faith.
Historically, confirmation has been the opportunity for young persons to reaffirm vows that were made at their baptism and become full members of the Church. That is still a major part of confirmation.
And yet, confirmation is more than that. As the face of the Church changes, so does confirmation. Confirmation gives our youth, regardless of their background, the opportunity to make their own decision to follow Jesus Christ, to be baptized, and to join the local church. Confirmation is not an end in itself – it is only the beginning of the adventure of faith! |
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