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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodists together |
February 2006 |
YSF grants aim to help young people change world
By Kathy L. Gilbert
A UMNS Report
Young war victims in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will receive $6,000 so they can learn computer skills that will help them find employment.
A group of young people in Johnson City, Tenn., will get $9,000 to drill wells for families without access to public water, install septic systems for homes without indoor plumbing, and provide badly need plumbing upgrades in an area where families cannot afford the repairs.
These programs represent some of the ways the United Methodist Youth Service Fund is helping youth around the world become "world-changing disciples of Jesus Christ."
YSF 2006
This year, the Youth Service Fund, made available through your congregation's general church connectional giving World Service dollars, will send $91,000 to 15 programs in the United States, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Cambodia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Grants for ministries with young people total $90,000 for 17 programs in the United States, Finland, Liberia, the Philippines, Germany and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"The most exciting thing to me, about the Youth Service Fund, is that it is raised by youth to support ministries by youth. These funds are not from World Service dollars," says the Rev. Lillian Smith, executive for the Division on Ministries With Young People at the United Methodist Board of Discipleship. The division distributes and manages the fund and grants.
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"Young people can make a difference if we give them a chance and actively engage them in ministry." - Lillian Smith |
"To think that the tithe alone of the Youth Service Fund provided $12,500 to fight hunger and promote peace - wow! Talk about discipleship!" Smith said. "Talk about youth living out God's call to feed the hungry and promote reconciliation and peace. Young people can make a difference if we give them a chance and actively engage them in ministry."
"It's great to know that you've taken an active role in the global connection," says Kristin Mikels, a junior at North Central College in Naperville, Ill., and chairperson of faith formation for the Division on Ministries With Young People. "Above all, it is great to know that every dollar or penny donated to the Youth Service Fund is a part of something great."
"The Youth Service Fund is both a financial foundation and a leadership tool," says Robert Starkey, a high school junior in Saginaw, Mich. "It is truly an excellent product of the connectional system."
Backpacks, compact-disc holders, luggage tags, picture frames and pens with the YSF logo are available for annual conferences and districts to purchase in order to raise money and awareness to promote the fund. Proceeds will benefit the national portion of YSF.
Application due June 1
Applications for the Youth Service Fund are due June 1 for funding in the following calendar year. Projects funded by the Youth Service Fund for 2006 are:
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Christian Methodist Youth Development Centre, $4,000, Tamale Northern Region - Ghana;
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Computer Typing, Printing, Copying & Internet Caf‚, $7,000, Zimbabwe West Annual Conference;
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Cup of Cold Water Project, $9,000, Johnson City, Tenn.;
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Faith "Engine" Ministry, $6,000, Cambodia;
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Freshman Initiative, $5,000, Durham, N.C.;
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Growing Up Hip-Hop, Living by Faith, $8,000, New York;
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Home Repair Services, $5,000, Alamosa, Colo.;
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Hope Computer Center, $6,000, Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of Congo;
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Life Skills & Mushroom Project, $8,000, Harare, Zimbabwe;
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Martial Arts Outreach Ministry, $5,000, Grand Prairie, Texas;
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Prime Time Ministry, $8,000, Fort Myers, Fla.;
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Sidewalk Ministries Social Justice Response, $4,000, Phoenix;
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Stevensville Youth Center, $7,000, Stevensville, Mich.;
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WHUMC Youth Outreach Program, $6,000, Chattanooga, Tenn.; and
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Youth Leadership Council, $3,000, Pensacola, Fla.
Information and the Youth Service Fund and grants can be found at www.gbod.org/youngpeople/ or by calling 877-899-2780, ext. 7184, or writing to youngpeople@gbod.org.
Kathy L. Gilbert serves as a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008