Youth Futures

Youth Futures

Youth Futures
by Mary Paige Taylor, Director of Youth Ministry

It’s been almost a whole year since we’ve gathered for worship together. It’s been a tough year; at times it’s been isolating, but we’re finally seeing the light at the
end of this tunnel. Whenever we do get to gather in-person again, it will definitely be a different experience than it was before, but we will be so much more thankful for those moments together.

During March, we will have our two weeks of the annual Youth Futures Campaign, and hopefully it’ll remind us of some of that thankfulness. For these two weeks, we’ll be spotlighting our youth program and having them lead worship in every way they can. The Youth Futures Campaign is our yearly fundraiser to continue to have opportunities for the youth to serve and travel through our Fusion and Belize Trips, along with offering retreats at various times during a normal year.

This annual fundraiser is in place of doing numerous small fundraisers like spaghetti dinners or selling wrapping paper, so these funds we raise this month determine the possibility of retreats and mission trips in the future.

One Sunday, I’ll be preaching on 1 Timothy 4:8-16 where Paul states that adults should allow the youth to be their example in how to love and serve. That
concept has been made very apparent to me over the last few years, but none so
much as the last 15 months since I started this job. I’ve heard students say over and over “we want more mission opportunities during the summer. Let’s split into smaller groups and go somewhere to work non-stop for 3 or 4 days. There’s
plenty of local opportunities around here, let’s start our work here.” These kids want to work in the midst of everything else they do. They are incredible. When
everything got shut down last year, their hearts ached to be together, but their hearts also ached to serve in the ways they love. We’ve been able to find new ways to be the hands and feet of Jesus throughout the pandemic by doing canned food drives and making Compassion Bags for the homeless, but they’ve continually asked for more opportunities.

I hope that as you see these students lead in various ways, love each other, and minister to all they encounter, you’ll be moved to donate to our campaign. In the midst of all of the uncertainty that is around us right now, let the youth be your beacon of hope because they are truly living out the call Jesus made to
carry one another’s burdens.

You can donate to Youth Futures at our secure Giving page.

Youth Futures Vaudeville!

March 21 at 5pm and 7pm in the gym

This year’s Youth Future’s campaign will feature a Vaudeville, showcasing the immense talents of our St. Paul youth! 

We will offer two in-person showings of this video production in the gym! Tickets are $5.00 at the door, and we will sell snacks at the end of the show (so please bring cash). Children under 5 are free. Masks and social distancing will be enforced.

We’ll also have a crowd favorite award! There will be buckets labeled with each performer’s name, so bring some additional cash to put in the bucket of your favorite act! 

All proceeds will go to Youth Futures, which helps our youth be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community! It is the primary fundraiser for the Youth Ministry at St. Paul.

Please come watch the performances because they’re gonna be super cool and the youth worked really hard on this production! If you aren’t comfortable coming inside for something yet, that’s totally fine; we’ll do an outdoor showing on May 16 at 8:00pm.