By Jenny Willliams
Rising high school juniors and seniors
are invited to Colorado State University next summer for Explore Your
Call on July 15-19. Sponsored by the Institute for Ministry with Youth
and Young Adults at Bethany Theological Seminary, this event is held the
week prior to National Youth Conference (NYC), also at Colorado State.
Interested youth will be able to attend both events, and will connect
with their youth groups as they arrive for NYC.
Since Explore
Your Call was reinstated three years ago, Bethany faculty, students, and
alumni/ae have guided young participants in learning about the meaning
of ministry and contemplating the experience of God’s call. Structured
time in the classroom and on field experiences is balanced with worship,
personal sharing, and recreation.
During the past three years,
17 youth have participated in Explore Your Call. Brittany Fourman from
Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren in Dayton, Ohio, attended in June
2013, in addition to serving as a summer intern with her own
congregation. Her words convey a deepening of her own spiritual life
while calling others to find new depth as well:
“Explore Your Call is more than just a spiritual experience--it is a
life changer. What you hear, the experiences you have, and the people
you meet will remain with you long after leaving EYC. You not only get
to know God more intimately but also quickly build relationships with
the coordinators, the professors, and the rest of the youth in the
group. This program is a place where young, strong-minded Christians can
explore their lives with God and feel safe in asking tough questions.
“It’s
quite difficult to put into words the impact EYC made on my life, but
to sum it up, I feel more confident and knowledgeable in my faith and
walk with Christ. I left EYC knowing that the call comes in many forms,
many ways, and at any time. I don’t have to be a pastor to be called
into ministry; the word of the Lord can shine through me in any vocation
I may follow. Knowing that the path that’s given to me will be used by
the Lord is a wonderful feeling.
“EYC challenges you. It’s a
time when you are pushed to be uncomfortable and explore uncrossed
territory. Come prepared to learn, to bask in the glory of God, and to
experience community and fellowship. During EYC it’s important to
embrace the diversity of the people you encounter and really learn to
love all of God’s children. Try to retain as much information as
possible--it’s not only fascinating; you’ll also find yourself including
those concepts in your daily life. And expect to leave EYC more in love
with God than you thought possible.”
Registration for Explore Your Call is now open at www.bethanyseminary.edu/eyc. More details about the 2014 program will be available in the coming
months. Contact Bekah Houff, coordinator of outreach programs, for more
information at houffre@bethanyseminary.edu or 765-983-1809.
--
Jenny Williams is director of communications and alumni/ae relations at
Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind. For more information
about the seminary go to www.bethanyseminary.edu.
Source: 10/4/2013 Newsline
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