Richard
Goff
Eagle
Harbor Congregational United Church of Christ
August,
2008
Most of us care deeply
about the welfare and futures of our community's youth. We want ours to be a community where all
young people receive the attention, respect, opportunities and supportive
relationships they need to be happy and grow up healthy, caring and
responsible.
Our
areaÕs numerous diverse faith congregations are committed to realizing this
kind of caring community. So, they
offer to youth many opportunities and experiences that can make strong positive
differences in their lives.
Generally,
our faith groups reach out to girls and boys of every age. Here IÕd like to focus on programs for
those of middle and high school years.
These are times when youth experience new and sometimes difficult
concerns, challenges, risks and pressures. In these years, I believe, many youth can benefit greatly
from the nurture and support they can find in communities of faith.
Exploring
big issues. In faith-based youth
groups, young people find safe, comfortable and stimulating environments for
open-minded and respectful peer discussion of important concerns and life
issues they face. They can explore and become increasingly aware of how faith
teachings, and openness to the spiritual core of their beings, can broaden and
brighten their perspectives on these issues and enrich their relationships and
lives..
Serving
others. Typically, our youth
groups enthusiastically Òwalk the walkÓ of caring for others. Most regularly engage in service
activities - such as collecting food and fundraising for Helpline House;
holiday shopping for disadvantaged
youth; serving food and helping kids at Seattle homeless shelters; helping host
ÒSuper SuppersÓ that combat hunger
in our community; participating in CropWalk; and fundraising for
self-help projects in foreign countries.
One youth program is currently concentrating on various ways to heal and
protect our environment. In others,
youth put on dinners and other social events for seniors and visit shut-ins. In
another, older youth help young scouts with safety training.
Several
groups also go on periodic mission trips.
On some recent trips, faith group youth have built homes for homeless
people in Mexico; built and repaired homes and prepared meals in
flood-devastated New Orleans; helped repair flood damage in North Carolina;
helped people of a Mexican village achieve adequate water and sustainable
agriculture; helped the hungry, homeless and seniors through work in a food
bank, homeless shelter and senior center in Portland; and painted homes of
needy families in the Yakima valley.
Through
these kinds of efforts, youth are richly rewarded. They grow in knowledge and appreciation of the conditions
and struggles of others, especially those in need, and in compassion and sense
of community with those they assist.
They learn the values and results of working, hard, as a team. They experience the joy and fulfillment
of giving of themselves for others.
Having
fun. Our faith youth groups also
excel in finding and enjoying opportunities for fun and play together - in
positive and healthy ways. Some of
many examples: river rafting;
backpacking; hiking; skating; sledding; singing; drama; crafts; "coffee house" nights; weekly
dinners; movie nights; bowling;
mini-golf; swimming; overnight retreats; dances; celebrating festive occasions;
and all sorts of games.
Belonging
and acceptance. In
faith-based groups, young people are connected in inclusive, loving and supportive circles of
friendship. They are accepted for
who they are, without peer pressures and "popularity" distinctions
often encountered elsewhere. This
sense of true community stems from the shared experiences described above, from
the sensitive guidance of adult advisers and, I believe, fundamentally from the
inspiration all receive from the Spirit of love that underlies our diverse
faiths.
For
information about specific faith group youth programs: you can contact most
local faith groups using ÒchurchesÓ or ÒsynagoguesÓ yellow page listings. Or,
visit the website of the Bainbridge Island/North Kitsap Interfaith Council
(IFC), www.binkinterfaith.org, and click on its "Youth" page
and links to descriptions of youth programs of several of IFC's 19 member
congregations; or click on the siteÕs "Members" page for contact
information for most all of these congregations. Many faith youth groups welcome young people whether
or not they participate in other regular activities of the congregation.
ÒIt
takes a community . . . .Ó Many other wonderful local organizations are
striving to benefit our youth, for example, Bainbridge Youth Services, Bainbridge Teen Center, Bainbridge Boys and Girls Club and ÒJust KnowÓ Coalition -- each
described in and linked from IFC's website's Youth page. So too are hundreds of dedicated
teachers, coaches and others working with kids. Finally, each of us,
individually, can give young people positive connections and support - in
various ways (see IFCÕs websiteÕs Youth and ÒHow You Can HelpÓ pages for
concrete suggestions). Our youth
need and deserve nothing less.