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I’m really excited about our podcast this year at Annual Conference!  We are scheduling three sessions.  The first will focus on the happenings of General Conference and how that effects stuff here in North Georgia.  We are hoping to interview two of our delegates- Rev. Nora Martinez and Matthew Pinson.  We’ll see if it works out!  And then we’ll record the second session at Kingpins bowling alley on Wednesday night at the youngadult gathering- we’ll share the happenings of the day with the legislation that we’re hoping to pass.  Have you read it in your handbook yet?  Then, on Thursday we have plans to ask a couple of chaplains at our fine UM institutions throughout the conference.  You can catch the link on the main page of this site.  I think it’s going to be worth it.  And while you’re at it- register for the ya events for the Wednesday of AC.  See you there!

-Shari Hickom, Youth & Young Adult Coordinator

June 3, 2008

Two years ago, the North Georgia Annual Conference formed the Young Adult Task Force for the purpose of increasing the participation of youngadults within in the life of the conference.  This year in June, we hope to pass a resolution encouraging districts to appoint young people under the age of 40 as their at-large lay delegates.  We are also suggesting for Annual Conference dates to be held partially over the weekend.  This gives young people with potentially less resources a better chance at participating in the yearly summit of leaders. We encourage you to ask us questions if you have concerns or an interest in these resolutions.  Ultimately, we value the gifts, graces, and perspectives that all people, regardless of age, bring to the table and are delighted that our Annual Conference is taking great strides to increase that participation.   If you’ll be a delegate at Annual Conference, we’d love your support!

-Shari Hickom, Youth & Young Adult Coordinator

May 1, 2008

I often get requests from folks wanting to find study materials for their young adult group.  There are TONS of Bible Study options out there, but not too many specifically designed for young adults, and even fewer with a United Methodist background.  Well, there is a new resource that came out over the summer that I wanted to pass along.  It is a study series by Abington Press (the United Methodist Publishing House) called Restless Hearts.  The first study in the series is on vocation and is called "What Do I Do Now, God?"

This study is designed for small groups and features DVD discussion starter videos, as well as short readings and activities from a participant book.

This six-week study for young adults helps them reflect upon who

they are, upon what they want to do with their lives, and upon

God’s presence and care in the midst of their vocational journey.

Some things to note:
* There is a small amount of pre-session reading/reflecting expected from participants.  But it is not so much work that it would be unlikely for folks to actually accomplish.

* A leader/facilitator is required to do extra preparation as well as guide the flow of the group session time.

* To get the most out of the study, participants need to be able to commit to attending/participating in six (6) sessions.

* While the Leaders Guide and Participant Book are available on their own, the DVD is only available as part of a Planning Kit (which includes DVD, Leaders Guide, and Participant Book).

Overall, Restless Hearts is a good beginning to what promises to be a great series.  Hopefully it will continue to carve out a niche for future denominational young adult resources.  For more information, visit www.cokesbury.com.

- Bill Lizor,
Director, Young Adult & Single Adult Ministries
GBOD | The United Methodist Church
www.GBOD.org

Shari and I spent the weekend in Nashville at the General Board of Discipleship's (GBOD) Young Adult Summit. Round tables, laptops, graph paper, markers, dry erase boards, and LOTS of coffee surrounded about 80 Young Adults and other conference leadership from around the country to propel the UMC forward in effective Young Adult ministry. We left feeling very encouraged about the direction of Young Adult ministry in North Georgia - we are on the right path! We are looking forward to kicking off our new Young Adult Initiative for church leaders in early 2008 - more details coming soon! Besides that, here is my top 10 list that I took away:

 

YA Summit Top 10 List:

"The Prodigal Paradigm" v. "The Journey Paradigm"

"'The Bug' is so cool! How can we do that?"

Graceworks Community & Emerge Community

redefining discipleship: to be a disciple is to be in mission

YA Network

*believing, belonging, and behaving*

moving from consumer-based ministry models to missional ministry models of discipleship

mission is a lifestyle, not a trip (necessarily)

"Be in the church, not of the church"

"Generation Next" (a documentary on Generation Nexters done by PBS and the Pew Research Center)
 

--
Jasmine R. Smothers

november 28, 2007

 

Reading is a huge part of my life.  I love it.  Wish I had more time for it.  So, I thought it would be helpful to share a few books that have helped me wrap my mind around working with young adults.  This is certainly not an exhaustive list of the things I’ve found as helpful tools….but hopefully this’ll give you a good start.

 

Church in Transition by Tim Conder

Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell

The Search to Belong by Myers

Revolution by Barna

Dear Church by Cunningham

 

…and I just purchased Unchristian: what a new generation really thinks about Christianity…and why it matters by Kinnaman.  Can’t wait to get into it.

-shari hickom, youth & young adult coordinator

october 24, 2007

 

Prayer from Henri Nouwen

O dear Lord, what can I say to you?
Is there any word that could come from my mouth,
any thought? any sentence?
You died for me, you gave all for my sins,
you not only became man for me
but also suffered the most curel death for me.
Is there any response?
I wish that I could find a fitting response,
but in contemplating your Holy Passion and Death
I can only confess humbly to you
that the immensity of your divine love
makes any response seem totally inadequate.
Let me just stand and look at you.
Your body is broken, your head is wounded,
your hands and feet are split open by nails,
your side is pierced.
Your dead body now rests in the arms of your Mother.
It is all over now. It is finished.
It is fulfilled. It is accomplished.
Sweet Lord, gracious Lord,
generous Lord, forgiving Lord,
I adore you, I praise you, I thank you.
YOu have made all things new
through your passion and death.
Your cross had been planted in this world
as the new sign of hope.

Let me always live under your cross, O Lord,
and proclaim the hope of your cross unceasingly.
AMEN.

april 24, 2007

 

 

Today in Honduras- in the Algalta Valley- three died while on a mission trip with HOI. There are varying stories about the incident- you can read more on the AJC site.

They died because the big WWII truck they were traveling in rolled over while driving on rough terrain. It could have been a car wreck- I’m not sure. But, I know that truck well- I’ve ridden in it dozens of times in really rough terrain myself. My heart goes out to the families of these folks- one of which I know. But, my heart also goes out to my family there at Rancho El Paraiso. It was probably either Ubaldo or Henry driving.

Those folks were somebody’s mom, somebody’s husband, somebody’s sibling, somebody’s friend. My heart is just broken. I’m absolutely devastated. In situations like this- my guess is that folks generally respond in one of two ways. One- they rally up and push forward and speak even more boldly about loving God and loving others. Or- they are bitter and take possible steps to halt the ministry happening around the ranch. I pray for boldness- for speaking of the Kingdom of God, both here and the one to come. And I pray for Henry, Ubaldo, Ishmael, Lucas, Marta, Steve, Dr. German, Maria, and the others at the ranch- as well as Emily and Beth here at the office. I can see their sweet sweet faces as if I had been there yesterday.

-shari hickom, youth & young adult coordinator

february, 2007

 

shut up!  the granola cereal at trader joe's has cashews in it! 

november, 2006

i repent, i repent of my pursuit of america's dream
i repent, i repent of living like i deserve anything
of my house, my fence, my kids, my wife
in our suburb where we're safe and white
i am wrong and of these things i repent

i repent, i repent of parading my liberty
i repent. i repent of paying for what i get for free
and for the way i believe that i am living right
by trading sins for others that are easier to hide
i am wrong and of these things i repent

bridge
i repent judging by a law that even i can't keep
of wearing righteousness like a disguise
to see through the planks in my own eyes

i repent, i repent of trading truth for false unity
i repent, i repent of confusing peace and idolatry
by caring more of what they think than what i know of what we need
by domesticating you until you look just like me
i am wrong and of these things i repent

(derek webb, i see things upside down)

august, 2006

church.
dissatisfied.
unmoved.
restless.
not offering blame, taking our fair share... but
still... what now?

corporate worship has no appeal to us.
perhaps we've created a monster.
either it's dead and apathetic and rote OR it's a show-concert.
i wonder if it feels like a show to the folks on the stage?
the solution to the problem is:  1.  it's time to go to heaven or 2.  get out of america
there's no dependency.  what do i need that i can't ultimately supply myself?
it's america- it's not good, just bad and ugly.

ecclesiastes.
king solomon.
he had everything.
nothing mattered.
and he had everything.

is it about having a thankful heart?
maybe...
but, we do.  we can live with a thankful heart.
perhaps it's about intentionally living with lack and with wanting.
it's not about selling your stuff and giving it all up.
it's not about moving to another country as a missionary.
it's about coming to the realization... creating that dependency here in america.

pray for revival? 
of course.

brokenness.
emptiness.
perhaps the closer we can get to brokenness and emptiness... the closer we get to heaven.

"when the roll is called up yonder...'
can you sing it with true abandonment?
or is there still an ounce of you that hopes to have a full life and then later heaven- your flesh speaking?
but, there's nothing about this physical life that is 'desirable'.

recognizing God's voice.
obedience.
worship is about obedience.
seeking that, doing it, finding it.
obedience.
we'll follow david's lead.
there's hope in david's story.
perhaps the biggest screw up in the bible.
joy in the Lord comes from obedience.
we'll start there.

obedience.
where does that begin for us?
prayer.

-shari hickom, youth & young adult coordinator


june 6, 2006

a stream of thought that has been almost constantly occumpying my mind for quite some time goes like this, "if we do the things that would make churches more appealing to 'regular folk' young adults (i.e. they don't go to church), then we run the risk of never getting them because one of the biggest rubs young adults have against the church is that we are not authentic.' now i base that observation/line of thought on conversations that i have with 'regular folk'. my friends and acquaintances in their 20's and 30's that do not go to church have lots of excuses.  they like to be free to go away for the weekend, they like to sleep late on sunday, they walk into churhces and feel as if they are not welcome because they are either a)single or b) without child.  programming is not related to them.  worship seems more like a concert or a big production.  they aren't really sure what they believe.  the list could go on and on. 

some churches have done well with young adults, especially those young adults that fall in lock-step with the suburban aspirations of their parents. but what about the overwhelming mass of folk who do not do church or Jesus and definitely don't do anything like their parents? they need Jesus, too!

now churches have tried various programs to create a space for young adults but more often than it seems for that this model of doing church for and with young adults is akin to a grown up youth ministry. in other words, have opportunities, and programming but those events have nothing to do with the rest of the life of the church.

so what are some models that do work? more specifically, what are some models of church that work in the city? after all, if you haven't noticed, that's where the young people are. what structures need to be made more malleable so that we can reach a generation that hates to commute, values free time, and desire to find community in the places where they live? for example, has any church moved their primary worship service away from sunday moring in order to target young adults? what traditions need to be retained or recovered in order to help the christian faith retain the authenticity that so many people are looking for but aren't finding in the places that they are looking for God?

these are big questions. sometimes, i get a little discouraged by a paralysis that sets in. and then, i look at my church where both my admin council and my financial secretary are under 30. that gives me hope.

what gives you hope about the good that we are doing for and with young adults?

rev. dave allen grady, st. luke umc, mableton, ga


may 12, 2006