Week of March 8

This week I want to share with you the news that Amanda Boyd has resigned her position as Director of Youth Ministries in order to be a full time stay at home Mom. Amanda has been praying about this decision for a couple of months now. It was a hard decision for her because of her love for the youth and for that ministry. After a period of prayer and discussion, she decided to do that and become a volunteer in various ways in our church. She has assured me repeatedly that she is as committed as ever to her church, Woodville UMC. All of us understand and respect the hard but valuable decision that Amanda has made.
This Sunday is our regularly scheduled youth sponsored Covered Dish lunch so we are making that an occasion to celebrate Amanda’s two and a half year ministry with youth. I joked with Amanda that she soared past the average length of service for a youth director, which is 18 months! With Amanda’s leadership, the core membership of our youth group has grown. For the first time we sent a church-sponsored group to Big House Jr High Mission camp and to UM Army High school camp, as well as large groups to Lakeview every summer. We even hosted a UM Army camp. We have much to celebrate about her ministry and we’ll do that together on Sunday. We invite you to write a note to Amanda to thank her; and please make a point to be here Sunday. Amanda has been a thrill to work with. She tread new ground as our first year-round paid youth director. She and I have worked together well and I am personally thankful for her friendship and the love she has for our youth. Our friendship and her love for her church will of course continue.
Sunday morning is Amanda’s last day as youth director. From there, I’ll be engaging parents to be involved even more, along with our youth Council representative, Jerry Wilson. We’ll plan Sunday nights and other youth events and move full speed ahead. The Staff Parish Relations Committee of our Church will meet and discuss the way forward. We welcome your prayers, input, questions and comments. God will no doubt lead us into even more fruitful ministry with youth.
As a part of our Lenten 40 Days of Love, we are making phone calls this week to people we need to connect with deeper. Keep writing letters if you haven’t and make a special phone call this week. It could change a life.