By Jennifer Johnson
Youth Advance began as a way to build student leaders and recruit them for Christian college. In 1982, representatives from Northeastern Christian Junior College in Villanova, PA, developed the event””with speakers, workshops, worship, and more””as a way to identify and encourage promising high school students in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.
“It wasn”t a youth rally,” says Bill McGee, the vice president. “The idea wasn”t to send your entire youth group. It was for church leaders to handpick a few kids with potential and for the church to pay their way.”
Northeastern eventually merged with another college and stopped holding the event, but after a few years, area youth ministers decided to bring it back. Today more than 60 students, most from the noninstrumental churches of Christ, attend Youth Advance each year in eastern Pennsylvania.
“When we recreated the program, we also developed a multiyear curriculum so the kids who attend as sophomores continue to be challenged as juniors and seniors,” McGee says.
The curriculum focuses on “leadership from a different perspective,” which includes helping students evaluate their strengths and abilities and how to use them for God.
“We want those student leaders to grow and learn new ideas, then return home to share with their group,” McGee says. “We help the church by helping these kids.”
The Youth Advance team started a second event in Columbus, OH, that more than 30 kids attended last year.
“We try to keep both events to no more than 65 students because we want a more intimate environment where the kids can grow, develop relationships with each other, and receive one-on-one coaching from the adults,” says McGee. “So we keep it small””but we”d love to have small Youth Advances all over the country.”
0 Comments