CCYM teams up with OKC Thunder

Basketball fundraiser will support youth missions The Youth Service Fund (YSF) will score big when Thunder basketball fans purchase tickets to specific NBA games in Oklahoma City this season. Oklahoma Conference’s Youth Ministries have teamed up to raise funds through the Thunder Group Experience. The three games are: vs. Detroit Pistons, Jan. 23; vs. New Orleans Hornets, Jan. 25; ...

Young adults asked to consider the call

Photo by Vicki Brown From left, standing, are: Tari Carbaugh, Andrew Miller, Sarah Trammell, Ismael Carillo, and Jeremy Smith. Kneeling: Kaela Patterson and Elizabeth Horton-Ware. At back: Bishop Robert Hayes Jr. ...

God Squad builds sweet dreams

Volunteers in Guymon assemble a frame for a child’s bed. By Chris Schutz, Contributing Writer A group of teen volunteers in Guymon brought a moment of pure joy to a 5-year-old boy this summer – a chance to jump on his...

A force for good--Youth Force makes first Frederick stop

A home in Frederick gets some TLC from a God Squad. Youth Force converged on heat-baked Frederick in June. And in the battle of 100-degree weather versus a mob of United Methodist teens overflowing with goodwill, it should come as no surprise that the...

Youth At Conference dig into mission

Youth At Conference (YAC) dig a gardening mission beside OKC-Quayle on May 30. Photo by Laura Deerwester United Methodist youths learn about worm farming...

Challenge issued to youth-ministry workers

Wanted: lots of 'little Jesuses' The question "What Jesus will you teach?" challenged some 25 youth-ministry workers at a spring conference in Oklahoma City. The pastors, church staffers, and adult volunteers gained insights for "Youth Ministry in a New Decade." That was the focus for youTheology Youth Workers’ Gathering, held at OKC-Church of the Servant. "Who are we...

Youth Worker’s Academy earns accreditation

Youth Worker’s Academy in Oklahoma Conference has achieved special status with the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry (GBHEM). The study course has secured approval as a paraprofessional certification program for adults called to youth ministry in The United Methodist Church. The accreditation followed a visit to Oklahoma in November by GBHEM leaders from Nashville, Tenn. The approval means...

Carve out space for the Kingdom where you are’—Shane Claiborne

By Holly McCray WHAT: Youth 2011 WHERE: Purdue University WHEN: July 13-17 THEME: “More Than” “You think you are ordinary? Think again.” REGISTER: http://www.youth2011.net/ ...

15 God Squads help Altus homeowners

God Squads spark a powerful force for good  Volunteers swarm the Walnut house in Altus, refurbishing it as a Youth Force project.   Altus-First UMC hosted the mission teams for the second time. A total of 150 students and 40 adults volunteered to work, from Claremore-First, Enid-Christ, Mustang, OKC-St. Luke’s, and Owasso churches, as well as the host...

Young leaders invite Christian activist to OKC

Christian activist Shane Claiborne will speak at several United Methodist venues on Oct. 16 and 17 in the Oklahoma City area. His presentations that weekend are jointly sponsored by the Youth and Young Adult Councils of the Oklahoma Conference. Claiborne writes and travels extensively, speaking about peacemaking, social justice, and Jesus. Claiborne is a founding partner of The Simple Way, an...

Connecting with groups that serve youth

Camp Fire USA is heralding its 100th year. The Camp Fire representative on the Oklahoma Conference youth-serving agencies committee is Susan Williams of OKC-Quail Springs United Methodist Church. The Heart of Oklahoma Council of Camp Fire...

Small youth group has mighty powerful witness

Shown are Derrek, Jason, and Jordann of the West Guthrie United Methodist Youth Fellowship. Usually three teens make up the West Guthrie United Methodist Youth Fellowship. The small group, formed two years ago, is having a big impact, reports sponsor...

Teens engage in dialogue on freedom

From left, Alex Smith and Kaylin Westbrook of OKC-Lakeside UMC make a new friend during a summer program in Oklahoma City. ‘The weekend was about fair treatment of faith traditions in the U.S.’—Kaylin Westbrook This...

Youth Workers Day

Thursday, Aug. 20  9 a.m.—3 p.m. All youth ministers, youth workers, and volunteers are invited to a day of fellowship, training, and fun at YOUR United Methodist university. The event will gather at OCU Meinder’s School of Business, Gardner Conference Room, N.W. 27th and McKinley This event, sponsored by OCU’s Office of Admission in coordination with the Oklahoma Conference Office of Youth Ministries,...

Amusement park fun boosts youth fund

The Conference Council on Youth Ministry (CCYM) hopes to again earn national accolades for giving to the Youth Service Fund (YSF). The council’s primary fund-raiser, St. Yootz Day at Frontier City, is set this year for Aug. 15 at the amusement park in Oklahoma City. In 2008, St. Yootz Day raised more than $11,200. Families and friends of all ages are welcome to spend the day at the park. Activities include an...

Bishop shares his call with youth members

From left, Adam Hull, Sydni Baker, Chelsea Riley, and Caleb Oakleaf plate their food at the Youth Delegate Luncheon during the conference. By Aloise McCullough Youth delegates got a chance to dialogue with Bishop Robert Hayes at the Youth...

Teen gains insight on poverty from UN/DC tour

EDITOR’S NOTE: Kellyn Brack is one of 24 youths who took part in a UN/DC educational tour. They studied "Poverty, More Than Meets the Eye," in Washington, D.C., and New York City on March 13-22. The biennial tour is a program of Oklahoma Conference Youth Ministries. By Kellynn Brack, Weatherford UMC Can you recall what you did for Spring Break during high school? Some hit the slopes; others hit the sand. We spent the break...

Confirmed in Christ

  From across the state, about 200 youths took part in Confirmation Class retreats at the Church’s three campgrounds in late Winter. These photos are from the Canyon Camp event. A Service of Ashes was led by district superintendents. All the groups played a board game, shown at left, that taught about personal financial stewardship. Camp deans were Allen Carson and Diana...

Living the Plan -Clinton District youth rally at Weatherford

Individual focused outward Tiffany Short preached to her peers during a Clinton District Youth Rally on a Sunday afternoon at Weatherford-First United Methodist Church. She is a member of the United Methodist Youth Fellowship at the Weatherford church. Her sermon theme was "Unity in Christ." Short also did primary coordination work for the event, and was assisted by Kelley Ramey, the...

Oklahoma's youths join in pilot fasting project

A pilot program to link church youth to the realities of poverty is being launched this month in six annual conferences—including the Oklahoma Area. "B1" incorporates voluntary food fasts, education, and fund-raising for anti-poverty projects. The name stands for "one being, being one" and suggests the responsibility each person has to live with a sense of connection to others. "B1 takes place...