Youth experience of AC mostly positive
07-02-2010Jessica Szenher
Special contributor
Like Mark Norman in his opening prayer at Wednesday morning’s session, the youth representatives of the Arkansas Annual Conference are choosing frontier, not fortress. Their fresh eyes for the annual meeting saw the experience with excitement and curiosity.
Youth delegate Alan Miller, 17, of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Maumelle was excited even before the meeting began. “I am still excited,” he said after two days of meetings. “The worship service Monday night was my favorite. I liked the music and the sermon. Bishop Ntambo talked about how he wants us to bring about big change to get rid of poverty and oppression.”
The energy and music at Monday night’s worship service were the favorite part of the Annual Conference for several youth, including Natalie Clark, 17, of Conway First United Methodist Church. But her friend Emily Morton, 18, of Beebe First United Methodist Church liked the traditional service on Sunday night best. “I can’t get into the loud, crazy praise band. I like it to be more serious.”
Michael Hughley, 14, of Haven United Methodist Church in Hot Springs is a preacher’s kid. He likes the energy of the Conference and is happy to see what really happens rather than just hearing about it from his dad, Clyde Hughley.
“It is great to experience it myself,” he said. “I like to listen to what is being said. At the Clergy Meeting this afternoon they kept talking about youth. It was good to hear what they are doing for us.”
The proceedings were a little boring to Jameson Hall, 15, of Pioneer Memorial United Methodist Church, but he enjoyed hearing about his church and learning more about the issues. “I was volunteered to do this and didn’t know what I was getting into,” he said. “But it was cool.”
Sara Tenison, 18, of Sequoyah United Methodist Church is attending her first Annual Conference. “The way the meetings are held is different than I expected. I didn’t know how they’d hear the ideas of so many people. I like the microphones and the way they listen.”
Also from Sequoyah UMC is Henry Darnell, 15, who described himself as “lighted up about mission” after going to Ozark Mission Project in the summer of 2009. “I am a voting delegate and I’ve been taking a look at the resolutions. The only one I’ve decided about so far is about homosexuals being denied membership. I don’t think they should have rights taken away because of their sexual orientation; so I’m going to vote for referring this back to the Judicial Council.”
Katy Baldridge of Goddard United Methodist Church and Aaron Lensing of Greenwood United Methodist Church are both involved in the Wesley Foundation at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. They served communion at the opening worship service, the first time either of them had had the privilege of helping with the sacrament.
“When I said, ‘This is the blood of Christ, shed for you’ it was definitely a special experience. You could feel the atmosphere,” said Baldridge.
Mary French Wynne, 14, helped create a banner for her church, First United Methodist Church in Fordyce. Emily Coates, 13, was bearer for the banner at the Sunday evening worship service “It is important for people to know my church is a part of the Conference,” Coates said.
Manning the booth for the Youth Service Fund was Max Hocott, 16, from Asbury United Methodist Church in Little Rock. He was selling T-shirts and blankets to raise money for the fund to send youth groups on missions. “I hope I can be a delegate next year,” he said. Especially interested in missions, Hocott is considering a call to the ministry.
Taylor Skinner, 17, of Clarendon United Methodist Church made the official report to Annual Conference as the Vice President of the Arkansas Conference Council on Youth Ministries. She reviewed the six youth Conference-wide events managed by the council and said the Youth Service Fund which raised $7,000 in grants this year.
“I live in a small town, and I don’t have a big youth group at my church,” said Skinner. “Conference youth events are who I am and what keeps me going on my path to Jesus. I encourage all churches to get involved with District and Conference events.”
