WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR NNYM?

It was just about 9 months ago that I began my ministry to youth leaders with National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM). My mission has been to reach out to youth leaders throughout western Pennsylvania and West Virginia, inviting them to connect with other youth leaders in their area through networks. These networks help to develop relationships that encourage youth leaders and other caring adults locally to reach and equip young people for Jesus Christ.

During these past months, I had the opportunity to meet with youth workers from Cambria, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland counties in Pennsylvania, and Ohio County in West Virginia. I also had the privilege of working with students, partnering with Pine Springs Camp, and continuing to serve alongside Amy as she ministered with Ohio Valley Young Life Capernaum.

To make this ministry possible, I set out to invite a team of ministry partners to join me. The role of a ministry partner is to pray for me, my family, and the mission to reach students and youth leaders throughout the Appalachia Area. With prayer comes the opportunity to financially participate in the mission, providing support towards my work with NNYM.

​It was exciting to see God at work in so many ways. And I thoroughly enjoyed every opportunity to meet, speak, pray with, encourage, train, and promote what God was doing in and throughout the area.

But what happens now? Are you leaving NNYM? What about your ministry partners? Are you still going to work with youth leaders? Those are great questions. And honestly, these were the same questions that I needed to address and answer. So Amy and I sat down and began to pray and talk about what to do next. I reached out to the leadership at NNYM and the leadership at Bay Presbyterian Church. Here is what we are hoping to see happen in the new year.

​First, we are going to continue to serve with NNYM as the Cleveland Area Coordinator. This will be a quarter-time position, allowing me to connect and serve youth leaders in the Cleveland area, while still focusing attention on the ministry at Bay Presbyterian Church (BPC).

Second, we will still need our ministry partners. The work I do with NNYM will be separate from my work at BPC. The coaching, mentoring, training, networking, and outreach with youth leaders is vital. Remember, studies have proven that youth workers who are connected with a local youth ministry network double their staying time and effectiveness. We need to continue to welcome these youth leaders. So I invite you to continue partnering with me as together we reach out to youth leaders.

Third, our work in the Cleveland area begins in January 2025. With my transition to a quarter-time role with NNYM, our overall budget has been significantly reduced, making every gift even more impactful. Thanks to your incredible generosity, we are already over 64% of our total goal! To be fully funded and ready to serve youth leaders in this new chapter, we need just $1,300 more in monthly commitments.

​Would you prayerfully consider a year-end gift or beginning monthly partnership to help us reach this goal? Together, we can make an eternal difference. Thank you for being part of this journey!

- jay