Youth Ministry Update; Jan. 27, 2012

Hello Friends,

Warm greetings after a winter hiatus from our weekly updates.  We apologize for being out of touch, but be assured that this is a reflection of the overabundance of great works that the Lord has been doing in our lives as of late and not a lack of things to report.    We are so excited about the new doors the Lord is opening for us to minister to youth all over the region.  One of the most exciting new developments was an invitation that Fr. Tyler had to lead three break-out sessions at the Excel Retreat that Youth For Christ puts on every year in Saratoga Springs.  In addition to having the privilege of telling a few hundred young people about how to develop a deeper life with Jesus, he also was invited to lead a session for youth leaders on how to help their youth establish and keep their faith.  There has already been great fruit that has come from this session as a large number of youth leaders from around the region are now planning to come for the Youth Leader’s Retreat we are planning for March 16-18.  We anticipate this being a very important time in which youth leaders from around the region will gather to share resources, inspiration, and build relationships between themselves and churches that is so needed in this part of the country. 

            We have so much coming up in the next few months for our youth.  Here are some of our upcoming events:

Junior Sonshine Retreat (Middle School)               February 18-20

Senior Sonshine Retreat (High School)        February 23-25

Youth Leaders Retreat                                   March16-18

Cathedral Lock-In                                           March 23

Spring Confirmation Retreat                         April 13-15

Youth Healing Retreat                                    May 11-13

            But the most exciting news of all is that we are already ready to begin registration Beaver Cross Camp!  If you would like to register your youth for camp just go to http://beavercrossministries.squarespace.com/downloads/, download the registration page and mail it in asap.  This year we have added an extra week for High Schoolers at the end of the season because many in that age group were disappointed they did not get to come for  two weeks last year.  Full online registration will possible in just a couple of weeks, and I will keep you posted on that front, but until then please feel free to mail in registrations at any time.  We are also accepting applications for our counseling staff now as well.  We can’t wait for the summer to be here, and we hope your youth are excited too! 

Thanks for reading and may Christ be with you!

Father Tyler Slade (Youth and Overnight Beaver Cross Director) and Audrey Slade (Youth Coordinator)

Update November 30

Hello Friends,

We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Ours was spent introducing our baby boy Caleb to many family and friends.  We have so much to be thankful for, and this exciting ministry to the youth of the diocese is right at the top of the list!

            Last week, before Thanksgiving, we traveled down to Stockport to meet with the youth of that parish.  We had a great time talking about how Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches, and how we need to feed upon Him every day just as a branch feeds upon a vine’s sap each day.  On Thursday this week, we will once again be holding our regular Christ Church Schenectady Youth Bible Study.  This weekend we will be holding a special advent retreat for the youth group at Calvary Church Burnt Hills at the Spiritual Life Center.  The theme of the retreat will be ‘Preparing the Way for the Lord’.  Specifically we will be focusing on how a disciple of Jesus prepares their heart to be open to and follow Jesus in their daily lives.  We are really excited about it and ask for your prayers. 

            December 9^th, we will be holding the first ever, Youth Worship Night.  All high school and middle school aged youth are invited to come and worship the Lord, fellowship with peers, and be strengthened in their faith.  We are hoping to start holding these meetings every month in order to bring young people from around the region together on a regular basis to build Christian community among our youth in the diocese.  Our first meeting on the 9^th will be at St. Michael’s church in Colonie at 7pm.

If you haven’t done your Christmas shopping for your kids yet, consider giving them the gift of Beaver Cross summer camp!  We are offering a $30 discount this year as well as a gift to put under the tree for anyone who purchases the gift of camp for a young person.  To register go to http://beavercrossministries.squarespace.com/downloads/. 

Also, look for an article on diocesan youth ministry in the upcoming December issue of the Albany Episcopalian.  In it Father Tyler shares on our ministry plans, what this past year has held and upcoming opportunities for youth and youth ministers.

Lastly, join our Youth Ministry page on Facebook at Youth Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany.  This is a great way, especially for young people, to stay updated on upcoming youth ministry events. 

As always, we are so thankful for all your prayers and loving support.

Thanks for reading and may Christ be with you!

Father Tyler Slade (Youth Director, Diocese of Albany) and Audrey Slade (Youth Coordinator, Diocese of Albany)

Update: November 16

Hello Friends,

  Since our last update, we had a spirit and joy filled Fall Confirmation retreat at the Spiritual Life Center.  We had fruitful times of teaching, discussion, prayer and ministry with the young confirmands, giving each room to ask their questions and reflect more deeply on the commitment they are about to make to Jesus.

            Sunday, we were blessed to worship again with St. Luke’s Mechanicville.  After preaching at the morning service, Father Tyler led the youth group in a discussion on the body of Christ.  We explored the anointings we each have in the body, and the importance of our individuality to Jesus and to each other. 

Monday, we went to Ballston Spa to have our regular bible study with the youth of Christ Church.   We always look forward to meeting with this group as it continues to grow and strengthen in the love and fullness of Christ.

This weekend, Father Tyler is headed to the Cathedral of All Saints to take part in the Acolyte festival.  He is excited to support our young acolytes and encourage them in their faith.  Sunday, we travel to Duanesburg to join Christ Church for morning worship and visit the youth of that parish.  We look forward to visiting many of you there.

Look for an article on our ministry in the upcoming Albany Episcopalian.  In it Father Tyler shares on our ministry plans, what this past year has held and upcoming opportunities for youth and youth ministers. 

As always, thank you for all your prayers and loving support.

Thanks for reading and may Christ be with you!

Father Tyler Slade (Youth Director, Diocese of Albany) and Audrey Slade (Youth Coordinator, Diocese of Albany)

Weekly Update: November 4

Hello Friends,

We praise the Lord that the past two weeks have been filled with powerful youth meetings and exciting new opportunities to expand our ministry to youth of the region. 

We continue to meet regularly with our Christ Church Schenectady and Christ Church Ballston Spa bible studies.  Each are becoming well established times of fun and fellowship and growth in the Lord Jesus. 

Last weekend Father Tyler visited St. Luke’s Cambridge.  The congregation shared an intimate time going deeper with the Spirit and following the morning worship did some brainstorming on creative ways to reach out to youth in the town through building personal relationships.

Tyler has established an exciting new connection with the organization Youth For Christ.  They have a ministry called Point Break which is an anti-bullying program that brings Christian strategies for the increase of love, compassion and light in public schools around our region. This program is an incredible inroad into our communities to meet and reach out to youth in our parishes.  Fr. Tyler had the opportunity to participate in the program when it was offered to the South Colonie High School last week and is hoping to become a facilitator for the program in the future as well as a liaison between YFC and our churches to help get it into more schools in the region. If you think the High School in your town might be interested in taking part in this program please contact Father Tyler.

This weekend is the annual Fall Confirmation Retreat.  All adolescent confirmation candidates are encouraged to join us for this retreat as we trust it will be an important step in helping candidates understand what it means to surrender your life to the Lord Jesus Christ and to be confirmed as a disciple of His.

Looking ahead, Sunday November 13^th we are excited to return to St. Luke’s Mechanicville for Fr. Tyler to preach and then to have a pizza party with the youth group.  The following Sunday, November 20^th, we are excited to be planning to visit Christ Church Duanesburg for the first time.

Finally we are eager to share our plans to start a monthly youth night of prayer, ministry and worship in the Albany area.  If your youth are searching for a regular time to seek the Lord and worship with fellow young people in the Albany region, please contact Father Tyler.

As always, thank you for all your prayers and loving support.

Thanks for reading and may Christ be with you!

Father Tyler Slade (Youth Director, Diocese of Albany) and Audrey Slade (Youth Coordinator, Diocese of Albany)

Weekly Update: October 5

God’s blessing to you on this October day!  We can barely believe fall is already upon us.  In the weeks since we’ve written last we’ve spent time physically recuperating from a busy and wonderful summer of camps, watched our baby boy, Caleb, learn how to smile and giggle, spent a lot of time planning for the upcoming year of ministry, and have already taken a number of trips around the diocese to visit various parishes. 

In fact, in September, Father Tyler visited the youth of St. Stephens Schuylerville, Trinity Church Plattsburg, and St. Christopher’s Cobleskill and the whole St Lawrence Deanery at an awesome cookout in Canton.  Please feel free to contact us if you’d like to set up a visit for sometime in the Winter or Spring.

Our bi-weekly bible studies are also up and running again for the fall.  Last week, we had a wonderful time with the youth of Ballston Spa at Father Roy’s home.  This Thursday, we will restart our dinner and bible study with the youth of Christ Church Schenectady as well.  

We also have a number of exciting retreats coming up at the Spiritual Life Center which we hope you will encourage your youth to take advantage of. 

This weekend is the annual Beaver Cross Reunion!  Starting at 7pm on Friday night (Oct 7) grades 6-12 are invited to gather at the Spiritual Life Center for a weekend of fun and fellowship with all the friends and counselors they met this past summer.  Our desire is that in the midst of new school schedules and fall sports seasons, that this weekend would stoke the fire of faith they received this past summer.  The weekend will end at 10am on Monday morning leaving enough time for any lingering homework! 

Nov. 4-6 is our annual Fall Confirmation Retreat.  The confirmation retreat is an intensive weekend in which confirmands have the opportunity to seek answers to all of the questions they have about their faith, and prepare themselves for the lifelong commitment that they are getting ready to make of consecrating their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is highly recommended that all those on the road to confirmation in the diocese would participate in this retreat or its twin in the Spring.  

We are also excited to share with you that in the fall of 2012 we will be starting a new Youth Ministry Internship program at CtK.  The program is open to high school graduates who are feeling the call of the Lord Jesus on their lives to deeper discipleship and to being trained as a Youth Minister.  The interns will come to live at CtK for an intensive 6 month to 1 year program during which they will learn how to minister to young people in a hands on way as they follow Fr. Tyler and Audrey in their ministry around the diocese.  If you or someone you know might be interested in a program such as this please contact Fr. Tyler by phone at 518-692-9550 or via email at tslade@ctkcenter.org. 

As always, thank you for all your prayers and loving support. 

Thanks for reading and may Christ be with you!

Father Tyler Slade (Youth Director, Diocese of Albany) and Audrey Slade (Youth Coordinator, Diocese of Albany)

Ministry Update: Aug 11 2011

Hello Friends,

This year’s Beaver Cross Overnight Camp has come to an end and what an amazing summer it was!  We have incredible stories to report on how God claimed literally hundreds of kids for himself. 

By the end of the high school week we came to realize that Joel 2:28, 32 had been fulfilled in our midst:

 “ I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

   your old men will dream dreams”

We had campers, unknown to one another, reporting to Father Tyler that they had received dreams and visions from the Lord.  In each instance, the camper received some form of healing from the Lord.  There were campers who were freed from broken relationships that had held their lives in bondage.  Campers, who claimed to have never heard the Lord’s voice before, said they recognized Him and His voice and calling for the first time.  Through the course of the summer, over 200 kids made the decision to commit their lives to the Lord, as the Joel passage concludes, “all those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (v.32) And now these youth have that assurance forever. 

We do not take for granted the grace the Lord has shown us this summer.  We are humbled by all the ways we have seen Him at work.  We praise Him for working in the lives of the youth of this diocese, and we thank Him for the amazing and willing group of counselors, who through their eagerness and humility received as much healing and spiritual growth this summer as the campers themselves.  And yet, even as we rejoice at the great work the Lord has done in our midst this season, we trust that this is just a small taste of all that He has in store for the youth of the Albany region in the seasons to come.  Praise the Lord! 

Please pray for the upcoming Youth Group Camp August 18-21.  We believe God has a purpose for the youth groups of every church in our Diocese. We pray that this time would help the groups coming for the retreat to focus on the Lord’s vision for their group and be revitalized for the year to come. 

As always, thank you for all your prayers and loving support.

Thanks for reading and may Christ be with you!

Father Tyler Slade (Youth Director, Diocese of Albany) and Audrey Slade (Youth Coordinator, Diocese of Albany)

Ministry Update: July 30 2011

Hello Friends,

It has been an exciting past few weeks here at Beaver Cross.  For those who haven’t heard the news, Audrey had our baby on July 11^th.  Caleb James Slade is healthy and happy and everyday bringing us great joy!  A special thank you for the outpouring of love and excitement from our friends of this diocese.

In camp news, we have been astonished by what God has been doing with our campers.  Last week, 65 out of 70 middle school campers made a commitment to give their lives to Jesus.  And to our amazement, this week every single camper gave their life to the Lord and afterward received prayer to strengthen them in this decision.

Additionally, the staff team this year is truly incredible.  We believe God handpicked each of these counselors to be part of His work this summer.  The staff has easily been as affected as the campers by God’s powerful presence in our midst.  The counselors are dedicated to see God transform not only our campers but their own hearts as well.

Please keep us in your prayers.  It’s hard to imagine but next week is our last week of overnight camp.  Pray for the energy and health of our staff as we serve these high schoolers.  Please also keep day camp in your prayers.  Pray the Lord is able to break through to this group, which is often less receptive than our overnighters.  Looking ahead, please pray for the Youth Group Camp coming up in mid August.  This is a new opportunity for churches that are trying to kick start their new school year of youth group activities.  Youth groups will come for four days of community building, planning, and fun!

As always, thank you for all your prayers and loving support.

Thanks for reading and may Christ be with you!

Father Tyler Slade (Youth Director, Diocese of Albany) and Audrey Slade (Youth Coordinator, Diocese of Albany)

Ministry Update: July 8 2011

July 8, 2011

 Hello Friends,

Summer is here and we are now well into our Beaver Cross Camp season!  We have already completed our first camp, which was our ‘Pilot’ Discipleship camp.  Our campers came with the intention of growing deeper in their faith and that is exactly what happened.  Through service projects, group worship, bible studies, and intense teaching led by Fr. Tyler, the campers were encouraged to challenge their concepts of God’s role in their life and to truly hand over everything to His leadership and care.  The week was a huge success and we trust will be an essential week in our summer for years to come.  Last week, we also welcomed the young ‘Beaver Bound’ campers, (grades 1 and 2).  They were an eager and enthusiastic group that joyfully responded to this year’s camp theme to ‘Choose Life’.  It was a joy to see these young ones experience camp, and for many, the presence of our Lord for the first time.

We are currently in the middle of Community Camp one for grades 3-5.  This group is particularly engaged and enthusiastic.  Today during our morning worship every camper voluntarily participated in dancing to the camp favorite song ‘Days of Elijah’.  Our worship times are marked by effervescent joy and spontaneity.  Campers have been introduced to the presence of the Lord and many have responded.  On the second night of camp, Fr. Tyler attended one of the boy cabin’s evening devotions and was able to lead them in a prayer to receive the Holy Spirit.  And just today, during our morning teaching session, all but two campers choose to walk through a doorframe to represent their decision to trust Jesus and his blood to bring victory in their lives.

Please keep us in your prayers.  Pray for our health and energy, especially as Audrey is only one week away from her due date.  Pray for our counselors that they would continue to seek and be filled with the Holy Spirit and that they would not get burned out or complacent as weeks progress.

Thanks for reading and may Christ be with you!

Father Tyler Slade (Youth Director, Diocese of Albany) and Audrey Slade (Youth Coordinator, Diocese of Albany)

Youth Ministry Update: Week of Sunday, May 22, 2011

Hello Friends,

Thank you for your prayers last weekend.  We had an incredible Youth Healing Retreat.  In many ways, we didn’t know what to expect, as this retreat was the first retreat of its kind.  Father Nigel and Pastor Brian Weeks both gave incredible testimonies of how they have seen God heal people, including themselves.  They also gave fantastic teachings and by God’s grace administered some very powerful healing to those present.  The highlight of the weekend was an anointed worship service Saturday night led by Christ Church, Ballston Spa’s worship band, where each youth was both ministered to and ministered to their peers.  At the end of the weekend, each young person was given the opportunity to share what God had taught them over the weekend.  Their comments were very encouraging, and included forgiveness of past hurts, a sense of freedom from burdens, a great increase in hope for the future and a deeper sense of God’s presence in their lives.  Each kid ended by saying they would definitely come back to a future healing retreat.

This week, we return to Christ Church, Ballston Spa, to lead the first of a new bi-weekly youth group meeting.  Please pray for hearty attendance and for Christ to ordain how we should spend our time together.

In other news, we are hard at work in preparation for the upcoming Youth Rally and Preteen Pow-Wow at convention, June 10-12.  Your young people will not want to miss this amazing weekend!  We also continue to plan for Beaver Cross Summer Camp.  We have so many new and exciting ideas for this summer, we can’t wait to bless and surprise your kids. 

Please continue to keep us and these events in your prayers.  We ask for the Lord to provide guidance, attendance, and above all, His manifest presence in our lives.

Thanks for reading and may Christ be with you!

Father Tyler Slade (Youth Director, Diocese of Albany) and Audrey Slade (Youth Coordinator, Diocese of Albany)

Special Update: Youth Healing Retreat May 20th-22nd

Hello Friends,

This weekend (May 20th-22^nd) we will be holding our first ever Youth Healing Retreat.  This is a special opportunity for any youth interested in learning more about healing ministry or in need of healing themselves.  Starting Friday evening, There will be teaching from anointed healing ministers Father Nigel and Pastor Brian Weeks on how the healing ministry works.  They will give testimonies of the amazing healing miracles that they have seen the Lord do in their own lives, and then activate the youth in the ministry by giving them the opportunity to pray for one another.  We are confident that this is going to be an exciting and empowering time for every young person that attends.   Call Christ the King Spiritual Life Center at 518-692-9550 or visit our website at: beavercrossministries.squarespace.com/downloads to register.

In other news, we had an incredible practice time with the Convention Youth Rally band last weekend.  They are going to lead powerful worship at this year’s Convention Youth Rally (June 10-12).  Please continue to pray for our Lord to anoint and inspire us as we prepare for the Youth Rally (middle and high schoolers) and the Preteen Pow-Wow (10-12 year olds).  Fr. Tyler also had an opportunity to speak to the Brotherhood of St. Andrew’s Father/ Son Retreat on Friday night which was a real joy.  What a wonderful opportunity for fathers and sons to spend some much needed quality time together and learn to walk with the Lord together as our fathers in the faith Abraham and Isaac did so many years ago.  We pray that the Lord will bless this annual retreat and give many more men the opportunity to take advantage of such a rich opportunity in the years to come!

These are busy times for the youth ministry.  Please keep this weekend’s healing retreat in your prayers.  Also, please continue to pray for the Convention Youth Rally, Beaver Cross Summer Camp, and our now emerging Schenectady and Ballston Spa youth meetings. 

Thanks for reading and may Christ be with you!

Father Tyler Slade (Youth Director, Diocese of Albany) and Audrey Slade (Youth Coordinator, Diocese of Albany)

Youth Ministry Update: Week of Sunday May 8, 2011

Hello Friends,

What glorious weather we’re having…which is a wonderful reminder that the summer and all our upcoming youth activities are rapidly approaching, praise God! 

On Sunday, we had a wonderful Mother’s Day at Christ Church Ballston Spa.  We met with the youth of that congregation and have plans to start a bi-weekly high school bible study on Tuesdays.  Please pray for God’s inspiration as we lead this budding group.  

This week is a busy one.  This weekend we will be hosting this year’s Convention Youth Rally Band (which is comprised entirely of youth from the diocese) for a time of preparation, fellowship and fun.  Please pray for the unity of this group of high schoolers, and God’s anointing on each young worship leader as they prepare for Convention weekend. 

At the same time that the youth rally band is rehearsing the Brotherhood of St. Andrew’s will be holding its annual Father/ Son Retreat at the SLC as well.  Fr. Tyler is going to be offering a devotion to this group on Friday night on the importance of the bond between fathers and sons and will be popping in on the retreat at other times as he is able.  Please pray for all the fathers and sons on this retreat and the growth and deepening of their relationships in Christ with one another. 

This Sunday, May 15^th at Christ the King Spiritual Life Center, is the annual Beaver Cross Open House.  This is an opportunity for parents and kids to come and get a glimpse into what camp will be like this summer.  From 12-4pm there will be an opportunity to meet summer staff, tour the beautiful grounds, enjoy a CTK cookout, and learn more about the summer’s activities.  No reservations needed, just show up!

Finally, another reminder of this month’s upcoming Youth Healing Retreat.  May 20-22^nd, at Christ the King, there will be teaching from anointed healing ministers Father Nigel and Pastor Brian Weeks on how the healing ministry works, giving testimonies as to the amazing healing miracles that they have seen the Lord do in their own lives, and then activating the youth by giving them the opportunity to pray for one another.  We are confident that this is going to be an exciting and empowering time for every young person that attends. 

Please also keep the following events in your thoughts and prayers:

Convention Youth Rally – June 9-12^th- Father Tyler will be speaking and we are praying for our youth to be set on fire for the Lord

Beaver Cross Summer Camp – June-August – Audrey, Tyler and Camp Director Windy Clark are doing huge amounts of prep. Work for camp every day now, and need your prayers so much for guidance, wisdom, and energy during this time

Thanks for reading and may Christ be with you!

Father Tyler Slade (Youth Director, Diocese of Albany) and Audrey Slade (Youth Coordinator, Diocese of Albany)

Youth Ministry Update: Week of Sunday May 1, 2011

Hello Friends,

As always, thank you so much for your continued partnership in prayer.  Our ministry is completely dependent on our Lord’s blessing, favor and anointing.  This past weekend we had our second meeting with the youth of Christ Church, Schenectady.  After field games, food and fellowship, we continued our bible study on spiritual gifts.  Following the study time we gave the kids an opportunity to practice hearing from God themselves.  Our time was filled with joy and we are feeling the Lord's blessing on this growing group.

This Sunday we head to Christ Church, Ballston Spa.  After the morning service we will be meeting the youth in hopes of establishing a regular meeting like that in Schenectady.  Please pray that the Lord anoints our time together.

May 20th-22nd we will be holding the first ever youth healing retreat at CTK Spiritual Life Center.  This is an amazing opportunity for youth with gifts in healing, interested in learning more about healing or even in need of healing.  The weekend, hosted by Father Tyler, will include teaching from anointed CTK healing director Father Nigel Mumford and gifted healing minister Brian Weeks.  The weekend will include teaching on healing and also opportunity for kids to participate in healing and receive healing.  If you know youth for whom this special weekend would be a good fit please encourage them to register.

Please keep the following events in your thoughts and prayers:

Youth Rally student band – prayers for their unity and success and for their test run May 14^th at CTK.

Beaver Cross Open House – May 15 – Come to CTK to get a preview of summer camp!

Healing Retreat- May 20^th-22^nd – An amazing opportunity for students interested in the healing ministry.  Secure your spot now!

Convention Youth Rally – June 9-12^th- Father Tyler will be speaking and we are praying for our youth to be set on fire for the Lord

Beaver Cross Summer Camp

Thanks for reading and may Christ be with you!

Father Tyler Slade (Youth Director, Diocese of Albany) and Audrey Slade (Youth Coordinator, Diocese of Albany)

Youth Ministry Update: Week of Sunday April 17, 2011

Hello Friends,

Thank you for all your prayers, we are happy to report another great weekend for youth ministry, Last Thursday, the first youth group meeting for Christ Church Schenectaty was filled with hope and promise.  Father Tyler led a small group of middle and high school aged kids in a bible study on 1 Corinthians 12 regarding the Gifts of the Spirit and the unity of the Spirit in Christ.  God is definitely stirring the hearts of the kids and their parents to know Jesus more deeply and to learn how to be led by Him in their Christian community.  Please ask the Lord to bring more students and to bless our next meeting on May 1^st. 

On Sunday, after morning service, we met with the youth of Trinity Church in Watervliet.  This was an open-hearted group of kids ranging from elementary to high school.  We played games and then had a discussion with them and their leaders about their desires for their youth ministry program.  The group is blessed with high school aged leaders who are dedicated to growing in faith and loving their congregation.  We talked about possibilities for these kids to guide the younger ones through lessons and mentoring.  Like many of the congregations we have visited it seems this group has a number of budding, young leaders in Christ and we pray that the Lord will use us and the other leaders in this diocese to give them the tools they need to become the mature disciples and leaders that He has called them to be. 

This Holy week we will be spending time praying and planning for our big upcoming events.  Please keep the following in your thoughts and prayers:

Youth Rally student band – prayers for their preparation and melding as a group and for their  first rehearsal on May 14^th at CTK.

Beaver Cross Open House – May 15 – Come to CTK to get a preview of summer camp!

Healing Retreat- May 20^th-22^nd – An amazing opportunity for students interested in the healing ministry to work with Father Nigel and Father Bruce Mason.  Secure your High School student's spot now!

Convention Youth Rally – June 9-12^th- Father Tyler will be speaking and we are praying for our youth to be set on fire for the Lord

Beaver Cross Summer Camp

Thanks for reading and may Christ be with you!

Father Tyler Slade (Youth Director, Diocese of Albany) and Audrey Slade (Youth Coordinator, Diocese of Albany)

Youth Ministry Update: Week of Sunday April 10, 2011

Hello Friends,

Last weekend was action packed, as we performed in the CTK theater production of "Godspell".  We were so privileged to be part of this community building activity, truly a prayer answered for us.  We were wonderfully surprised by the response of the youth who attended the show.  Many were sincerely touched by the power of the gospel within the musical.  The show turned out to be a ministry in itself, and we hope to be involved in future CTK productions.  A special thanks to everyone who was able to come out and support the show!  

Last night we headed to Father Brad Jones' house to help launch a new weekly youth Bible study and worship event.  The youth of Christ Church Schenectady have longed to see a youth program reemerge in their community, and are taking the initiative to start a student led weekly meeting.  Our hope is to attend their Thursday meetings bi-monthy, and equip these kids to know their Lord in a deeper and more intimate way, and be able to minister to one another in the power of His Spirit and Truth.  

On Sunday, we will worship at Trinity Church in Watervliet.  Following their morning service we will be leading a meeting for their youth in hopes getting to know them better and also to see how we can help facilitate the ministry to the youth in the parish.

As always, we ask for your prayers that the Lord would lead us with a firm hand and work powerfully among the youth in our diocese.  

Thanks for reading and may Christ be with you!

Father Tyler Slade (Youth Director, Diocese of Albany) and Audrey Slade (Youth Coordinator , Diocese of Albany)

Youth Ministry Update: Week of Sunday April 3, 2011

Hello Friends,

This past weekend we were back to our regular schedule.  Thank you for all your prayers for Tyler’s health.  After a nasty flu, he is finally feeling back to his lively self. 

Last Friday, we held an “April Fools” dinner party for the youth of St. Michael’s Colonie at Father Hart’s house.  We made tacos, played a variety of board games, and listened to a message from Father Tyler on the Throne Room of God.  The night had a big turn out and was definitely, by all accounts, a success.  We hope to hold more regular events like this for the youth of St. Michael’s.

On Saturday, we travelled to picturesque Cooperstown.  Christ Church was holding an interdenominational meeting for parents on the topic of helping their kids establish and keep their faith.  Tyler spoke on the topic and then helped lead a fruitful discussion on this important issue.  This group is committed to not only focusing on the faith of their own children, but to hold interdenominational youth events in the future for the young people of Cooperstown.  Tyler will be running a similar workshop at this year’s Convention for any parents interested in hearing more how to cultivate the faith of your child.  If this is something you think parents in your church or town would be interested in please contact us to set up a time to come and hold a similar session where you are.  We feel this is a very valuable topic and we are eager to talk to as many parents as we can about it!  

Sunday, we worshipped with the vibrant community of Christ Church Schenectady.  After the service, we held a meeting for the high and middle schoolers, who are longing to see a youth group re-emerge in their community.  After a planning discussion, the youth have decided to take matters into their own hands and starting a weekly gathering in one of their homes.  The youth intend to lead their own worship band and (with the assistance of a few adult leaders) run their own bible study.  We are very excited for this group and plan to help them get started through providing teaching materials and by attending meetings monthly.  Please keep the plans of the Christ Church youth in your prayers.  And if you have youth in your church that you think would be eager to start a similar group please let us know as we would love to help them in that endeavour. 

This week, we are performing in Christ the King’s first ever musical production of Godspell.  Tyler is playing the role of Jesus and Audrey one of his disciples.  Please, don’t miss this exciting fundraiser for CTK.  Call to get your tickets now 518-692-9550 (they are selling fast)!

Some upcoming events to keep in your thoughts and prayers:

• May 15, Beaver Cross Summer Camp Open House – for parents and youth to take a sneak peak into summer camp
• May 20-22, Youth Healing Retreat – for all high school aged youth interested in learning about and taking part in the prayer and healing ministry
• June 10-12, Convention Youth Rally

We are completely dependent on the Lord to guide and strengthen us, so please keep us in your prayers.

Thanks for reading and may Christ be with you!

Father Tyler Slade (Youth Director, Diocese of Albany) and Audrey Slade (Youth Coordinator, Diocese of Albany)