National Youth Cabinet Meeting

Shown above from left: Digby Strogen, Pacific Southwest District; Olivia Russell, Pacific Northest District; Krystal Bellis, Northern Plains District; Alexa Harshbarger, Northern Indiana District; Yeysi Diaz, Southern Ohio District; Emily Van Pelt, advisor, Virlina District; Jeremy Hardy, Mid-Atlantic District; Glenn Bollinger, advisor, Shenandoah District. Becky Ullom Naugle met with the cabinet in her role as director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.

The National Youth Cabinet met Feb. 20-22 at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., to select the theme for National Youth Sunday 2015. The cabinet selected Romans 8:28-39 as scripture focus for the theme “Always Loved, Never Alone.” Congregations are invited to celebrate the worship leadership gifts of their youth by participating in National Youth Sunday on May 3. Worship resources will be posted at www.brethren.org/youthresources on April 1.

Source: 2/25/2015 Newsline

Youth ministry names National Youth Cabinet for 2015-2016

A new National Youth Cabinet has been named by the Church of the Brethren’s Youth and Young Adult Ministry, led by director Becky Ullom Naugle. She reported that the new cabinet hopes to hold its first meeting in February.

Members of the 2015-2016 National Youth Cabinet are:

• Krystal Bellis from Ankeny Church of the Brethren in Northern Plains District,
• Yeysi Diaz from the Cristo Nuestra Paz/West Charleston congregation in Southern Ohio District,
• Jeremy Hardy from Hagerstown Church of the Brethren in Mid-Atlantic District,
• Alexa Harshbarger from Bremen Church of the Brethren in Northern Indiana District,
• Olivia Russell from Olympic View Church of the Brethren in Pacific Northwest District,
• Digby Strogen from La Verne Church of the Brethren in Pacific Southwest District.

Adult advisors to the cabinet are Glenn Bollinger from Shenandoah District, and Emily Van Pelt from Virlina District.

Becky Ullom Naugle, director of the Youth and Young Adult Ministry, will work with the cabinet to create a theme and resources for National Youth Sunday 2015 and 2016. For more about the denomination’s Youth and Young Adult Ministry go to www.brethren.org/yya.

Source: 01/06/2015 Newsline

National Youth Cabinet

The Youth Cabinet met at the General Offices in Elgin, Ill., last week to discuss, reflect, and continue planning for National Youth Conference 2014. The members of the cabinet are: Emmett Eldred of Middle Pennsylvania District, Brittany Fourman of Southern Ohio District, Sarandon Smith of Atlantic Northeast District, Sarah Ullom-Minnich of Western Plains District, Kerrick van Asselt of Western Plains District, Zander Willoughby of Michigan District. Adult advisors are Rhonda Pittman Gingrich of Northern Plains District, Dennis Lohr of Atlantic Northeast District.

Source: 3/11/2014 Newsline

2014 National Youth Conference Theme

Breaking news from the National Youth Cabinet! The theme for National Youth Conference 2014 is “Called by Christ, blessed for the journey together,” based on Ephesians 4:1-6.

National Youth Cabinet is announced for 2013-14.

"In God's Image" is the theme for the next National Youth Sunday in 2013.

The Church of the Brethren's National Youth Cabinet for 2013-14 has been announced by the Youth and Young Adult Ministry office.

Youth members of the new cabinet include:

• Emmett Eldred from Middle Pennsylvania District

• Brittany Fourman from Southern Ohio District

• Sarandon Smith from Atlantic Northeast District

• Sarah Ullom-Minnich from Western Plains District

• Kerrick van Asselt from Western Plains District

• Zander Willoughby from Michigan District

Adult advisors to the cabinet are:

• Rhonda Pittman Gingrich of Northern Plains District

• Dennis Lohr of Atlantic Northeast District.

Becky Ullom Naugle, director of the denomination's Youth and Young Adult Ministry, will work with the cabinet to plan National Youth Conference 2014.

Source: 12/27/2012 Newsline

National Youth Cabinet chooses theme for the year.

Photo by Carol Fike/Jeremy McAvoy

The Church of the Brethren's National Youth Cabinet for 2011-12: (left front to back) Becky Ullom, Marissa Witkovsky, Lara Neher, Michael Himlie; (right, front to back) Ben Lowman, Amy Messler (adult advisor), Michael Novelli (adult advisor), and Josh Bollinger. Not shown: Kinsey Miller.

“Bridging the Gap” (Romans 15:5-7) has been chosen as the youth ministry theme for 2012 by the Church of the Brethren’s National Youth Cabinet, which held a weekend meeting at the General Offices in Elgin, Ill., on Dec. 2-4. “Bridging the Gap” also will be the theme for National Youth Sunday on May 6, 2012.

The members of the 2011-12 National Youth Cabinet are

• Josh Bollinger of Beaver Creek Church of the Brethren in Shenandoah District;

• Michael Himlie of Root River Church of the Brethren in Northern Plains District;

• Ben Lowman of Antioch Church of the Brethren in Virlina District;

• Kinsey Miller of Black Rock Church of the Brethren in Southern Pennsylvania District;

• Lara Neher of Ivester Church of the Brethren in Northern Plains District;

• Marissa Witkovsky of Roaring Spring Church of the Brethren in Middle Pennsylvania District;

• adult advisors Amy Messler of Waynesboro Church of the Brethren in Southern Pennsylvania District, and Michael Novelli of Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren in Illinois and Wisconsin District; and

• Becky Ullom, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries.

Source:12/14/2011 Newsline

Bridging the Gap

Bridging the gap: At its meeting this past weekend, the 2011-2012 National Youth Cabinet chose Romans 15:5-7 as the focus for next year.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

YOUTH CABINET ISSUES 300th ANNIVERSARY CHALLENGE TO YOUTH GROUPS

The 2007-08 National Youth Cabinet held its first meeting Aug. 1-3 in Elgin, Ill., giving input for the Church of the Brethren’s denominational youth program, selecting a 2008 youth ministry theme, developing resources for the 2008 National Youth Sunday, and preparing for the denomination's 300th anniversary.

Elizabeth Willis of Tryon, N.C., Tricia Ziegler of Sebring, Fla., Joel Rhodes of Huntingdon, Pa., Seth Keller of Dover, Pa., Turner Ritchie of Richmond, Ind., and Heather Popielarz of Prescott, Mich., are serving on the cabinet. Dena Gilbert of La Verne, Calif., is serving as advisor to the group, along with Chris Douglas, Youth/Young Adult Ministries director for the Church of the Brethren General Board.

The cabinet settled on "By the Manner of Their Living" for next year's youth ministry theme, drawing on a familiar quote attributed to Alexander Mack Sr. for the denomination's 300th anniversary year. Mack is considered the founder of the Church of the Brethren. The theme scripture is Colossians 3:12-15. Resources will be drawn on this theme for the National Youth Sunday scheduled for May 4, 2008.

In addition, the group issued a 300th anniversary challenge to youth groups across the denomination, following up on a General Board challenge to do something in multiples of 300 for the anniversary year, such as rebuilding 300 homes in disaster areas or having 300 more people participate in summer workcamps. Suggestions to youth groups include giving 300 hours of service, preparing 300 school kits for disaster relief, giving 300 cans of food to a local food pantry, or offering 300 prayers of peace.

The meeting also included conversations about Brethren Volunteer Service, a tour of the offices, and several times of worship. The cabinet next meets July 31-Aug. 3, 2008, in Elgin.

--Walt Wiltschek is editor of “Messenger” magazine for the Church of the Brethren General Board.