A Note from Lillian: Defining the Dream
April 19, 2005

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Harper’s Bible Dictionary defines dreams as "visions widely attested in the early books of the Bible." Through the prophet Joel, God declared God's plan to pour out the Holy Spirit on all people. "Afterward I will pour out my Spirit on everyone: your sons and daughters will proclaim my message; your old people will have dreams, and your young people will see visions" (Today’s English Version, Joel 2:28). People and ministry organizations who came before us had dreams. The former United Methodist Youth Organization and the Shared Mission Focus on Young People had dreams about ministries with young people.

"Together, we move mountains." "I dream a church." These were the slogans, not dreams of two quadrennias of the Shared Mission Focus on Young People. The dreams communicate a God-given and directed vision for ministries with youth and young adults for The United Methodist Church. These dreams reflected a vision of youth and young adults actively engaged in Christian ministry in their congregations, campus ministries, annual conferences, jurisdictions, central conferences, communities, and world. This dream cast the vision for the 2004 General Conference to create the Division on Ministries with Young People (DMYP) of the General Board of Discipleship. This new Division is charged with helping United Methodist ministries empower world-changing disciples of Jesus Christ …

There is an interesting reality about dreams. Although God gives dreams, it usually takes time for the dream to become reality. We in DMYP are now living into the dream. The DMYP is under construction literally and figuratively. In our office area, new offices have been constructed; rugs and phone lines have been laid to accommodate a growing staff. Interviews are currently being held for staff.

We are excited to have on staff:

Terry Carty – Director, Annual Conference Youth Ministry and the Association of Youth Workers. In addition to continuing to resource Annual Conference Youth Ministry, Terry is helping to coordinate a movement of Adult Workers in the United States in order to strengthen ministry with youth. We thank the Foundation for Evangelism for providing funding for his staff position and the work with the new network of adult workers with youth.

Michelle McCorkle – Director, Leadership Development for Adult Workers. Micki will work with adult workers with youth on the jurisdictional and central conference levels. She will also work with persons in young adult ministry throughout the global United Methodist Family. Micki will join the staff on May 2, 2005.

Billie Upton – Administrative Assistant to the Associate General Secretary. She is responsible for coordinating and performing all aspects of office management, while serving as liaison and listener to the DMYP nonexempt staff and Human Resources. She serves as a recorder in DMYP Team Leader meetings as well as other DMYP related General Board meetings. Billie will help the DMYP run smoothly and faithfully to fulfill its mission.

Brenda Lockhart – Grants Coordinator. Brenda will work with the DMYP Board of Directors to coordinate the grant processes for both the Youth Service Fund and Ministries with Young People Grants. Brenda will also help coordinate the David W. Self and Richard S. Smith Scholarships.

Interviews are currently in process for Bilingual Team Assistant; Director, Central Conference Relations; Faith Formation Leadership Development and Manager, Faith Formation, Leadership Development, and Resource Coordination for Youth; and Manager, Resource Coordination for Young Adults.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• The DMYP has created a framework for the creation of a Young Adult Task Force.
  
  
• DMYP Members of the Young Adult Network wrote and submitted meditations to Turning to God: Lenten Meditations. Higher Education Ministries Arena published the resource for distribution to an ecumenical community of college students.
  
  
• The DMYP has begun working on Youth '07. Staff in the Discipleship Ministries Division formerly planned this event. A site has been selected. Hold the date now for Youth '07, July 11-15, 2007, in Greensboro NC.
  
  
• Grant applications for the Youth Service Fund and Ministries with Young People funds are online. The Central Conference and United States application for Ministries with Young People Grants are currently available online in English, Russian, and German. The Central Conference forms are in the process of being translated into French and Portuguese. They will be posted online as they are translated. The messages from me will also be translated into various languages. There is so much more to say, but so little time today.

The dream is becoming a reality. As it does, we invite you to pray with us that God's kingdom will come and that God's will be done through the witness of the DMYP. Feel free to contact us at 877-899-2780 or e-mail us at youngpeople@gbod.org. I give thanks, to God, for your ministry! May God's peace, hope, joy, and love overcome you!

On the Christian journey with you, I am,

Sincerely,
Lillian C. Smith
Associate General Secretary
Division on Ministries with Young People