Sept. 6, 2010 issue
Summer camp expands youth ministry
Church reaches its neighborhood through children
By Hannah Heinzekehr Mennonite Mission NetworkPage:
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REEDLEY, Calif. — For three weeks, the campus of First Mennonite Church became a camp for children.
Children at a summer Bible camp at First Mennonite Church and Primera Iglesia Menonita in Reedley, Calif., surround Rosy Coronado, center, who was part of a Youth Venture team helping at the camp. Clockwise from left are Maritza, Rosy, Katherine, Jayla in the front and Daisy. The girl in the middle of the hug is unidentified; children wished only to give first names. Coronado is from North Clinton Mennonite Church, Wauseon, Ohio. — Photo by Hannah Heinzekehr/Mennonite Mission Network
In past summers, Pastor Juan Montes and his wife, Carmen, opened their home as a safe space for kids to gather. But the number of children outgrew their home.
The church offered formal programming in June and July with the help of four Youth Venture program volunteers.
For several years, the Reedley congregation, which includes both Spanish- and English-language services, has worked to connect to their neighborhood through block parties, worship services and youth gatherings.
Each summer, they’ve hosted a weeklong vacation Bible school program for kids from their neighborhood. But this summer, they wanted to offer more.
Reedley has had high rates of gang activity.
“We know we have a lot of at-risk kids who attend church here,” said Barbara Ewy, children’s minister at First Mennonite and the coordinator for the summer learning experience. “We thought a lot about what we could do to help kids get a good foundation and to provide a place for them to be while their parents are at work.”
Through Youth Venture the church hosted young adult volunteers to help run the camp.
Youth Venture, one of Mennonite Mission Network’s service programs, offers people ages 14-22 the opportunity to join teams for one to four weeks of service in June, July or August.
In mid-June, Youth Venture volunteers Rosy Coronado of North Clinton Mennonite Church in Wauseon, Ohio; Megan Leary of Bethel College Mennonite Church in North Newton, Kan.; Calla Stinson of Western Mennonite Church in Salem, Ore.; and team leader Jill Schmidt of Zion Mennonite Church in Elbing, Kan., traveled to Reedley.
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