A New Thing for Our Youth!
Solomon declared wisdom when he spoke of everything having a time and then change comes! Change has come for the experience called “Pitch‘n Praise” (Pitch). While not calling this a permanent change Pitch will look different in 2019.
Toward this end President Kervin consulted with two veteran former youth pastors now Lead Pastors of congregations in the Kitchener Office Region on the question, “What do you see for the future of Pitch‘n Praise?” Both Pastors affirmed the important role of Pitch in the lives of youth. As well both Pastors felt it would not be possible to pull off a Pitch experience by May 2019 if the expectation was for it to be of the magnitude of those in the recent past.
The proposed plan going forward therefore is to engage in discussion with Pastors and leaders of youth who would be like to help create an experience called “Pitch - The Weekend”. Envisioned is a weekend that would be similar to the one held in the Calgary Office Region of the EMCC which is built around “The Way of Jesus” language. Pitch - The Weekend would use the language of the Way of Jesus to bring youth to an understanding of how He thinks about the challenges they are facing. We understand their challenges to be around confused messages that come at them about such themes as - identity including sexual identity and who Jesus says they are; truth and its source; desires that feel so right but which lead to unhealthy consequences; and a host of other messages which Jesus has something to say about! The end goal of Pitch - The Weekend would be to guide our valued youth along the path of living a Jesus shaped life!
Not forgetting JR Pitch, President Kervin is engaged in conversation with Jillian Zettler. Jillian has co-lead JR Pitch in the past years alongside of Mark Anderson and with a team of amazing volunteers. It would be a win for our youth if Jillian would continue leading JR Pitch!
Would you please remember the planning process toward Pitch - The Weekend experience in 2019! Along the way pastoral and lay leadership will be pondering the role of Pitch beyond 2019. IF you are passionate about youth and would like to help create a new thing for our youth then please email President Kervin’s Executive Assistant Darlene Adolf at dadolf@emcc.ca before January 16, 2019. All you need to say is “I am interested in serving on the, Pitch - The Weekend planning team.” Be sure to give us all you contact information.
A Prayer for our Youth
Father God we confess our gratitude to you for the love you consistently demonstrate toward us your children. O how great is the love you lavish on us! Today we lift the youth of the EMCC to you in prayer! We do this because we love them and know they are facing tough and unique challenges. It is hard for them to distinguish between fake truth and real truth. The age in which we live is full of enticements and seductions which will pull our youth into the detours that lead to dead ends. We confess our need for help O Lord Jesus. Help us to create a pathway for our youth to discover the good life you promise and deliver on! Thank you Father for loving the young ones. We stand on guard for them in the name of Jesus our big brother! Amen.
