Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Jan/76

Contributor - Linda de Haas

Title - Being a part of the Church Youth Fellowship

Topic - Youth

The Emmanuel Youth Group of Edmonton gives the opportunity of fellowship. It's a place where we can get together with other people of our own age to share our feelings and to grow in Christianity. It's great to be able to have a place to go to with people with the same interest and goals, especially in a world where a lot of young people are pressured into drugs, etc. It's a place to belong to and to be a part of.

It's a lot of fun and many good times to remember whether it's for raising money for a good cause or just for pleasure. I guess the best time I had was when we went camping at Big Hill Springs. It was really great to get out of the city with the group and to share all our feelings through a weekend out in the country. I guess it brought a lot of freedom into the group and a lot of space to adventure through. It left us with a lot of time to get to know one another. We had sing-songs by the campfires, kangaroo court, baseball games and Sunday service out in the meadows, and just taking long walks. We all had our share of work to do and sometimes it was the funnest part of all!

But we still have a great time in the city where we go boating, have scavenger hunts, parties, hungerthons, slave days, hay rides, volleyball games, skating, Christmas Banquets, wiener roasts and other activities. We don't have formal meetings during the summer but we all get together to go to the lake, have wiener roasts, etc. Everyone has a great dinner and are enthusiastic about the social events to make it this way. There's been a lot of effort from everyone when we look back in September, 1974 when we only had 5 members till now when we have close to 30 strong. It's something to be thankful for and we pray that we can expand and share what we have with the people who don't have this opportunity but at the same time to look at the needs of the group. It's important to make every individual feel a part of the group and that everyone participates in this groups discussions. It's also important that everyone gets fulfillment out of the group and that we do the things that everyone would enjoy; not only the minority. But most important we have to make sure that everyone feels welcome. There is a lot of excitement in the group and people bring their friends to share it. Usually if we have a scavenger hunt or a wiener roast it brings a lot of kids to the group. The first time I came, it was at a wiener roast. I had a good time and I liked the group. I started to go to the meetings which I also enjoyed and I've been in it ever since. I think the thing that kept me in was the welcomed feeling I got, along with the fact that everyone was cheerful and brought good sense of humor into the group.

It's difficult to summarize all the things we've done and to speak for everyone. I feel that the group has grown closer through social events, seminars, camping trips and from our weekly meetings on Sunday nights. This gives us the chance to express our feelings and ideas. On our Sunday night meetings we get together and discuss the business when everyone can give their ideas for social events or other activities, we then discuss it and have a vote so that everyone gets a say in what we're doing. When we have a topic afterwards we first listen to the speaker as he gives his ideas and then afterwards we have a discussion when everyone can give their opinions. With this type of interaction we can get different ideas from everyone -and learn more in the process, listening to the things we never thought about ourselves. I think everyone learns from each other. After this is done we spend the rest of the time drinking coffee. This gives us a chance to move around and talk to friends or people we don't know yet.

We also have a Bible Study every Thursday which keeps us in contact with everyone during the week. We base our discussions on scriptures and share our feelings where we can talk freely in a more casual atmosphere.

I feel that it helps a person grow in Christ by taking responsibilities in committees, being in the executive, or just giving your ideas. It gives a person incentive to plan a camping trip, or a fund drive. It gives us a feeling of working for God when we can get together and accomplish something.

Our goal is to get people into the group and into church activities such as Bible Study, Catechism, planning committees, folk singers, meetings, etc. and to reach out to others. Witnessing to the people we meet and bringing them into the church. I hope that . . . it has given everyone the same meaning as it has to me. The feeling of belonging to a group which is growing into bigger and better things with Christ.

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