The second phase of the Practice Discipleship Initiative will launch in January of 2013. This project is the result of a dynamic partnership between the ELCA Youth Ministry Network, the ELCA and its Youth Gathering, ELCA Lutheran seminaries and colleges and their faculty who teach children, youth and family ministry, and resource providers of the church.
The Practice Discipleship Initiative fosters faithful, thoughtful and intentional leaders in congregations who follow Jesus in their daily lives.
The Practice Discipleship Initiative will:
Educate.
Train leadership to accompany young people on their faith journey.
Connect.
Develop partnerships to strengthen faith formation opportunities for and with young people.
Renew.
Gather leaders for mutual support and encouragement in ministry.
The project is made possible by funding provided by the ELCA, the North Carolina Synod, Luther Seminary and the ELCA Youth Ministry Network.
Training opportunities for adults who work with children and youth will take place in several different formats. Seven webinars are being developed to be presented every two weeks beginning in January. The team of educators developing these webinars is led by Dr. Jeremy Myers of Augsburg College.
These webinars will also be presented live as workshops at the 2013 ELCA Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza, to be held January 25-28 in Anaheim, California.
One coach from each of the 65 ELCA synods will also receive specialized training at the Extravaganza, to return to their synods and present workshops to professionals and volunteers.
The Practice Discipleship Initiative will be directed by Catherine Anderson, the Coordinator of Youth Ministry for the Northeastern Minnesota Synod of the ELCA. More information on the project, including all of the training resources from the first phase of the project, can be found at www.practicediscipleship.org.
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