Bring your faith alive for our youngest members

Looking for an exciting new way to bring the Armenian Christian faith to life for the young faithful of your parish?  Along with resources and publications, the Diocese's Department of Youth and Education offers the following programs, which your parish can host.  For more information on any of the programs, e-mail Jennifer Morris, coordinator of youth outreach, at jenniferm@armeniandiocese.org.

Faith: How to Live What We’ve Learned -- This weekend retreat for ACYOA Juniors includes a study of the basics of faith; faith development through exploration of the dilemmas faced by today's teens; discussion on how to maintain a Christian attitude in light of our daily trials and tribulations; and an examination of the importance of balancing worship, witness, service, education, and fellowship in our life as Christians.  This is also available as a one-day program.

What is Our Link to the Legacy of St. Gregory the Illuminator? -- This weekend retreat for ACYOA Juniors gets them discussing the life of St. Gregory; examining the light within each of us; talking about temptation, sin, and God’s forgiveness; examining ways to share the light of Christ with others; exploring today’s youth culture; putting our faith into action.  This is also available as a one-day program.

Unlocking the Mystery of Prayer -- Offered to ACYOA Seniors and Juniors, this workshop explores the definition of prayer and the ways in which we pray, and conditions for and obstacles to effective prayer.

How Will I Spend My Summer? -- For kids between the ages of 8 and 11, this session focuses on the meaning of vacation; how to be an advertisement for God; and how to stick close to God through discussion and crafts.

THE LITURGY

TRL: The Real Liturgy -- This weekend retreat for ACYOA Juniors is dedicated to helping youth uncover the mystery and significance of the Holy Badarak and discover the role of worship in the life of every Armenian Christian.  The program offers an examination of the what, where, why and how of worship, including the role of prayer in worship, Liturgy basics, exercises to help develop one’s prayer life, Bible study on the importance of worship, and opportunities for Christian fellowship. 

Liturgy Basics -- For all ages, this session is an examination of the basic elements of the Divine Liturgy of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Why Worship? -- Offered to ACYOA Seniors and Juniors, this workshop explores the definition of Armenian Orthodox Worship as well as why and how we must worship, and how to enrich our worshipping life.

BEING CHRISTIAN TODAY

Can You Be Cool and Still Be Christian? -- For junior high school students, this program examines what it means to be and how to be Christian in today’s society.

How Do I Deal With Peer Pressure and Still Keep My Christian Values and Faith? -- For high school students, this program examines peer pressure and putting our faith into action.

Do Christ and College Mix? -- For college students, this session examines how to respond to contemporary issues as a Christian through case studies and faith development.

STEWARDSHIP

Time, Talent and Treasure: Seeking All Stewards -- This weekend retreat for ACYOA Juniors offers young Armenian Christians an opportunity to discover the meaning of stewardship.  Youth will be encouraged to identify their spiritual gifts, and discover how they can use those gifts as young stewards of the Church.  The program offers opportunities for Christian fellowship and spiritual discovery. 

LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL PLANNING

ACYOA Cross of Circles Activity Planner -- Offered to ACYOA Juniors and Seniors, this session uses Christian ministry to help youth develop balanced programming that includes worship, witness, service, education, and fellowship.

ACYOA Juniors Workshop -- Most effective on the parish level and offered to the entire organization, this workshop examines members’ individual talents and their individual roles as members of the organization based on “One Body, Many Parts” (I Cor. 12); explores obstacles to the organization’s success and how to overcome them.

How to Be An Effective Leader -- For young adults and adult volunteers, this session is based on “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You”, by John C. Maxwell, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1998.

Our ACYOA Group -- Offered to ACYOA Seniors (adaptable for ACYOA Juniors), this workshop poses questions about the ACYOA group, including group and personal goals and ideals; reviews the Cross of Circles youth ministry platform; and examines ways to effect change.

PARENTS AND YOUTH

Do You Speak Each Others’ Language? -- For parents and their teens, this session examines parent/teen communication and helps break down barriers.

Bridging the Gap by Connecting, Communicating & Sharing -- This workshop is or children between the ages of 5 and 17 along with parents.  It examines the challenging issues faced by parents and youth, both today and in the past, helping parents and their children better understand each other and teaches modes of communicating.

BUILDING YOUR PARISH YOUTH MINISTRY PROGRAM

Reaching by Teaching: The ABCs of Christian Education -- This presentation explores the meaning of Christian education, including the importance and goals of Christian education; the qualities of a good Christian educator and how to become one; and Christian Teaching Tools.

What is my Role in Youth Ministry-- A workshop designed for the entire parish, it examines the moral issues faced by today’s youth and how all parishioners have a role in ministering to parish youth, namely by building a relationship with them.

How to Effect Change -- For young adults and adult volunteers, this session includes discussion on ways to effect change, including: Know Your Vision; Know Your Self; Know your Situation; Get a Biblical Perspective; and Make A Plan and Act on It.

Team Ministry, Mentoring and Volunteerism -- Offered to all parishioners and young adults, this workshop explores the meaning of a ministry team, incorporating talents of members from throughout the community.  It also includes a discussion of the impact and importance of mentoring and volunteerism to the success of youth ministry and, more importantly, for raising spiritually healthy children.

Relational Ministry -- Designed specifically for youth workers and volunteers, this session is part of a youth worker training course, and explores the importance of relationships to ministry as established by Christ.

Volunteers in Ministry -- Designed specifically for youth workers and volunteers, this session is part of a youth worker training course, and explores why we need volunteers, who volunteers, and how to recruit, train and keep volunteers. 

Team Ministry -- Designed specifically for youth workers and volunteers, this session is part of a youth worker training course, and looks at what constitutes Team Ministry, and how to change the existing model to incorporate a team ministry concept.

Ten Common Mistakes and Misconceptions in Youth Ministry -- Designed specifically for youth workers and volunteers, this session is part of a youth worker training course, and is a refresher course on how to be an effective youth worker.

Let’s Get Practical: What Is Our Plan? -- Designed specifically for youth workers and volunteers, this session is part of a youth worker training course, and is a six-step strategy to evaluate a parish’s current youth ministry plan and plant the seeds for growth.