This has been a tough year for youth ministry at Northminster.

Our beloved youth director of over three years, Chelsea Knox, resigned at the end of last August.  After trying unsuccessfully to replace Chelsea last fall, Luke Walther came on as an Area Director for Young Life (our youth ministry is a partnership with Young Life) overseeing both La Jolla and Clairemont.  Luke was really great at what he did, but after a few months Luke resigned when he realized that both La Jolla and Clairemont needed to be staffed by full-time positions.  Since he had originally been called to serve the La Jolla area, he stayed with that area.

That was discouraging at first.  But we were soon reminded that God never leaves us in the lurch!

So here’s the good news!

We have found a new youth director for Northminster/Clairemont Young Life—and I am really excited about this guy!  Here are some things you need to know about him:

• His name is Kevin Curtis.
• He is married to his wife, Pam, and they are expecting their first child in June.
• Kevin has A LOT of experience in youth ministry, both as a Young Life staffer and as a church youth ministry volunteer.
• Kevin and his wife will be moving here from Verde Valley, Arizona.
• They are both really looking forward to getting plugged in here at Northminster.  One of the things he shared is that they’ve missed having a real sense of church community where they’ve been living, and that’s something they are really looking forward to (and something I know all of you have to offer)!

Because he and his wife are expecting their child in June, Kevin won’t begin serving here full-time until July 1.  In the meantime, however, he will be making monthly trips to Clairemont to begin working with leaders, working with the Young Life Committee, working with me, and getting to know all of you.

His first visit will be the weekend of March 14.  At that time, we will introduce Kevin to all of you in church and give you an opportunity to begin to get to know him.

As I’ve already stated, I’m really excited that Kevin is going to be joining us here at Northminster! Keep Kevin and his wife, Pam, in your prayers over the next several months as they begin their transition and await the birth of their baby.  I believe Kevin will be used powerfully by God in the lives of the middle and high school students here at Northminster, as well as all those kids in the community whom God is longing for us to reach.

–Pastor Markus Watson

Wyldlife is STARTING!!!

Wyldlife is our ministry to the middle school youth in our community.  You can learn a little more about it by clicking HERE.

The first meeting will be Wednesday February 3rd from 5:30-7:00 p.m in the Northminster Youth Room. We will be having Wyldlife Club every other Wednesday night from 5:30-7:00.

Please contact our Wyldlife Director Stephen Wescott at 619-402-4819 with any questions.

Important dates to remember:

• Feb 26th-28th: Wyldlife Camp @ Oakbridge
• July 12th-17th: Wyldlife Camp @ Oakbridge

Luke

Thank you to everyone who made our Winter Camp trip to Utah such a huge success!!! It was a great week for our leaders to pour into our high school friends lives. Whether chatting on a chair lift or during one of our four small group times, leaders had the great opportunity to share Jesus’s love with kids from around our community. Thank You!!!

Important dates to remember:

• Jan 29th-31st: Campaigner Camp @ Oakbridge
• Feb 1st: Our winter/spring club schedule begins with a All-City Club at The Rock Church. Stay tuned for more details….
• April 9th-11th: Student Staff Conference
• July 31st- Aug 6th: High School Camp @ Lost Canyon

Luke

Last month our Young Life Club spent a week at Lost Canyon in Williams AZ. The pictures from that week are in our Photo Gallery.

Sermon by Eric Scofield on August 16, 2009

This is the fourth sermon in the series titled “Stories for Summer: The parables of Jesus”.

Eric Scofield is the Regional Director for Young Life in the newly formed Southcoast Region which is made up of the San Diego County and the Orange County Regions. Northminster has a partnership with Young Life.

Theme – Join the party!  Our Father is always working, whether waiting on the porch or coming to us in the field.  As we consider the older brother in this parable we need to (a) Look to see where God is moving, (b) Listen for the music (Spirit), and (c) see where we can take action!  Let’s Join the party!

Eric had just returned from leading Young Life Camp at Lost Canyon in Williams Arizona.  A few of the pictures Eric discussed during his sermon are below.

It is coming down to the wire. We will be headed out Saturday morning so please keep us in your prayers.

Thank you to everyone who responded to the last newsletter; the Clairemont area Young Life ministry would not be possible without the financial support of our amazing donors.

We have added 6 more campers this week to bring our total up to 31! With the new additions we still need to raise $6,000 for camp this year. Please consider making a donation today. Our area needs your help.

Ways to get involved

• Pray for kids going to camp and for the money needed.
• Sponsor the full cost of sending a kid to camp ($550)
• Make a 1/2 camp sponsorship of ($275)
• Make a partial camp sponsorship of any amount.

Make Your Camp Donation Online Now

Send a Check to:
Northminster Presbytherian Church
Attn: Young Life Campership
4324 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92117

Thank you for all of your continued prayers and financial support.

God Bless,

Chelsea Cartlidge

Hello Everyone,

For the month of June I was the Work Crew and Summer Staff Coordinator at Oakbridge- a middle school outreach camp. On the day of messy games in the mud pit, I decided to wear a new dress. Don’t ask me why- I just figured I would be coordinating and not getting muddy.

All of a sudden I looked across the mud pit and noticed a little boy who had mud plastered over his whole face. His eyes were covered and he couldn’t see. He was reaching around blindly, so I ran over to him. I grabbed his mud-soaked hand and led him over to the hose. In the process I got mud all over my new dress. Later I laughed at myself for wearing it, and was glad I could help this little guy.

I was reminded that Jesus stepped down from heaven to get in the middle of our messy lives. He came to bring healing, help, and cleansing, and for this I am so thankful.

Two days later on the ropes course, I saw the little boy again. He was having the time of his life. Over the course of the month I witnessed hundreds of middle school kids accepting Jesus into their lives.

Our middle school group was able to go to Oakbridge July 6-11. We took four kids and three leaders. On August 1st we have the opportunity to take 32+ high school students to camp at Lost Canyon in Arizona.

We still need to raise $7,000 in order to send kids to camp for the first time, help them have the best week of their lives, give them hope, and introduce them to Jesus!

The Young Life ministry would not be possible without the support of donors, and right now our area needs your financial support in a huge way. A huge thank you to everyone who has helped!

Ways to get involved

• Pray for kids going to camp and for the money needed.
• Sponsor the full cost of sending a kid to camp ($550)
• Make a 1/2 camp sponsorship of ($275)
• Make a partial camp sponsorship of any amount.

Make Your Camp Donation Online Now

Send a Check to:
Northminster Presbytherian Church
Attn: Young Life Campership
4324 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92117

Thank you for all of your continued prayers and financial support.

God Bless,

Chelsea Cartlidge

Earlier this month our WyldLife Club spent a week at OakBridge.  The pictures from that week are on our Photo Gallery.

April 1st at Northminster! 7-9pm in the Sanctuary.

Mark Wade, Brendan McCarthy, and Rachael Lampa!

Feel free to contact me with any questions- (619) 322-7586

God Bless,

Chelsea

The Young Life Annual Auction & Dinner event is May 2nd on the USS Midway! We are selling tickets to this event for just $25 to the first 30 people! Get your tickets quick, because after the first 30 people the price goes to $75.  Raffle tickets are just $25 this year! 1 for $25, 5 for $100, and 12 for $200! We will have a table set up this Sunday on the patio after the service with tickets.

Feel free to contact me with any questions- (619) 322-7586

God Bless,

Chelsea