God is doing a new thing or maybe it’s an old thing but we are finally listening! God is bringing together Hispanic youth leaders to share their strengths and to elevate the view and effectiveness of Hispanic youth ministry!
In an attempt to “fan into flame” this work of God, a Hispanic Youth Ministry Network (H.Y.M.N.), has been formed. This is a volunteer association of Hispanic leaders who are radically committed to seeing youth ministry in our Latino churches go to the next level. The Hispanic Ministry Center (HMC) in Santa Ana, California, has been a catalyst for this endeavor for the past four years since its inception, but has recently launched some new strategies to catalyze the plan through a grant from the PEW Charitable Trusts in Philadelphia, PA. These new strategies include:
National Hispanic Leadership Summits- These are gatherings for veteran Hispanic youth workers (Men- September 12-15, 1997/Women- March 13-15, 1998).
A Hispanic Youth Ministry Network (H.Y.M.N.)- A volunteer association of Hispanic youth leaders from across the country.
An HMC/H.Y.M.N. Web Site: The Internet is a great way for Hispanic youth workers to network, share great ideas, and to learn about the latest youth ministry resources, youth events, and up-coming youth worker training events. Check us out at www.hmconline.org!
Resource Creation: We need relevant youth ministry resources! Our champion youth workers must rise up and create the materials that will influence this generation and the next.
Leadership Development: We desperately need trained youth leaders who can shepherd this generation of young people. HMC will be collaborating with HYMN leaders in order to provide practical youth ministry training events in various regions across the country.
H.Y.M.N. Newsletter: Communication is key and greatly helps to fuel a movement. We certainly hope that through your contributions and your promotion of this resource that this newsletter will encourage and equip youth leaders while elevating the view of Hispanic Youth Ministry in our churches.
As you can see, the strategies are in place, the youth workers are coming together, and TOGETHER we will lift Hispanic youth ministry to the next level. I sincerely believe that this is God’s will in these last days for this “harrassed and helpless” generation (Matthew 9:36) and we would love for you to join us in this great cause.