Schedule
Below is the schedule for the three days that Ministry Architects will be at West End UMC.  Please plan to attend the listening session that best fits your role on Sunday, August 9 and let us know if you are unable to attend that time or that day.  And join us for the presentation on Tuesday night, August 11.

Sunday, August 9
    12:15-1:30 p.m.    Ministry Table / SPRC / Congregation
    1:30-2:45 p.m.    Rising 7th/8th/9th Grade YOUTH
    2:45-4 p.m.    PARENTS of Rising 7th/8th/9th Grade YOUTH
    4:00-5:15 p.m.    Rising 10th/11th/12th Grade YOUTH
    5:15-6:30 p.m.    PARENTS of Rising 10th/11th/12th Grade YOUTH
    6:30-7:45 p.m.    Volunteers & Youth Council

Monday, August 10
    8:30-9:45 a.m.    Senior Pastor
    10-11:15 a.m.    Other Staff (Youth Administrative Staff, Children’s Minister, Music Minister)
    11:30 a.m. -1 p.m.    Lunch with Youth Staff

Tuesday, August 11
    3 p.m.    Pre-stakeholders Meeting (Youth Staff, Senior Pastor)
    6 p.m.    Stakeholder’s Presentation

Ministry Architects (MA) is coming to West End UMC from August 9 to 11, 2015 to do an assessment of our Youth Ministry. We are excited about the time and process, as their consultants do a lot of listening and help us figure out how God is calling us to move forward.  And you are invited to be a part of the process, so we wanted to make sure you know why we are doing this and how it will work.  Please read the info below and contact Sean P. Williams at swilliams@westendumc.org if you have any questions.  Thanks!

Why Ministry Architects? 
At Ministry Architects, we believe there is a better way, a better way than one-size-fits-all training events and quick-fix searches for superstar staffers. It all starts with building intentionally. So like architects, we don’t tell churches what they want to build. We start by listening and then show them a blueprint of exactly how they can move from where they are to where they want to be. And then we walk alongside them as to make sure that they build the kind of infrastructure they will need to create the youth ministry they dream of having. We have made it our mission to help churches establish sustainable, deep-impact youth ministries, one church at a time.

What is going to happen when MA is here?
MA will spend the majority of their time listening to a variety of groups within the church through focused listening groups. After spending 2 days in these listening groups (and taking copious notes), the MA team will hunker down to write a report, sharing with the church what they’ve heard about the youth programs and where they hear that the church wants to go. On the third day, the report will be presented to the congregation laying out a blueprint for how to move forward.

As a parent, why should I attend?
As a parent, you have the strongest influence on your child’s spiritual development, and you are the center of faith formation in your family. MA wants to hear your hopes, dreams and concerns about the youth ministry. Parents can give feedback on how the youth ministry is helping their teen to grow into the person that God created him/her to be. Parents are a vital piece to the Christian nurture of their children and MA wants them to be invested in the process of building a strong foundation.

As a youth leader/volunteer, why should I attend?
Volunteers obviously care about the youth ministry through their commitment of time, energy, and love. You can give perspective to how you see the ministry affecting the lives of the youth because you are on the “front lines”. You can see what the strengths & challenges are and can bring about change and improvement to the ministry in which they are serving. Your feedback is invaluable.

As a church member who is not a part of the youth ministry, why should I attend?
Faith formation is a community effort – it takes many folks to model the Christian life to young people. Members of the church set the example to youth on how to worship, how to live a Christ-like life, and how to serve Christ in others. As a member of the church, your feedback is significant in moving the youth ministry forward in a sustainable model. As Christians, we are called to nurture faith in our young people. Investing your time in a listening group shows the care that members of the church have for its youth. MA values the “outside” view that you can give.

What will the report look like?
The Assessment Report will start by reflecting back to the church what the MA team heard people saying about the youth ministry.  We compare your church to norms across the country.  We will point out the assets of the programs – the things to protect and keep. We will also share the challenges that we see – the things that are roadblocks to the ministry moving strategically forward. We then lay out a blueprint for how to strategically move the youth ministry from where they are now to where you want it to be. These recommendations include a detailed timeline laying out the process month by month.