Are we witnessing a resurrection? A revival of sorts?
Not so long ago, a few of our FPC Dallas stewards approached Bill Buchanan, Executive Director of Youth Mission Co., with the idea of reviving the visiting youth program at FPC Dallas. Well, several calls, a LOT of meetings, and one pilot program later, Dallas Youth Mission was born.
Dallas Youth Mission (DYM) is the newest program of the non-profit ministry Youth Mission Co. (YMCo), which coordinates mission immersion experiences for middle school, high school, and college aged groups. DYM is one of several program locations for YMCo. Others include Asheville, NC (Asheville Youth Mission), Raleigh, NC (Raleigh Youth Mission), Charleston, SC (Charleston Youth Mission) and Memphis, TN (Memphis Youth Mission). All locations organize similar programming, with attention to the particularities and narratives of each location and context.
YMCo programs are justice-oriented and biblically based. In addition to coordinating and leading volunteering efforts at various organizations, YMCo leads debriefing programs for groups that include Bible study, group discussion, and an artistic project for the group (yay, group work!). YMCo engages youth in "downstream issues" like food insecurity and homelessness, while pointing youth "upstream" to the systemic injustices that cause poverty and marginalization.
What does this mean for FPC Dallas?
FPC Dallas and Dallas Youth Mission will have a covenantal relationship. Groups will be housed at FPC Dallas while YMCo staff plan and implement programming. The busiest time for this program will be in the summer with a few groups operating during the school year. The Dallas Youth Mission program director will be working in collaboration with FPC Dallas and The Stewpot staff to make sure systems are running smoothly.
We would like to extend a big thank you to all our FPC Dallas birdies who got the wheels churning on this project. Thank you Suzanne Erickson, Adrienne Nicholson, John Swindle, and Sarah Leer, just to name a few! Thank you all for your support and care of our youth!
We are elated to be a part of such an impactful program and cannot wait to serve Dallas Youth Mission. Interested in supporting the work of Dallas Youth Mission? Connect with our team to find out ways you can give or volunteer with DYM.
For more details, contact Director of Youth and Their Families Sarah Leer at SarahL@fpcdallas.org