Bishop Mathes was a popular youth minister.
A young Bishop Mathes blesses animals while a youth minister.
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Bishop's Appeal for Youth
Spring 2008
Dear Friends,
My Christian faith was nurtured by a parish youth program and through college chaplaincy. Probably because I was able to find Christ in my Episcopal youth group and because of my experience with college ministry, I found myself serving as a volunteer youth minister after college.
I am convinced that junior high school through the college years are critical times of Christian formation. It is for this reason that we focus this year’s Bishop’s Appeal on youth and young adult ministry.
Our diocesan youth and young adult ministries are expanding and transforming lives. Let me share with you just a few things that are happening
- A newly organized Diocesan Youth Commission which includes youth and young adult ministers who plan, create, and implement quarterly diocesan-wide activities.
- Regular weekend renewal programs through Happening and New Beginning
- Consultations with congregations on advancing youth programs
- A growing campus ministry at UCSD in partnership with Good Samaritan and St. James
- A collaborative ministry with the Lutheran Synod in a Lutheran-Episcopal Ministry at SDSU called Agape House
- Service trips to El Salvador through which we form and nurture servant ministries
The first youth group I led had a simple motto: “Have fun and do good.” That is my request to you. You can have fun and do good by supporting our expanding youth and young adult ministries. I invite you to invest in the future of our diocese and our Episcopal Church by making a gift to the Bishop’s Appeal. It is fun to be a part of Christ’s hope-filled ministry to our youth. It is fun to give. And it does immense good. Please complete the enclosed response card and return it with the envelope provided. Thank you for your commitment to our youth and young adults. May God continue the good work that has begun in our diocese.
Faithfully,
The Rt. Rev. James R. Mathes
Bishop of San Diego