A.  Explanation of congregation and its setting:

Rochester Covenant Church is a congregation that has been in existence for 30+ years. The church began in the 1960’s and was in a small "A-frame" church. The congregation began to outgrown their facilities. A team was put together to look at ways to help consider how to deal with the growth. The church decided they needed to build a new facility. In the 80’s, the congregation moved to a new site. The church quickly grew to around 350. 

Rochester Covenant had a vibrant music director whose gifts were attracting many people to the church. But conflict developed when the music director felt that women should not be in a leadership role in the church. The church at the time had called an associate pastor who was a woman. Through conflict management, it was decided that the music director needed to move on in ministry. The church went through some difficult times as people tried to understand the conflict and the fact that someone was leaving. It has taken until now (2004) for the church to be back to their previous numbers from when they first moved to the new facility (350-400). The church has gone through the growing pains of deciding if they want to grow and have multiple services or stay with one service. The 9:00 a.m. worship service is currently full and leaves little room for numeric growth. Rochester has approximately 350 – 400 people each week in worship attendance. 

The Leadership team and the congregation have decided to start a second worship service on Sunday mornings, following the educational hour, later this spring. The desire is to create a service with more of an outreach feel. Discussion of whether to have more contemporary worship music verses a blended music style (at the 9:00 worship service) continues to be a discussion.

Senior High Youth Ministry averages:

• 40 – 60 students for Sunday morning Sunday School: Spirit and Truth
• 30-50  students on Monday nights: X-Cell small group Bible Study that meets weekly in homes 
• Summer Mission trips: 40-60 students
• CHIC: 40-50 students

98% Caucasian
2% African-American 
A variety of ethnic mixes have come form adoption (Philippines, Asian, Korean, etc.) 
Youth ministry has a similar ethnic mix.

Purposes:  Knowing Jesus in fellowship, following Jesus in discipleship, modeling Jesus in service, serving Jesus in stewardship, honoring Jesus in worship, sharing Jesus in evangelism and mission.

Goals:  Inviting people, creating a welcoming environment for people, integrating people
 

B. Explanation of Who’s Who in this congregation with regards to youth 
ministry and the relationships between these key individuals:

1. Associate Pastor, Youth and Families- John DuBall, early 40’s, full-time, at the church 9 years
2. Resident Director of Sr. High- Shane Richardson, mid-20’s, 30 hours a week
3. Junior High/Middle School Resident- Jim Eaton, mid-20’s, 20 hours a week

Volunteers:
High School Ministries:

• 7 Sr. High Volunteers who meet with youth for X-Cell (Monday Night small groups) and Spirit and Truth (Sunday morning educational hour)
• 2 coordinators of youth choir (grades 6-12)
• 3-5 assistants for the choir
• 1 drama coordinator
• 1-2 worship coordinators

• 7-9 Jr. High Volunteers who meet with youth for Youth Group that includes games, small groups, teaching and discussions (Wednesday Nights and small group leaders) 
• 3-5 Jr. High Volunteers for Discipleship/Confirmation (Sunday morning educational hour) 
• once a month the 6th - 8th grade join the Sr. High for the Sunday Morning Spirit and Truth- the seniors and juniors help lead small groups
• 2 coordinators of youth choir (grades 6-12)
• 3-5 assistants for the choir

The Residents meet with their volunteer teams weekly or bi-weekly (in combination with John) to train and inform the volunteers. The volunteers look at this group as one of their key groups within the church. Most of the volunteers for each area (Jr. High and Sr. High) attend most, if not all, of the ministry opportunities for the youth. Their main function is to build authentic relationships with the youth and model a growing relationship with Jesus. When the youth shared about the leaders in ministry, many referred to the volunteers as much as they did the Residents. 

C. Explanation of the genius of what this congregation does very well as it seeks to deepen the maturity of the faith of its youth (vision, goals, practices, patterns, and themes, what's at the heart of this congregation's faith building efforts with its youth?)

It is very evident that authentic relationships are a key component to the success of the
ministry. The youth see and experience their parents living their lives for God, the
parents feel like they are in partnership with the church, and the youth staff sees their
role as one of coming alongside the youth and helping them take another step in their
walk with God. The spiritual lives of the people at Rochester Covenant permeate all of
their lives; it isn't something that they compartmentalize or do one hour each Sunday.
How they live, how they make decisions, how they spend their money, and who they
spend time with are all affected because of their relationship with Christ. Another factor 
in effectively helping students grow in their walk with Christ appears
to be the longevity of the Youth Pastor; his life lived out in front of the congregation and
the partnership between the home and the church.

It was fun to meet with the youth and hear them say that they feel loved and cared for by the all of the church. They feel that they can access parents of other youth to talk with and they have volunteers and youth staff that care about them. The youth are building relationships and mentoring the younger students in Jr. High as well as being a part of the children's ministry through Vacation Bible School leadership and volunteering to serve in Sunday School or special events with the children. It seems like a family; a family with all of the generations represented and involved. 

The youth see the importance of living a life for Christ. When they make decisions their spiritual life impacts what decisions that they make. The students explained that the youth group has helped them to be successful in living their life for Christ because they have friends in the ministry that allow them to be vulnerable. They feel like they can share their concerns and struggles and then someone is there to help hold them accountable for the decisions that they have made. Many youth referred to the faith of the parents and good communication with their parents. They felt that they had many adults in the church that they could turn to for guidance, advice and care. 

They are living as a body of Christ and because of this the youth feel secure, cared for and accountable for their own growth. They talked over and over at the quality of the leaders. They felt that the leaders weren't perfect but they were constantly striving to be better and to grow in their walk with God. 
 
 

D. Summary of findings regarding quantitative questions:

1. Wow! This congregation's ratings are almost universally higher than all EYM congregations and congregations their size.  What is at the heart of this incredible spirit?

It appears that the congregation sees themselves as a family. As a family, they want the best for each other. They don't see that the family goes out and BUYS the best and brings it in to serve the family but that each part of the family has gifts and those gifts are to be used for the benefit of the church. For example, Saturday night we had the privilege of attending a dinner theatre fundraiser for a summer Mexico Mission trip. The youth planned and executed the evening. They asked a couple in the church, who are gourmet cooks, to plan and prepare the meal. Youth were in the kitchen to help prepare the meals and learn from the couple. 

The drama team presented skits and plays throughout the evening for entertainment, the musicians played music as background as people entered and ate their meal, the youth decorated and designed the atmosphere of the dinner theatre. Students shared with the congregation their hopes for the ministry this summer and shared stories and photos from past trips. The youth served the three course meal, cleared the tables, cleaned up following the event and set up for Sunday School the next morning. The youth owned this evening. They wanted to share with the family their desire to serve in another country and the congregation's support at this meal helped make that possible. 

It goes back, once again, to relationships. People feel loved, cared for and needed. All of the gifts of the congregation are used and valued. One student spoke of a leader that shared with them that they (leader) had seen gifts in the youth. They shared how they (leader) did not possess those gifts and wondered if the youth had thought about sharing those gifts in the following ways. The youth were encouraged because it wasn't explained we need 5 people to ----- but rather, I see these gifts in you. The youth was flattered and encouraged because someone had seen and took time to know them and their gift set. 

1. (Playing devil's advocate) OK, what are they hiding?

Nothing- they truly are a healthy congregation that gets it!

2. The emphasis of the youth program appears to be authentic relationships, Bible study, service, and living a Christian life.  Is this accurate?

Yes, the youth place a high value on their spiritual growth and want to make it a priority. The church hasn't put a lot of programs in place but rather ministries to help the youth develop and grow. Their foundation is the word of God. The youth shared that in their small group Bible Studies they ask two key questions each week: How is it with you and God this week?  How can I be praying for you on your spiritual journey? They see the high value of accountability and encouragement that is grounded in prayer and God's Word.

3. Music and/or drama appear to be a key element.  What are they doing?

The church has a music ministry for children, youth and adults. The youth choir is for grades 7-12. The youth are encouraged to be a part of the ministry even if they can't sing. The choir's focus is on ministering. The choir shares their gift of music mainly in nursing homes, hospitals, or care facilities for shut-ins. The choir ministers through a variety of types of music. The unique focus of the choir is to reach out and meet the people who they are ministering to. As part of the experience, the youth stop singing and go out and mingle and meet those who are there. Many spend time holding the hand of an elderly person or praying for a request of the listener. The youth are taught the value of all of God's people and they love to reach out and share some of who they are with the people who have come to hear them sing. 

The Cokers (choir directors) are a very gifted team who have taught and encouraged the youth to share who they are and share a gift of music with people of all ages and walks of life. The two of them have left an impact on many students as lay ministers in the youth ministry.  The choir meets weekly to prepare and share ministry. In the middle of practice the choir stops and shares what is happening in their life with a partner and then they pray for one another. Their faith is lived out once again in all parts of their lives even in the midst of preparing for ministry.

Another group of youth uses their gift of music serving on the youth worship team. The team meets Wednesdays before youth choir. The group prepares to lead the youth group on Sunday mornings as part of Spirit and Truth (Sunday School). The youth may also lead the groups in worship at retreats and other gatherings of the ministry.

The drama team is a group who meet weekly to practice skits and plays to be used in Spirit and Truth, for retreats or as part of worship. The team meets on Wednesdays for an hour before the Wednesday dinner and youth choir. There are about 8-10 students involved in the drama team, 10-12 in the worship team and about 50-60 in the youth choir. 

4. Is the particular charisma or personality of the youth minister or senior/lead pastor the glue and driving force, or is participation and support of the youth ministry strong and broad enough that the particular persons in those roles have less importance?  That is, could the youth ministry continue to thrive without one or both of them?

This was an interesting question for the groups. The residents saw it as a big concern if John (youth Pastor) left. They felt he was the visionary and the glue that held the entire ministry together. John has moved to work more with including parents in a ministry partnership. He is currently teaching a Parenting Teens Sunday School class. 

When asked, volunteers explained that they see John as the glue, the residents as the ones who have key relationships and vision with the youth, but also that they feel needed and fulfilled in their calling in ministry. They see it as a partnership and all people have a place and a role to fill. If someone is called away by God, they feel that it will be more difficult BUT won't fall apart. They realize that all of them will have to step up and give more during the time of transition.

The parents and the ministry support team would be concerned if John left because he is trusted and has helped so many families and youth grow in their spiritual walk. They see the value in the residents and value the countless hours that the residents have poured into relationships with kids. But the parents don't feel that ministry is based on a personality or person, rather it is the whole. Shane, the Sr. High Resident, will be leaving in May.  Many are saddened by that but not concerned that ministry will be negatively affected although they highly value who he is and what he has brought to the ministry.

The youth realized what a wonderful team of leaders they have. They were complementary of John and Shane- sharing how they had made such a wonderful impact in their spiritual walk. The youth then thought about the volunteers and how much they love being with them and how they had helped to shape who they are in their relationship with God.  The youth then talked about their parents and their friend's parents and how they had reached out and cared for them. Then they realized what an incredible team of leaders that they were privileged to work with. As SALT leaders (Student Action Leadership Team), they felt it would be up to them to step up to the plate and give more of themselves in the interim time. They get it! It is a body of Christ and when a part is in need the others rally to help make things work!

It is an exciting, caring, authentic congregation who is grounded in Christ! They continue to try to live by Christ's example and desire to grow deeper in that relationship with Him.  They make me want to be a part of what is happening!