“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Restoration Christian Community Church (RC3) Youth Ministry has a deep abiding faith in the power of unity. For this reason we launched the Unity for Youth campaign. By tearing down the walls of separation (denominations, race, age, gender, political affiliation, economic status, etc.) we can unify our diverse opinions into innovative solutions that restore and enhance the spiritual, social, and economic systems of every local, state and national community in the world. Youth and young adults are closely studying the responses of adults to the pressing issues of today. The lessons students learn today will inspire the solutions they implement tomorrow.

Our youth are present day leaders in training helping to develop the world of tomorrow. It is the job of adults to cultivate and nurture young people into intelligent, well developed grown-ups. While the RC3 Youth Ministry has taken the initial steps in stirring up the collaborative spirit of the Port Huron Area community through this campaign, we understand it will take the participation of a variety of leaders to create a community conducive to youth development. Unity for Youth partners will be committed to creating an environment where youth and young adults thrive and succeed.

Port Huron has a number of churches, organizations, and businesses committed to the development of youth. Some progress has been made to improve collaboration however there are definitely additional partnership opportunities to exploit. The mission of the Unity for Youth campaign is to create a unified community of support that will address the needs of youth nurturing them into intelligent well developed adults.

Before School Preparation (BSP) – The main objective of BSP programming is to adequately develop the spirit, mind and body of our young people so when they enter school they are ready to learn. We must create environments which enhances students’ mental and physical fitness.   This will be accomplished by supporting and developing programs and initiatives that strengthen families, support healthy lifestyles, generate diversity and inclusion, and champion other factors leading to positive community youth development. Increased and improved institutional partnerships will help to ensure youth develop fruitful consistent relationships with each other and caring adults.

After School Continuation (ASC) – ASC programming will reinforce the skills students learn in school. One of the main premises of community youth development is collaborative support and efforts between organizations serving youth. Thus, as partnerships develop students receive greater regularity of consistent educational messages. Because education is an integral part of youth development we will partner with schools and colleges, businesses and community organizations to promote and develop tutoring, mentoring, internship and apprenticeship programs that support and reinforce the lessons taught in schools.

The opening scripture captures the desire of the Unity for Youth Movement perfectly. Taking that portion of scripture into consideration, we must stir up love and good works between individuals and institutions. The commission of this unity movement is to quicken the collaborative spirit of faith ministries, government, businesses, and nonprofit organizations in support of youth development.   Our motto is:

If you want to be inspired, help elementary students live their dreams. If you want to generate innovative solutions cultivate the minds of teens. If you want to change the world, be an example and demonstrate to young people the power of building unified teams. Unity For Youth!

KEYS TO SUCESS

One of the key components of developing a sustained, unified movement of community transformation is identifying common ground. Young people are the common ground. They are instrumental to community improvement and their development directly and/or indirectly affects every adult citizen of society. The objective is to Educate, Empower, and Enlist individuals and institutions into the process of community youth development.

The Unity for Youth campaign will utilize the three Es to promote the mission of the Unity for Youth Movement.

1.  Educate – Inform citizens of the Unity for Youth Movement and its mission by addressing the questions Who, Why, What, Where, and When. The purpose of the movement and how it will positively impact citizens and the community must clearly be articulated.
2. Empower – matching the skills of citizens with the needs identified through the education process. Empowerment is the process of help people realize the full potential or power already within them.
3. Enlist – Enlisting is the continuation and end result of empowerment. It is creating the opportunity for those that understand their own power to now use it. recruit volunteers to work in a BSP or ASC program.