Convention Workbook

Report from Dr. Dave Rueter, DCE
Youth & Family Ministry Facilitator
In order to provide improved support for
DCE’s and others working (paid or volunteer)
in youth, children’s, family, and similar
Christian education in our congregations, the
part-time staff position of Youth & Family
Ministry Facilitator was established and in
February of 2011, I joined the district staff as
the first to fill the new position. This position
is in partnership with Concordia University,
Irvine, where I teach in the DCE program.
This partnership has brought the ministry of
the district and university into a closer
working relationship and provides a unique
opportunity to both provide training for
future DCE’s and support and on-going
training for field DCE’s and others in similar
ministry.
For 2011 the following outcomes were
identified as critical to the launch of this
position:
1) Contact will be made by phone, by
email, by letter, and in person with over 70%
of the congregations in the district by
December 2011 to let them know about the
new position and the resources available to
congregations with and without DCE's.
93.14% Completed if Youth & Family
Ministry Partnership Letter is not included
(which went to 100% of congregations)
2) By December, 2011, a Family Life
workshop/seminar will be held in two of the
four district regions.
One such workshop was completed and the
foundation/design work for the launch of a
Family Ministry Institute in the coming year
was completed.
Youth & Family Ministry
3) It will be a priority to meet with all
DCE clusters in the district once during 2011
to encourage, listen, share resources, and
promote the position.
All regularly meeting clusters of DCE’s were
visited at least once, with additional visits to
many individual DCE’s and other local youth
& family ministry leaders.
4) A minimum of 12 DCE's will be
counseled with and resourced for greater
health in their roles in congregations by
December 2011.
At least 18 DCE’s were counseled exceeding
the minimum by 50%.
5) Lutheran Youth Fellowship will host a
training event co-sponsored by Concordia
University which will offer training to high
school students on peer leadership that will
involve at least 15 congregations.
A training was hosted at Concordia University
with 7 churches and 56 participants.
6) Intentional relationships will be built
with the leadership of at least 3 ethnic
congregations with the purpose of developing
an intentional strategy for ethnic specific
youth ministry within the district.
Intentional relationships have been developed
with the following congregations for work in
youth & family ministry:
a) Reformation Ethiopian, Los
Angeles & Pastor Getachew Kiros
b) Loving Savior, Chino Hills &
Pastor Andy Wu
c) Good Shepherd, Downey & Pastors
Lewis Busch, John Kim, & Haile Yosief
d) Trinity Cristo Rey, Santa Ana &
Pastor Johnny Lopez & DCE Kristen Wyzard
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