Youth

SPARK 2012

About 550 youth and adult leaders attended SPARK Jan. 6-8 at the Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh. Justin Lookadoo was the keynote speaker.

2011 Youth School of Mission

Youth participants in the 2011 School of Mission completed several hands-on projects, building a ramp for handicap accessibility, working at a food pantry, helping with a children's program and laying a sidewalk at a mission agency.

2011 Uth4Mission

Youth from several churches and their leaders gathered at the University of Pittsburgh's Johnstown campus the first week of July for four days of hands-on mission work, fellowship and fun. Projects involved building, sprucing up homes, or reaching out through a VBS-type program for children. Conference Youth Director Renaye Hoffman coordinated the effort.

2011-04-09 Confirmation Class Visits to UM Center

2011-04-13 A.M. Confirmation Visits to United Methodist Center

Confirmation classes from churches across Western PA visit the United Methodist Center in Cranberry to learn about Conference and denominational ministries, do a hands-on mission project and meet with Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton.

2011-04-13 P.M. Confirmation Visits to the UM Center

Confirmation class groups visit the United Methodist Center in Cranberry Twp. to learn about various Conference ministries, do a hands-on mission project, and meet with Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton.

2011-03-24 Confirmation Class Visit to United Methodist Center-am.

2011-03-24 (PM) - Confirmation Class Visits to United Methodist Center

2011-03-18 Confirmation Visit to the United Methodist Center

2011-02-19 Confirmation Class Visit to United Methodist Center

Youth who will be confirmed in United Methodist churches this year visited the United Methodist Center in Cranberry Twp. to meet Bishop Bickerton and learn about conference and churchwide ministries.

2011-02-18 Confirmation Class Tours of UM Conference Center

Youth who will be confirmed in United Methodist churches this year visited the UN Center in Cranberry Twp. to meet with Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton and learn about Conference and churchwide ministries such as Imagine No Malaria, the Zimbabwe Partnership, camping, and youth events.

Spark 2011

Photos from the January youth weekend event at the Four Points Sheraton in Station Square. Photos by Charlene Jacka and Bill Jacka.

2010-2011 Mission of Peace to China

High School Seniors Molly Winters of Blackhawk and Kimberlyn Bloise of Gateway represent Western PA United Methodist Youth on a Mission of Peace to China. They left Pittsburgh airport Dec. 28 with two representatives of the West Virginia Conference.

The Power Team at Rockwood Charge

The Power Team of Christian athletes brought their amazing feats of strength and inspirational message to the Rockwood Charge and area school districts in early December. Photos courtesy of the Rev. John Phipps.

Bishop at Boy Scout Jamboree 2010

Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton, head of the United Methodist Church's Global Health Initiative, spoke during a United Methodist worship service near the end of the Boy Scouts of America's 2010 Jamboree and Centennial celebration in Virginia. He talked about the spirituality of Christians in Africa and the Imagine No Malaria-Nothing But Nets campaign to eliminate deaths from malaria by 2015. With an offering of about $12,000 and donations at the United Methodist booth, nearly $17,000 was raised for the anti-malaria campaign at the Jamboree. Photos by the Rev. Alan Morrison, except where noted.

2010 School of Mission -- Youth at Work

Mission Discovery, the youth component of the Western PA School of Mission, includes worship, learning and hands-on opportunities to make a difference in the world. Youth worked at the Mission Barn at Eastbrook, a supply depot for the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Photos by George Powers.

2010 Annual Conference - Third Day - Saturday

On June 12, the Western PA Conference met for the third day of Annual Conference 2010. Activities included early morning worship, Bible Study 2 with Steve Cordle, recognition of Camping Retreat Ministries, veterans/chaplains, Youth Ministry Team, Session Team, commissioning eight provisional members, a reception afterward, and more. Images by Rich Pearson, Mark Rehn, and Carrie Moore.

2010 Annual Conference - Second Day - Friday

Sessions began with early morning worship led by the youth followed by the first part of the Bible Study, a day of plenary sessions and concluded with worship. The Conference partnership with Zimbabwe was sealed and celebrated in the evening. Images by the Rev. Rich Pearson, Carrie Moore and Mark Rehn.

2010 Annual Conference - Day of Preparation

Members of Annual Conference 2010 and others gathered for the Laity Academy and Day of Spiritual Preparation activities on June 9, 2010. Images by Carrie Layton Moore, the Rev. Rich Pearson and Mark Rehn.

Change the World 2010

The last weekend in April (24-25) was Change the World weekend 2010 and United Methodist all over the world participated in community outreach projects, as well as activities centered on the launch of our denomination’s Imagine No Malaria campaign, headed by our Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton. Images from a variety of sources.