SOUTH ARKANSAS NYI

Vision for the Future

THE PROBLEM........  May 2007

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s estimation from the 2005 Census

2,779,154 people make up the population in the state of Arkansas

We’ve grown 4% from 2000

24.3% Of this population is under 18 years old

675,334 Children and youth that populate the state of Arkansas

We have two districts in Arkansas so let’s just say that we split that number in half.

That would give our district 337,667 Children and youth that populate the district. If we could reach 1% that would mean that our district youth responsibility list would be around 3,377. According to our youth and children’s responsibility list recorded on the General Secretary’s Annual Statistics report, we had 2365 total on our Sunday School Responsibility list which includes youth and children. That is not even 1% that we are currently reaching.

This only includes our responsibility list. This does not mean that these children and youth are actively involved in our children and youth programs.

THE PROPOSED SOLUTION.....

The South Arkansas District NYI Council has proposed that we divide District NYI into 2 "Mission Areas".  The South East Mission Area and the South West Mission Area (for a description of these areas, download here.)  It is our desire that we view every local congregation as a "Lifesaving Station" for our communities.  South Arkansas is our mission field.  Every congregation needs to have a vital ministry to children, youth, and adults.  Our aim as far as NYI is to do whatever we can to aid our churches in the area of NYI (Youth/Student Ministry)

Our plan......

2007 -2008

To provide leadership and two activities for the South East "Mission Area"  churches

Up to date progress report....

     1.  See You At The Pole Event - September 26th, 2007

               Hosted by Little Rock Calvary's Student Ministries

               Speaker:  Drew Warwick of Springlake Church of the Nazarene

               Worship:  Little Rock Calvary

               Four churches participated....  Little Rock Calvary, Benton First, Springlake   

               Church of the Nazarene, Brockington Road Church of the Nazarene 

     2.  Back To School Retreat - October 5th-6th, 2007

              Hosted at the Heath Valley Campground

              Speaker:  Jeremy Newlin

              Worship:  Lawrence Cheatum from NLR Friendly Chapel

              Four churches participated...... Little Rock Cornerstone, North Little Rock

              Friendly Chapel, Little Rock New Hope, and Little Rock Calvary.

2008-2009

To provide leadership and two activities for the South West "Mission Area" churches