May 5, 2005

Pre-1920

• 1877—Ontario Mennonite Conference takes official action to approve of Young People Bible Meetings
• 1879—first Mennonite secondary school (GC) in Goessel, Kan., which eventually became Bethel College
• Oct. 18, 1885—first mention of the title “Young People’s Meeting” at Prairie Street Mennonite, Elkhart, Ind.
• 1887—first GC Mennonite college: Bethel College, North Newton, Kan.
• 1888-1889—General Conference of the [Old] Mennonite Church organized
• 1890-1910—wave of interest in Young People’s Bible Meetings spread across Ohio and Midwestern states, but eventually many conferences in the East and West supported this meeting through various conference minutes
• 1892—Southwestern Pennsylvania mentions it in minutes
• 1893—Western District, Ohio Conference, Indiana-Michigan
• 1894—Missouri-Iowa Conference
• 1898—Virginia Conference, Eastern Amish Mennonite Conference
• 1926—present in Lancaster Conference
• 1939—remained a question for some churches in Franconia Conference
• 1894—first MC Mennonite college: Goshen College (Elkhart Institute of Science, Industry & the Arts), Goshen, Ind.
• 1903—this is the date Goshen College was established
• 1899—Bluffton College (Central Mennonite College—GC) began in Bluffton, Ohio
• 1903—first references to camping in the Mennonite Church were in regard to the General Conference Mennonite mission to the Hopi Indians
• 1904—Ohio Conference went on record to disapprove of Literary Society
• 1926—Lancaster Conference forbade this activity among young people
• 1926—Illinois Conference permitted local Literaries, but by 1933 encouraged a State Literary
• 1932—Ontario Conference accepted them
• 1936—Indiana-Michigan approved and encouraged Literary Societies
• 1909—the General Conference [MC] “went on record that young people do not attend schools where modern religious thought was taught.”
• 1909—Hesston College began in Hesston, Kan.
• 1911—the General Conference [MC] passed the recommendation that the Young People’s Bible Topic Committee arrange topics and submit to Publishing Commission annually for approval
• 1913—Bible Conferences in Missouri-Iowa Conference
• 1917—Eastern Mennonite University (Eastern Mennonite School) began in Harrisonburg, Virginia
• 1919—the General Conference [MC] gave discussion to young people and their problems in the form of five recommendations by the Young People’s Problems Committee.
  1920-1929
• 1920-23—Young People’s Conference (MC) flourished for a short time, which then led to creation of Young People’s Problems Committee
• April 4, 1920—first issue of The Youth’s Christian Companion published by Mennonite Publishing House
• Aug. 24-26, 1921—Young People’s Problems Committee formed during the 12th Mennonite General Conference in Garden City, Mo. First committee included O.O. Miller, Oscar Burkholder, S.G. Shetler, Noah Oyer, Jesse Schmucker
• 1922—first Young People’s Bible Meeting topics booklet published
• 1922—Boys and girls taken to the country as part of the Portland Mennonite Mission of Portland, Ore. The Fresh-Air program was followed by an organized camping experience.
• 1923-1924—closing of Goshen College
• 1925—first Young People’s Retreat, a nine-day retreat in August, on the campus of Bluffton College, sponsored by the General Conference Mennonite Church
• 1926—Youth Retreat (GC) held at Bethel College, North Newton, Kan.
• 1927—first Youth Retreat sponsored by Eastern District (GC) on the grounds of University of Pennsylvania
• 1928—first Youth Retreat sponsored by California District (GC)
• 1926—Illinois Conference dealt with whether or not Literary Societies were appropriate. (First conference to address this.) “The conference went on record as having no objection to local literary societies if conducted in accordance with the principles of the church but it definitely discouraged a state literary organization.”
• 1933—”Also in 1933 the [Illinois] conference recinded its former action of 1925 and 1926 in discouraging a state literary organization.”
• 1927—first Young People’s Institute held at Goshen College sponsored by the Young People’s Problems Committee (MC)
• 1930—three more held in Goshen, Ind.; Scottdale, Pa.; Kitchener, Ont.
• 1933—one held at Hesston, Kan.
• 1935—the Mennonite Churches of Colorado sponsor one in Manitou Springs, Colo.
• 1927—”The General Conference (MC) had increased its work in youth activity by 1927 so that recognition and study were given to the new youth activities so as to improve them and further develop them into churchwide efforts.”
• 1927—The General Conference (MC) approved of the Christian Life Conference, which first arose in the Church Schools.
• 1928—an early Mennonite school (MC), grades 1-10, was organized in Greenwood, Dela.
• 1928?—Young People’s Union (GC) organizes.
• 1929—Illinois Conference went on record of favoring Young People’s Institutes. (First such action by any district conference.)
  1930-1939
• 1930—Lancaster Conference withholds endorsement of Young People’s Institutes “since it felt that the new movement was not sufficiently safeguarded as of that date.”
• 1930-38—Summer Bible School movement arose: “although it pertains primarily to the junior age group. Yet young people can play a very significant part as teachers in this work.”
• 1930—Ontario Amish Mennonite Conference gave approval
• 1939—Ohio Conference passed a resolution favoring this activity
• 1931—a general discussion on “Conservation of Our Young People” at General Conference [MC]. Six recommendations were drawn up.
• 1932—Young People’s Problems Committee shifted from assuming a sole direction of the Young People’s Institute movement to more of an advisor and encourager of local conference/district ownership.
• 1935—Young People’s Union Retreats and Workshops began as a way to inspire young people of the General Conference Mennonite Church, usually held in connection with the triennial sessions. This first one was held at Camp LaVerne in Seven Oaks, Calif., in August 1935.
• 1936—first Handbook for Young People’s Bible Meeting Workers was published by Mennonite Publishing House and prepared by a Committee Appointed by the Young People’s Bible Meeting Topics Committee: John L. Horst, J.C. Fretz, J.R. Mumaw
• 1936—Arbutus Park 12-day youth institute• sponsored by the Mennonite Church near Johnstown, Pa. This replaced the traditional five-day events.
• 1937—Commission for Christian Education and Young People’s Work (MC) was created during the Mennonite General Conference in Turner, Ore., in August. This brought together the General Sunday School Committee, the Young People’s Problems Committee and the Young People’s Meeting Topics Committee.
  1940-1949
• 1941—Young People’s Union constitution was officially adopted by the General Conference Mennonite Church
• 1941—Young People’s Union Prayer Calendar was first published
• 1941—Camp Men-O-Lan founded by the Eastern District (GC) near Quakertown, Pa.: the first such camp for General Conference Mennonite Church.
• 1942—Lancaster Mennonite High School is established
• 1943—Secretary of Young People’s Activities position was formed from combined duties of the Young People’s Institute secretary and the Young People’s Problems secretary.
• 1943—Laurelville Mennonite Camp founded by an association of interested people in the Mennonite Church on Oct. 13 (MC): first such camp for Mennonite Church.
• 1947—the General Conference (MC) authorized the formation of Mennonite Youth Fellowship
• June 11-12, 1948—Mennonite Youth Fellowship held its First Annual MYF Meeting during sessions of the General Mission Board [MC] at Eureka, Ill.
• 1948—Mennonite Youth Fellowship Manual first published
• 1948—Indiana-Michigan Conference adopted their Community Life Study Committee’s recommendation to form a permanent Mennonite Youth Fellowship. “This is the first detailed action on the part of any district conference in regard to organizing the M.Y.F. as a youth activity.”
• 1948-49—Herald Press, Scottdale, PA releases its Summer Bible School Series
• 1949—second edition of Mennonite Youth Fellowship Manual published
• 1949— “Commission for Christian Education and Young People’s Work reported that direct guidance had been given to the M.Y.F. organization through the Secretary of Young People’s Activities.”
• 1949—new officers of the Young People’s Union (GC) met in November in Mountain Lake, Minnesota to plan for a more wholistic, uniform, and balanced program. One result would be the Youth Manual.
• 1949—Mennonite Youth Village near White Pigeon, Michigan was established by the Mennonite Board of Missions (MC) for service to underprivileged and homeless youth.
  1950-1959
• 1950—Young People’s Union General Assembly, August 28-29, held in Freeman, South Dakota voted on three areas of emphasis for a balanced youth program of Christian Faith and Life, Christian Fellowship, and Christian Service.
• 1950—Youth Manual (GC) first published
• 1953—the Commission for Christian Education (MC) merged the secretaryship of Young People’s Bible Meetings with the Secretary of Young People’s Activities.
• 1953—a revised edition of Youth Fellowship Manual for Local Church Youth Groups published (GC) in August
• 1953—Bible Memory Camps, Indiana began.
• 1955—first full-time Youth Worker called to serve Young People’s Union. William Gering first served as part-time (1953-55) and then a full-time beginning 1955.
• 1956—MYF came under the Commission for Christian Education; 150 local M.Y.F. units could not financially sustain the national M.Y.F., so “unit affiliation” was abandoned and all local youth groups were considered to be M.Y.F.’s
• 1956—MYF “Council” became MYF “Cabinet” so there would not be misunderstandings with the newly formed MYF Advisory Council
• 1956—Church-wide MYF published Youth Program Ideas: Volume One, followed by Volume Two (1957), Volume Three (1957), and Volume Four (1959)
• 1956—specialized programming for delinquent youth introduced by Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp, Colorado, which resulted in the year-round programs at Frontier Boys Camp and Brockhurst Boys Ranch in Colorado.
• 1957—MYF Handbook published, a completely revised version of 1948 MYF Manual
• 1957—the Youth Christian Service Activities Committee of Lancaster Conference published Mennonite Youth Programs: Volume 1, Unit 1 written by Clarence Fretz.
• 1958—first MYF convention unattached from other churchwide meetings
• 1958-1966• Eugene Herr serves as first full-time youth field worker (1958-1961) and then as Secretary of Youth Work, a position that combined Youth Field Worker and Secretary of Young People’s Activities (1962-1966)
• 1959—appointment of MYF Publications Study Committee
• 1959—Christian Fellowship: A Guide for Fellowship Committees in Local Youth Groups published by Faith and Life Press, Newton, Kansas
  1960-1969
• 1960—Christian Faith and Life: A Guide for Faith and Life Committees in Local Youth Groups published by Faith and Life Press, Newton, Kansas
• 1960—MYF convention lengthened from three to four days
• 1960-1968• Willard Roth serves as Youth Editor at Mennonite Publishing House
• 1961—MYF Memo came into existence
• 1961—Indiana-Michigan youth team travels for five weeks to provide inspirational program to local units
• 1961—Youth Convention introduced Bible quizzing and memorization as part of its experience
• 1962—first LIFE Team ministers in Eastern United States & Ontario
• 1962—new Secretary of Youth Work office created from the merger of the office of Youth Field Worker with that of Secretary of Youth Activities
• 1963—LIFE Team II ministers in the Middle West
• 1964—LIFE Team III ministers on the West Coast
• 1964—Two Adult Partner Training Conferences sponsored by MYF held at Camp Laurelville
• 1965—no churchwide youth convention; instead, 62 Servanthood Work Camps are conducted involving 543 work campers, also seven leadership workshop weekends held in preparation for these camps
• 1966—MYF convention lengthened from four to six days
• May 1-2, 1966: joint consultation on Youth Work involving Young People’s Union (GC) and Mennonite Youth Fellowship (MC) explored cooperation for development of program material, convention planning, and servanthood education
• 1966—Willard Roth to succeed Gene Herr as Secretary of Youth Work on quarter-time basis
• 1966—Pine Lake Fellowship Camp (MC), Mississippi, established and operated for the interest of reconciliation of racial groups.
• 1967—Out-Spokin’ begins as a biking ministry of Mennonite Board of Missions
• 1968—a realignment of the national MYF ; the national MYF Cabinet was phased out and national youth ministry was overseen by Mennonite Commission for Christian Education of Mennonite General Conference (later by Board of Congregational Ministries), Relief and Service Committee under Mennonite Board of Mission, and Mennonite Board of Education. These three persons met quarterly to coordinate churchwide youth ministry efforts.
• 1968—Lorne Peachey serves as first editor of With youth magazine, which replaced Youth’s Christian Companion
• 1968-74—Art Smoker served as churchwide secretary for youth ministry under Mennonite General Conference and then under Mennonite Board of Congregational Ministries (MC)
  1970-1979
• 1970—Youthappenings was first published in December. This was a quarterly newsletter for Mennonite youth leaders edited by Art Smoker of the newly formed Office for Youth Ministry.
• 1971—Mennonite Youth: Report of Mennonite Youth Research written by Paul M. Lederach was published by Herald Press, Scottdale, Pa.
• 1972—Cross-Cultural Youth Convention (MC) geared primarily to black and Hispanic youth
• 1973—Churchwide Youth Council
• March 30-April 1—the Council met at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries, Elkhart, Ind. One of the major topics for discussion was on “the role of the district conference youth secretary.”
• Sept. 24-26—the Council met at Camp Friedenswald, Cassopolis, Michigan. Two of the major topics for discussion were on “the role of the district conference youth secretary” and “role of churchwide youth council.”
• 1974—William D. Hooley completes his dissertation “A Comparison of the Values, Attitudes and Beliefs of Mennonite Youth Who Attended a Church-Related High School and Those Who Attended Public High Schools,” in particular, Bethany Christian School in Goshen, Ind.
• 1975—Ernest Hess completes his dissertation “A Study of the Influence of Mennonite Schools on Their Students in the Lancaster (Pa.) Conference of the Mennonite Church.”
• 1975—Donald B. Kraybill completes his dissertation “Ethnic Socialization in a Mennonite High School.”
• 1975—a time of transition for the Churchwide Youth Council
• 1975-1977—Robert Zuercher served as associate secretary for congregational youth ministries of Mennonite Board of Congregational Ministries (MC)
• 1977—Lavon Welty accepts half-time employment with Mennonite Board of Congregational Ministries (MC) as youth ministries staff person
• 1981—Lavon becomes full-time with MBCM
• 1977—Estes Park ‘77 (MC) in Estes Park, Colorado is first time that Youth Convention, General Assembly of the Mennonite Church, and the Convention of the Mennonite Church all meet in one location.
• 1977—Churchwide Youth Council meets in June 24-27 at Estes Park, Colo. One of the major topics for discussion is on “youth ministry in Mennonite congregations.”
• 1978—Mennonite Education: Issues, Facts, and Changes was written by Donald B. Kraybill and published by Herald Press, Scottdale, Pa.
  1980-1989
• 1981—youthink: Essays on Congregational Youth Ministry written by Lavon Welty was published by Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, Pa.
• 1982—Involving Children and Youth in Congregational Worship, Number 11 of the Worship Series, was published by Faith and Life Press, Newton, Kan., and Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, Pa.
• 1983—Bethlehem ’83 in Bethlehem, Pa., is the first joint session of the Mennonite Church and General Conference Mennonite Church.
• 1988—Blueprint for Congregational Youth Ministry written by Lavon Welty was published by Faith & Life Press and Mennonite Publishing House. He proposes that each congregation form a “youth ministry team” comprised of a pastor, elder or deacon, two parents, two-three youth, adult youth leaders: youth group sponsors, youth Sunday school teacher, mentor program coordinator, peer-helper program coordinator (page 114-115).
• 1988—Eastern Mennonite University adds a youth ministry major
• 1980s—Hesston College added a youth ministry program
  1990-2005
• 1990-2001—Abe Bergen served as denominational youth ministry staff person for General Conference Mennonite Church
• 1990-1999—Carlos Romero served as Denominational Minister of Youth (MC)
• 1996—41 Ways to Build a Better Youth Group written by Mike Bogard was published by Faith & Life Press
• 1996—Living Unplugged: Young Adults, Faith and The Uncommon Life written by Pam Peters-Pries was published by Faith & Life Press
• 1998—Bluffton University adds a youth ministry major
• 1999—St. Louis ‘99 in St. Louis, Missouri is the first joint sessions of the Mennonite Church, General Conference Mennonite Church, and the Conference of Mennonites in Canada. And, this was also the first time for a separate Junior High Convention.
• 2000—Eastern Mennonite Seminary offers summer youth ministry institute
• 2001—Nashville 2001 in Nashville, Tenn., is the first session and convention of Mennonite Church USA, which combined Mennonite Church and General Conference Mennonite Church (USA contingent, Canada Mennonites formed Mennonite Church Canada)
• 2001—Building Together: Developing Your Blueprint for Congregational Youth Ministry written by Carol Duerksen was published by Faith & Life Resources.
• 2001—Goshen College’s offers a youth ministry concentration within their bachelor’s degree in Bible, religion, philosophy
• 2002—Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary adds youth ministry concentration within their M.A. and M.Div. degrees
• 2002 (?)—Bethel College offers youth ministry certificate