Parents and Students,

First, let us thank you for your patience as we’ve attempted to figure out how to best serve youth at All Saints, not just this year, but throughout our history. The difficulty of adjusting to yet another shift in format is not lost on me, and the goodwill and forbearance you’ve all demonstrated is not something we take for granted. I personally apologize if shifts like this have shaken your confidence in our ability to serve you well. I said at the beginning of the year, whether things work out or not, we’re going to keep trying to do it right until it sticks, and I want to assure you that’s still true.

Initial goals.  We began the year with a format that alternated large groups and small groups, because in an effort to grow our youth ministry, we saw a need to create some group solidarity with the large groups as well as pursue personal connections through small groups. Meeting both needs will continue to be a goal of ours, particularly in the long term as All Saints’ large group of children grow into teens.

Reality sets in. In the present, however, trying to both has meant doing neither well. Growing pains were expected, but we realized that having a large group meeting that was so small sort of defeated the purpose. The reality is that we are a small ministry. Youth Group felt neither vital and lively nor intimate and thoughtful. We tried to stick it out through the beginning of the semester, but it quickly became apparent that our students were not being well-served. Perhaps we’ll return to the idea of a large group in the future, but for the time being it seemed wisest to lay those aspirations aside.

Strength in Smallness. What was working well, though, was small groups. Both students and leaders longed for more frequent and consistent opportunities to be in small groups together and talk about how God fits into their personal lives. Right now, our size means that we can feasibly and effectively do what we all love to do in ministry: invest deeply and fully into a small number of people. Both teachers and peers can be available to mentor and counsel and teach one another. We look forward to the opportunity to serve each group well, focusing on their specific needs and their life stage. It seems we’re already good at being small–why not see it as a strength?

Going forward together. Maybe you, students, or your kids, parents, have given up on the idea of youth ministry at All Saints. Maybe we’ve lost your trust. We hope to earn it through these small groups. We hope to know students well. We hope to serve parents well. Perhaps now is the time when we can prove to you that the waters are a bit warmer. We invite you to dip your toes in again. All our hopes and intentions aside, we want you to know that whether our new format works out perfectly or sputters again, our staff is resolved to keep trying to love All Saints’ students with the love of God.

On behalf of the All Saints Youth Group staff,

-Woonny Kim