March 2025

In this Issue...

-Ministering with Families Call Tues Mar 25

-Successful Teen Leadership Training

-Upcoming Retreats (April, June, July, Oct)

-Leading & Guiding a YFM Program Training Mar 26

-Inspiring YFM Events from Around the Region

Ministering With Families Call

Tues Mar 25  | 6 PM CT/ 7 PM ET

Who: Youth directors, ministers, board members, and others who work with young people

Purpose: Share best practices and skills around ministering to and with families, and support each other in this important work. Join this wonderful community of support for anyone who works with youth and/or families (or wants to)!

Typical Agenda: pray In, check-in: celebrations, challenges, Proposed topics for group discussion, breakout rooms re. group discussion topic(s), YFM Regional news sharing, Closing.

Come receive support and get connected with others working to serve youth and families in the Great Lakes Region!

Save the Date for next month's call: Apr 22nd

The zoom link remains the same month to month. Meeting ID: 917 5280 8738

Feb 27 Teen Leadership Training a Success

Great Lakes Regies Alex, Joey and Maddie partnered with Regies from the Eastern Region to present a training on the topic “Diving Into Leadership” to an audience of 20+ youth and adults from around our respective Regions. We were thrilled by the opportunity to partner and attendee feedback was positive! 

Upcoming Youth Retreats

Spring Unitreat

Fri-Sun April 4-6 2025, Lutherdale, Elkhorn, WI

Registration is closed. We invite you to hold the 38 folks registered in prayer for safe travel each each and to envision a fun and meaningful experience for all! 

Save The Dates

-June Rally | Friday-Monday June 13-16, TowerHill Camp, Sawyer, MI

This event is open to all Youth Of Unity (Y.O.U.) entering 10^th-12^th grades in Fall 2025 (plus recent grads) & their adult leaders. Look for registration details here in early April. Rally will include a Y.O.U. graduation ceremony and Regie election, in addition to swimming, small group time and lots of dynamic activities around a theme of communication & curiosity: "Tell Me More".

-International Y.O.U. Retreat (IYOU) | Sun-Thurs July 20-24 | Unity Village | Lees Summit, MO 

Registration Is Now Open! Learn more about this dynamic Y.O.U. event that brings together youth from around the country and beyond and register your chapter!

-Fall Youth Retreat | Fri-Sun Oct 24-26 | Lutherdale, Elkhorn, WI

This will be a combined event for both Uniteens and Y.O.U.

New to YFM? Learn all about Leading & Guiding a YFM Program

Live Online| Wednesdays March 26, April 2, April 9 | 4-5 PM CT

About: Learn how to create a plan of action to implement effective policies and procedures, Evaluate current sacred safety policies and bring them into alignment with recommended practices, Build a team of engaged YFM volunteers, and Develop a YFM Program implementation strategy.

Offered by Unity Worldwide Ministries. Enroll for free if you’ve already registered with UWSI. If you haven’t yet registered with UWSI, register here for a one-time fee of $35.

Once you have a UWSI account, you can then register for the YFM training here. This training is offered free of charge

YFM Events to Celebrate and Inspire!

Westlake Spiritual Center OH, Mini-Rally Fundraiser

Held March 8^th, this youth-led event for Westlake’s adult congregants included family groups, truth talks, skits and more! Adults appreciated the chance to get a taste of what happens for youth on retreat, and youth built their leadership skills, raised funds to attend the Regional Spring Unitreat, and had great fun!

Eastern Sub-Regional Mini-Rally & Lock-In

Held March 1-2, Daryn Wells and Unity of Columbus, OH team collaborated with Regies Joey and Maddie and Cassidy to organize and host a wonderful event for the Eastern Sub-region! Cost was kept at $25/person to cover food.

24 Uniteens, YOUers and adults attended from the following chapters: Unity of Louisville, KY; Unity Spiritual Community of Grand Rapids, MI; Unity of East Louisville, KY and Unity of Columbus,

Activities included Spirit Group sessions, Free Time, Secret Prayer Pals, a Saturday evening Truth Talk and “Playshop", a Sunday Morning Meditation and God Walk; Joy Songs, and more. 

What’s happening in your Youth and Family Ministry? Have an event you’d like to see featured in a future newsletter? Send Cassidy a blurb. 

Missed Last Month's Issue? Read it here!

Follow Great Lakes Youth Ministry on Facebook

Need Support?

Contact Cassidy: yfmcoordinator@greatlakesunity.com or by phone/text: 406 490 4459