‘Our ministry teaches appreciation for and understanding of God’s
creation as a major prior- ity to fulfill our mission.’
tor of Metigoshe. Programs might include deepening church relation- ships through intergenerational events or helping enhance confir- mation ministry. Metigoshe also stays busy year-
round with retreats that range in focus from quilting to first com- munion to grandparent getaways, hosting more than 7,000 guests per year through its retreat center. Luther Park Camping and
Retreat Center in Danbury, Wis., is also known for its many retreats, which host children, adults and families year-round. One program that is getting extra
attention this year is its congre- gational leadership program, for which Luther Park received a grant from the youth and young adult ini- tiative of Always Being Made New: Te Campaign for the ELCA. “For many years, Luther Park has
offered leadership programs, but now we wish to be more effective at helping grow sustainable leadership- producing cultures within congrega- tions,” said Joel Legred, executive director of Luther Park. Te program will train partici-
pants in relational Peer Ministry Leadership. It aims to form faith in youth and young adults and develop them into leaders, not just in their congregations but also in their communities. Over the next two years, Luther Park will work with 10 congregations to train high school youth and adults in relational Peer Ministry Leadership.
Fulfilling the mission Some outdoor ministries use the seasons outside of summer to reach out and become more ingrained in their communities. Agapé + Kure Beach Minis-
tries in Fuquay Varina, N.C., does this through its Agapé Center for Environmental (ACE) Education, a program designed to meet the goals for science and social studies set forth by the North Carolina Depart- ment of Public Instruction. During the school year, public and private
Ava Lee (left) and Emmett Kersten from Zion Lutheran Church, Berthold, N.D., paint chalices at a first communion-themed “Metigoshe in Motion” retreat, a ministry of Metigoshe Ministries in Bottineau, N.D.
schoolchildren visit the outdoor ministry on field trips to explore the many ecosystems that exist on Agapé’s property, which includes 624 acres along the Cape Fear River. “Our ministry teaches appre-
ciation for and understanding of God’s creation as a major priority to fulfill our mission,” said Mir Youngquist-Turow, ACE Educa- tion director. Te program serves kindergar-
ten through eighth-grade students, and teachers can choose from 65 environmental education topics that provide experiential learn- ing opportunities. ACE Education reaches more than 5,000 children and adults every school year, and more than 80,000 people have participated since the program was formed in 1998. For some camps, their strength
is in summer programming and that’s where they choose to dedicate their time and energy. Tis is true
Bethany Nelson (left) and Alana Robinson, members of First English Lutheran Church, Cannon Falls, Minn., attend a Peer Ministry Leadership retreat at Luther Park, Danbury, Wis., led by Lyle Griner, the program’s national director. The program aims to develop faith and leadership skills in youth and young adults.
March 2016 25
COURTESY OF AGAPÉ+ KURE BEACH MINISTRIES
DAVID JOEL PHOTOGRAPHY
COURTESY OF METIGOSHE MINISTRIES
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