By Christie M. Wills When Beth Crow became diocesan youth coordinator in 2000, she inherited a youth program that occasionally showed signs of liveliness but largely consisted of just two events: Youth at Council and the Bradford Exchange program. Previous youth coordinators had helped create the Youth Ministries Team in 1998 as a joint youth and adult leadership group for diocesan activities but it had attracted only 10-15 participants. Since Crow started working with the diocese, the once anemic youth program has blossomed into a vigorous network of youth and adults holding regular events. By Christie M. Wills When Beth Crow became diocesan youth coordinator in 2000, she inherited a youth program that occasionally showed signs of liveliness but largely consisted of just two events: Youth at Council and the Bradford Exchange program. Previous youth coordinators had helped create the Youth Ministries Team in 1998 as a joint youth and adult leadership group for diocesan activities but it had attracted only 10-15 participants. Since Crow started working with the diocese, the once anemic youth program has blossomed into a vigorous network of youth and adults holding regular events. “Beth is a master at getting things organized. She has what I think is the mark of a good leader: she’s great at helping others to lead effectively,” said YMT member Earle Shumate, St. John’s, Roanoke. Crow’s last day will be August 31. During her tenure, the YMT roster has grown to include over 50 youth and adults and she went from part-time to full-time in 2003. “I came from a philosophy of having the adult up front,” said Crow. “I totally don’t agree with that now.” “To be a powerful youth leader, you have to lower your inhibitions to just have fun and encourage others to take their turn up front,” said Crow. Crow connected the youth with resources to become the leaders of their own events. Regular YMT retreats featured role-playing exercises to give new leaders practice at leading sessions including worship. Members gently critique each session to zero in on ways to improve. While the diocesan youth program has become a leadership training ground, it is also a safe place where all kinds of kids are accepted. Some kids who may be boxed into one type of social setting in their schools find that they are able to use gifts that would otherwise be untapped. Crow’s leadership has also coincided with the rapid embrace of technology. It is used to communicate with the group, to advertise programs and even as a way to share the group norms (rules) for each youth event. “Before Beth we were isolated from each other and from youth in the wider church and we weren’t electronic at all. It may have been partly inevitable considering the times we live in, but now we use e-mail and [instant messaging] to keep in touch between events,” said Shumate. Shumate, who has 23 years of experience in youth ministry, believes the transition to the next youth coordinator will be smooth because Crow has helped groom so many youth and adult leaders. “Beth especially took care of adult leaders. She found money to send them to conferences and she was good about making sure they didn’t burn out. And she helped several churches organize their youth programs so they could be sustained,” said Shumate. Crow hopes to continue to be active in both diocesan and national mission trip development since she discovered they are her favorite part of the job. In the short run, she will try to finish her thesis for a masters degree from Hollins University. According to committee member Erin Harden, the youth coordinator search committee had received eight applications by mid-August. The deadline for applications is August 31. The committee expects that a new coordinator may be hired by November. Between September 1 and when the new coordinator is hired, longtime YMT member Dick Willis of Christ Church, Roanoke, will be interim youth coordinator. // The next diocesan youth event is Fall Youth Event, November 17-19 for grades 9-12. Registration form and information are at youth.dioswva.org