Partner Congregations

TEY CELEBRATES OUR NEW PARTNER CONGREGATIONS GOOD SHEPHERD, COATESVILLE, PA, TRINITY, POTTSVILLE, PA, FRIEDENS, OLEY, PA & ADVENT, HARLEYSVILLE, PA

Congregations are the primary soil for the lives and witness of youth participants in the four ministries of Theological Education with Youth (TEY). These ministries with high school youth are adding significant strength and creativity to local congregations, where youth are enacting 1 Timothy 4:12—"don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."

A number of these congregations have become Partner Congregations of TEY. Partner Congregations have already shared with TEY their most profound gifts—Spirit-filled young people! In addition, they contribute either $250 or $500 annually as ministry partners, as beneficiaries and allies in TEY’s mission of transforming the real lives and faith of high school youth, and transforming the Church and the world by their passionate witness.

Here are snapshots of two Partner Congregations:

Grace Lutheran Church in West Philadelphia, PA has been a part TEY since the summer of ’02. So far, Grace has sent six young people to the Summer Theological Academy, three to the Crossroads Event, and two to the Affirmation of Baptism Festival. For Grace’s pastor, the Rev. Art Gilbert, TEY provides "fantastic opportunities for our youth to retreat, and to come back enthusiastic about God and God’s call. TEY is about…meeting other gifted young Christians, and experiencing the larger Church."

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Easton, PA, has been involved in TEY for four summers, having sent four youth to the Academy, three to Crossroads, and six to the Affirmation of Baptism Festival. Pastor David Newman of St. Paul’s says: "We are committed to faith formation at St. Paul’s, and TEY provides it in such unique ways. The TEY events have helped youth find their voices, and speak out against injustice, as leaders in our congregation."

You can contact these two pastors to learn more about TEY’s impact on young people and the mission of each congregation:

e-mail the Rev. David Newman at pugnewman@hotmail.com
e-mail the Rev. Art Gilbert at preachart@msn.com

For more information on becoming a TEY Partner Congregation,
feel free to email or phone Chandler Carriker, TEY Director
(717)338-3038, ccarriker@ltsg.edu