2009 "It's Not About Me" National Ministries Youth Conference

EMCC youth serve as ambassadors to NAP Conference

Neighborhood Action Programs (NAP) and National Ministries recently held its National Youth Leadership Conference at Franklin College in Franklin, IN. As a home mission of the American Baptist Churches and one of 17 national NAP home missions, the Edna Martin Christian Center (EMCC) played host to a gathering of 35 youth from across the country. Themed “It’s Not About Me” 2009, the conference offered youth served by NAP centers the opportunity to be a part of a great week of leadership training that focused on their relationship with God, each other and their community. Along with the leadership training, youth took part in a community cleanup at EMCC.

Current Summer attendees Ebony Watkins, Tramaine Montgomery, Stacy Williams and De’Marquise Wright not only took part in the four-day event, they served as excellent ambassadors, welcoming youth from as far as West Virginia and Connecticut to the city. Their participation in the inaugural conference also satisfied one of their Leadership and Legacy requirements for our Summer Youth Program. Each of our young leaders cited an overall positive experience, and have committed to working with National Ministries and participating youth to triple conference participation next year!

About Neighborhood Action Programs and National Ministries

National Ministries’ Neighborhood Action Program (NAP), through its Christian Centers, provides practical assistance that helps people identify individual gifts and overcome barriers that prevent them from becoming all that God intended them to be. This assistance may be as simple as offering friendship or an encouraging hand. Or it may include meeting basic needs for food, shelter, clothing, health care, job training or counseling. More than a dozen and a half of these Christian Centers, in locations from Oregon to Puerto Rico, develop ministries that fill specific needs in their respective communities. These Christian Center ministries represent the heart of the American Baptist Church home mission, as on-site outreach center staff work in partnership with local congregations and regional ministries. Each partner plays an important role, raising support and awareness or ministering directly among people in Jesus’ name.