Midwest Subregional YAYAM Leadership Retreat
The Midwest Subregional Youth and Young Adult Ministry (YAYAM) leaders gathered at the Chicago Family Church on January 19 to 21 to connect, plan and be inspired as they prepared for a new and exciting year.
The focus of the retreat was to empower the leaders to spiritually nourish their communities by meeting their own spiritual needs. Rev. David Rendel, Midwest Subregional Director, was present throughout the weekend and shared valuable insights about how he meets his spiritual needs and why being spiritually fulfilled is important to help fulfill our own responsibilities.
National Director of Youth and Students Ministry Naokimi Ushiroda attended and facilitated several discussions and breakout sessions over the weekend. One session helped the participants adjust their perspectives in order to not let their challenges and difficulties overshadow the hope of what they seek to create, as well as the practical solutions that can help them get there.
On Sunday, the participants attended the Chicago Family Church Sunday Service to meet and join in fellowship with the local families. Regional Chairman of Family Federation North America Dr. Ki Hoon Kim gave an emotional sermon on what it means to attend True Parents at this point in human history, and how eager and determined True Mother is for Vision 2020.
President of Family Federation for a Heavenly USA, Rev. Demian Dunkley, also joined the retreat through a video call during the TribeNet event in Las Vegas to encourage participants with the spirit and energy of TribeNet.
Throughout the workshop, the ministries were given opportunities to come together as a subregion and develop plans for the upcoming semester. The ministry leaders started off by reflecting within their respective communities and sharing the various challenges and victories that arose within the past year.
On the last night of the retreat, participants had the opportunity to share openly with each other about their greatest challenges and received heartfelt encouragement through handwritten messages from their peers. New bonds were formed as faces and names were connected for the first time, and many exciting plans were drawn up in the hopes of making the Midwest Subregion a proud and victorious region that will bring joy to God and True Parents.