User:J.J.Ferrell/sandbox

Global Youth Ministry Day is the worldwide celebration of Christian Youth Ministry. September 21st marks the official day on the Christian calendar. Pastors & Youth Leaders are encouraged to highlight their church’s Youth Program on that day, or in the following Sunday service. Similarly, Youth Leaders are encouraged to organise a special Youth Service on the week of September 21st. Other ways of observing Global Youth Ministry Day could include a City-Wide Youth Service, a service with other Youth Ministries in the area, organising Youth Ministry Training Conferences, or other large Youth Ministry events.

The concept was created by J.J. Ferrell, in collaboration with many influential Youth Directors & International Youth Ministry Networks. The idea has been favoured by Youth Leaders & National Youth Directors around the world. The intention was to “put Youth Ministry on the Calendar”, and create a day when church leaders consider what their local church is doing for the cause of Christian Youth Ministry. Another practical purpose for GYMD is to encourage local churches to restart their regular Youth meetings after the Summer months (many churches around the world pause their Youth activities through the Summer, and have no definite restart plan).

Global Youth Ministry Day gained traction when in 2018 the Mandate Youth Ministry Training Conference chose September 21st to host their International Youth Ministry event. Earlier In the same year, many European National Youth Directors collaboratively promoted GYMD via social media, in their local language. This simultaneous, multi-language endorsement resulted in the first ever, Global Youth Ministry Day, being celebrated by Youth Leaders & networks around the world. Heading into 2019, it is clear, with the announcement of various high profile conferences & networks endorsing September 21st, Global Youth Ministry Day will continue to be a worldwide celebration of Christian Youth Ministry.