How did it begin?

It began at Harrisburg Area Confirmation Camp, an annual faith formation event that draws hundreds of youth from the Harrisburg area to Camp Nawakwa for a week of worship, learning, and friendship.

One night after evening worship, several congregational leaders were sitting outside together and sharing the challenging of doing youth ministry when, in several of our congregations, our youth groups had become only a handful of kids.

“What might it be like,” we began to wonder, “if we teamed up, and all of our handfuls became one big youth group?”

We looked around at the joy and profound meaning that our kids were finding at confirmation camp, and imagined what it would be like to keep those friendships and that learning going all year round.

And the seed was planted for HAYI, the Harrisburg Area Youth Initiative.

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As of January 2017, we’re launching HAYI as a one-year experiment, as a different way of doing youth ministry. The focus of the group is on providing a safe place to explore the questions of faith, and to learn alongside Christian peers what it means to walk as a follower of Christ. We explore these questions in learning, serving, and forming friendships, learning how to be the body of Christ in the world.

This project began as a cooperative ministry between several congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and our curriculum and activities are guided by our Lutheran beliefs. But people from every walk of faith are welcome to participate in our meetings.

We meet once a month, usually on the second Sunday from 6pm to 8pm. There will be a programs for youth in 7th through 12th grades, and also a parallel track offered for the adults who brought them. Drop-ins are welcome, but it helps us plan if you RSVP to hbgconfyouth@gmail.com. Any questions are welcome at the same address!

We hope to meet you soon, and in the meantime, may the peace of Christ be with you!