Under the Church of the Lutheran Brethren’s new structure adopted in 2008, the ministries of North American Mission are led by the five Regional Pastors. Their responsibilities include shepherding synodical and regional youth ministry. As important as youth ministry is to our church family, they wanted to be sure that this aspect of our church received due attention. At a regional level, youth ministry is actually enhanced by the care and connections that the Regional Pastors bring. Much of our youth ministry is done regionally and among clusters of churches.

However, as the Regional Pastors evaluated youth ministry within the larger CLB, they realized the need to more intentionally communicate with youth leaders across Regions and to provide resources for this crucial group of leaders who guide our youth. Many of our church youth leaders are solo pastors or volunteers who do not necessarily have youth resources for their ministries.

The Regional Pastors decided to find someone with a passion for youth ministry, knowledge of the youth ministry scene, and communication gifts. They needed someone who would regularly communicate with and resource youth leaders across all CLB Regions through the clbyouthworkers.org website, Facebook, emails, and telephone calls.

The Regional Pastors put together a proposal and arranged to contract with Pastor Mark Johannesen, currently serving as Associate Pastor at Word of Life LBC in Le Sueur, Minnesota. Mark spends an average of about five hours per week on this ministry.

Pastor Mark has already done a remarkable job. He has helped to keep the ever-changing list of youth leaders current through his constant communication. The website is kept updated, and there is a constant flow of resource information via his CLB youth ministry Facebook page.  Mark has also hosted telephone conference calls where youth leaders join a teleconference discussion on youth ministry issues. His work has been very effective, standing in the youth ministry gap and meeting the needs envisioned by the Regional Pastors.

Rev. Joel Nordtvedt is Regional Pastor for the CLB Central Region.

Visit the Youth Workers Network | www.clbyouthworkers.org