Youth Unlimited Board Report
January 17, 2013
SERVE
Sites
27 churches will be hosting 30 weeklong experiences in 2013. North Church in Newark is hosting 3
weeks and Bradenton CRC is offering a spring break experience. There are currently 1,200 spots
reserved (67% capacity) and 1/3 of the 27 sites are full. Four churches are hosting for the first time
(Houston TX, Bunde MN, West Des Moines IA, and Peterborough ON).
Chicago Project - July 28 - August 1, 2013
It will be hosted at Trinity Christian College and planned by TCC staff and students with leadership and
oversight from Jerry, YU’s Mission Director. 175 spots have been reserved (58% capacity).
A Second 2014 Project
Conversations are taking place with Dordt College about hosting a second YU project in 2014. The
service work would be assisting area churches in the work they are already doing with an Indian
reservation and the rural poor.
Live it!
Date: July 24-28, 2013
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Robert Morris University)
The planning team is hard at work with great excitement and passion. Churches typically register
between January and April, the staff and I wait anxiously to see who will come this year.
The search for the location of Live It 2015 has been narrowed to Colorado, California, Texas and
Michigan.
Where U At? Urban Youth Conference
The WUA planning team will be encouraging area urban churches to take students to a LeCrae concert
at Kentwood Community Church this spring. They are discerning whether or not to take a year off with
the WUA conference or offer it in the fall of 2013.
Youth Unlimited Magazine
The third and final issue of our triannual publication (spring, fall, winter) is being printed. This issue
(winter) will be a “special edition” featuring a 2012 impact report (ministry and financial outcomes)
along with all the regular features.
The spring issue will feature the 2014 faith-forming experiences.
Compass 21
A C21 workshop was held at the Canadian Youth Workers Convention in late November. First CRC in
Barrie, ON will go through a full C21 experience in February.
Apostolic Youth Ministries International (APMI) has expressed interest in partnering with YU through the
C21 tool. They believe several of their churches could benefit from the tool. I am in conversations with
their Executive Director, Larry Moore to explore this further.
YU/Redeemer University Youth Ministry Certificate
YU’s commitment in this partnership continues to be through promotion.
Youth Unlimited Summit
Date: March 8-10, 2013
Location: Prince Conference Center
This will be a gathering of YU’s leadership teams (Live It, Serve, Chicago Project, YU Staff & board
members); it will also be the next in-person board meeting. It begins Friday evening at 4 PM and ends
Saturday evening around 9 PM. For those who stay into Sunday, we will be joining a local church for
worship.
Staffing
Megan Nollet joined the Youth Unlimited team in a very limited capacity on October 1 to strengthen the
team’s professionalism in all communication and marketing pieces. The plan is to increase her hours to
part-time (20 hours a week) to continue enhancing the YU communication and branding process plus
build on our communication with donors.
Financial Update
2012 – 2013 - The plan to see YU be financially sustainable this year worked. In addition we will be able
to replenish some of the reserve fund – Glory to God!
2013 – 2014 – This is a realistic budget. It includes expenses to enhance the ministry (staff hours,
professional video, etc.), while keeping realistic expectations for our revenue streams.
DYM Report
GEMS – Jan Boone will retire February 28, 2013 as Executive Director but still work limited hours from
home to assist the Esther school initiative. Kathryn Miller was hired to be the new GEMS Executive
Director. She started January 3 and will assume the ED role in March.
Gord Dornbush will retire February 28, 2013 as DYM’s Accountant/Business Manager. Barry Ruiter has
been hired to fill that position and begins January 14.
Medical insurance costs increased again this year by 7%. The increase will be split 50/50 between the
ministry divisions and employees.
The DYM board approved a 2% cost of living increase and a 6% retirement contribution for employees
for 2013.
I remain the DYM Management Team leader.
Respectfully,
Jeff Kruithof
Executive Director