Youth and Family Ministry and Christian Education Networks

SAINT PAUL AREA SYNOD YOUTH MINISTRY NETWORKS
Crossover,  South St. Paul, West St. Paul, and Inver Grove Heights
Meets on the 3rd Tuesday of every month, 10:30 a.m. at Black Sheep Coffee Café on Southview Boulevard in South Saint Paul.  Contact Don Marsh at Augustana Lutheran Church for more information and location (dmarsh@augustana.com or 651.457.3373).

St Croix Valley Youth Ministry Association (SCVYMA)
SCVYMA is an ecumenical youth ministry network in the Saint Croix Valley area.  Contact Pastor Karen Williams at Bethlehem Lutheran for more information (651-439-3450 or angel@bethlehemstar.org).

Teen’s East Ecumenical Network (T.E.E.N.)
Shared ministry events and networking on the Eastside of St. Paul.  Contact Sara Bertini  651-255-6996 or saracherbst@hotmail.com for more information.   

 White Bear Lake
Ecumenical youth ministry network for White Bear Lake and surrounding areas.  Hosted by White Bear Lutheran Church in White Bear Lake.  Contact Perry Peterson for more information (ppetersen@flcwb.org).

Woodbury Youth Workers’ Network (WYN)
Meets on the 4th Thursday of each month at 12:30 PM.  The location is announced prior to each meeting. Contact Matt Swigart, Youth Pastor at New Life Church of Woodbury for more information or to sign up for reminder emails: MattSwigart@newlife4u.org or 651-757-4169.

United Student Ministries of Forest Lake
Meets the 1st and 3rd Thursdays from 9–10:30 AM.  Location varies.  Group does a joint mission trip yearly and hosts quarterly events.  Contact Chrissy Relay for more information:  chrissy@immanuelonline.net or 651-464-7504.

YOWSA
Northern Conference Lutheran Youth ministry network meeting times vary.  Contact Joe Rand (Chisago Lake Lutheran, Center City) at cllcyouth@citlink.org or 651-257-6300 or Linda Rambow (Trinity Lutheran Lindstrom) at lindatlc@frontiernet.net for more information. 

SAINT PAUL AREA SYNOD CHILDREN'S MINISTRY NETWORKS
Northern Conference Children’s Ministry Network
Meets the 1st Monday of every month at 7 PM, rotates locations.  Contact Christy Olson at 651-674-5796 or Olson.christy@gmail.com for more information. 

Central St Paul Area Children’s Ministry Network
Meets the 4th Monday of the month at 6:30pm at Immanuel Lutheran (on Snelling) in St. Paul in January, April, July, and October.  Contact Cassie Nault at cassie@pilgrimstpaul.org or Deb Ahlquist at ahlquist.mundt@gmail.com or 651-646-2195 for more information.

Southern Conference Children’s Ministry Network
Contact Maria Tarpinian 651-463-4100 for more information about meeting times.

MINNEAPOLIS AREA SYNOD YOUTH MINISTRY NETWORKS
Bloomington Youth Workers Network
An ecumenical network for youth workers in the Bloomington area for support and to plan youth events. Meetings are on the third Thursday of the month at noon. Contact Pastor Stephanie Coltvet Erdman at Transfiguration Lutheran, Bloomington for more information (952.884.2364 or scoltvet@tlcmn.com).

MAYHEM—Maple Grove Area Youth Ministries
An ecumenical group of youth workers meets for support and to plan events on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at Angeno’s on Elm Creek Blvd in Maple Grove. Contact Todd Buegler at Lord of Life, Maple Grove for more info (763.420.5015 or todd@lordoflife.org).

Western Suburbs Network
Youth ministry leaders from ELCA congregations in the western suburbs meet every other Thursday for study, prayer, and conversation. Current meeting place and time: The Depot in Hopkins, 9:00 –11:15 a.m. (Lunch afterwards for those interested and able.) Contact Amanda Weitzel at Lutheran Church of St, Philip the Deacon for more details (952.475.7100 or aweitzel@spdlc.org).

METRO-WIDE NETWORKS
Christian Education Roundtable
Christian educators from across the metro area are welcome. Meetings are held at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Maple Grove. Lunch is provided, with a suggested $5 donation. Contact Diane Marx at 763.420.5015 ext. 106 for more information.

LACE (Lutheran Association of Christian Educators)
Two Rivers Chapter of LACE has recently been formed in the Twin Cities area, and will meet at various locations on the first Thursday of each month. LACE is committed to creating a community for energizing and inspiring ELCA Christian educators through idea-sharing and support, resources, educational opportunities and nurturing spiritual growth. Contact chapter coordinator, Diane Shallue, for more information: 612.331.5988 or dianes@ulch.org. 

Twin Cities Urban Youth Ministry Network
Urban youth workers and pastors meet on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 9 – 10:15 AM in the Luther Seminary Cafeteria.  This Network focuses on collaborative ministries and action items relative to ministry with youth in the urban setting.  Anyone who is an urban youth minister or has a heart for urban youth ministry is invited to participate.  For more information contact Lonna Field at tcuymc@gmail.com.

(If you are part of a children’s or youth ministry network that is not listed, please contact the synod office so it can be included in the future.) 

Updated March 9, 2009