News from the Young Adult Volunteers – August 2024

I am Steffan Johnson, and I have recently completed a year as a Young Adult Volunteer. Being a YAV in New Orleans was a life-changing experience. Louisiana was such a unique place to spend a year of service. The YAV program helped me figure out a lot of things in my life, but most importantly, my vocational discernment. There were many wonderful communities, opportunities and activities in the Big Easy, and they all supported the YAVs.

There were countless churches that aided the YAVs. They did things like provide us with cleaning supplies for our house, invited us to events and even allowed us to give a few sermons. I had a chance to volunteer alongside four programs, and each program welcomed me more than anywhere I have ever been. One of my favorite communities to work alongside was a church where I tutored elementary school students after school. During the summer, this community held a summer camp where I enjoyed the youth of New Orleans. The communities that surrounded the YAVs were extremely welcoming. Before committing to my year of service, I graduated from seminary. My No. 1 goal after graduation was to learn how to connect with people. Being a YAV helped me do that; I found myself giving sermons, conducting Bible studies and occasionally preparing meals for others. All of these opportunities helped me achieve my goal of connecting with people. This also helped me learn more about others. One of the main principles that the YAV program focuses on is cross-cultural mission, and activities in New Orleans were perfect for that experience. With many activities to do throughout the year, Mardi Gras parades were definitely one of the most memorable activities. Before my service year, I knew very little about these parades. What I knew came from movies, books and social media. Yet to see this culture in person showed me the importance of understanding diversity. Overall, my YAV year was extremely impactful. “A year of service for a lifetime of change” is the YAV motto, and now that I have completed my service year, I can honestly say that this statement is true. With a year of serving various communities, I now have life skills, knowledge and friends thanks to this program. Any young adult in the process of vocational discernment should consider the YAV program. The Young Adult Volunteer program is truly transformative. - Steffan Johnson, YAV Alum

Registration open for youth advocacy conference

October 18-20 marks the “Jesus and Justice” gathering – PC(USA)’s next Young Adult Advocacy Conference held on the Charlotte, North Carolina campus of Union Presbyterian Seminary. The conference is free to attend; topics to be addressed include racial justice, poverty, hunger and homelessness, LGBTQIA+ rights and more. Register here.

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Apply to be a YAV

Applications for the 2025-26 in-person service year are open. If you’re between the ages of 19-30 (or know someone who is) and want to engage in world issues, commit to self-reflection, listen to the marginalized and learn in a new way, consider “a year of service for a lifetime of change.” Learn more about the process here.

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YAV sites for 2024-25

We have nine YAV sites in seven countries spread across four continents for the 2024-25 service year. To learn more about YAV opportunities in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, click below.

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Meet a YAV

Meet Claire Kim, a 2024-25 Young Adult Volunteer serving in South Korea. Claire grew up the daughter of a pastor in Minneapolis, MN and attended seminary after graduating from the University of Minnesota. Read more about her and subscribe to her blog below.

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Follow us on Instagram

Follow the YAV program on Instagram to find out what our YAVs are up to.

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Financial support for the YAV program

Please consider giving to the YAV program through a monthly or one-time gift to care for young adults engaged in “a year of service for a lifetime of change.”

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Presbyterian Mission Agency, 100 Witherspoon Street, Lousiville, KY

News from the Young Adult Volunteers – October 2023

Greetings, siblings in Christ!   As we strive to be an inclusive program for all young adults by seeking justice through eradicating racism and breaking down barriers that divide us by borders, we are excited that this year’s class physically embodies how we want the church to be in the future. Out of the 28 YAVs who are currently serving this year, a little more than half of them are people of color, and this class also represents five different countries, with YAVs traveling from Peru, Scotland, Mexico and El Salvador to serve alongside our U.S. young adults.

The class that is serving this year is receiving a cross-cultural context by living with young adults from different cultures while living in a new context and experiencing how to do missions in partnership with site coordinators and site placements while learning and leaning on the broader community. I invite you to take the time to read the stories and encounters of this year’s diverse YAV class through their blogs.    Currently, we invite you to learn more about Maggie Collins. Maggie, who is serving in New York City, got to experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity by being a part of the U.N. General Assembly gathering on Sept. 20. Maggie said, “It has been really exciting to be at the United Nations for General Assembly week. Yesterday, I got to see President Biden and President Zelenskyy speak. It was inspiring to see these politicians in person, especially a speaker as engaging as Zelenskyy. I think it is exciting that the PC(USA) is so active on a global scale. Being able to attend the General Debate reinforces in my mind the fact that the PC(USA) is committed to being a global advocate and that we practice what we preach on social justice and advocacy. I am grateful that my YAV placement has given me the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see these leaders in person and hear about the issues that are concerning communities all over the world.”   As this calendar year is ending, we are excited to announce that our application season for the 2024–25 YAV service year is just beginning. We are thrilled to offer placements within the United States and other countries around the world to engage with churches, nonprofits and other leaders for a year of faith transformation! Please invite young adults to learn about this opportunity at presbyterianmission.org/ministries/yav and to apply to become a YAV at yav.pcusa.org/accounts/login/?next=/application/personal. Thank you for your constant support and commitment to bringing faith formation to young adults. We are on this journey together.   Destini Hodges, Coordinator Young Adult Volunteers

YAV participates in UN General Assembly Week

Maggie Collins, a YAV working with the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, participated in the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly. The week featured speeches by Presidents Joe Biden and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a call to action on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and Climate Ambition Summit.

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Apply to be a YAV

Applications for the 2024-25 in-person service year are open. If you’re between the ages of 19-30 (or know someone who is) and want to engage in world issues, commit to self-reflection, listen to the marginalized and learn in a new way, consider “a year of service for a lifetime of change.” Learn more about the process here.

Apply Here

Follow us on TikTok

PC(USA) has a TikTok account! Follow us as we share what God is doing in the world with scripture, prayer, and some fun and humor.

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YAVs Commissioned in Rousing Ceremony

Approximately half of the 2023-24 YAV class were in-person for the commissioning service held at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville, KY. Others joined in virtually from sites that included New York, Tucson, Colombia and Scotland.

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Meet a YAV

Meet Margaret (Maggie) Collins. Maggie serves as a YAV living and working in New York City this year. A University of Richmond graduate, Maggie also served as a summer fellow for PC(USA)’s Office of Public Witness in Washington, DC in 2021. Visit her page to learn more about her and read her blog.

Meet Maggie

YAVs complete orientation with listening session

Before embarking on their year-long journey to help build God’s kin-dom worldwide, YAVs got to hear stories of inspiration and encouragement from a panel of Louisville-based faith leaders and advocates.

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Financial support for the YAV program

Please consider giving to the YAV program through a monthly or one-time gift to care for young adults engaged in “a year of service for a lifetime of change.”

Give Online

YAV on Youtube

The Young Adult Volunteer program, a ministry of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), is an ecumenical, one-year service opportunity for young adults ages 19 to 30. For nearly three decades, YAVs have listened for God’s call in their lives, while serving alongside partners at sites in the United States and around the world. YAVs live in intentional Christian communities developing and deepening their faith through service. Learn more about this transformative year at youngadultvolunteers.org.

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Join us in Atlanta Jan. 16-18, 2024

The Matthew 25 Summit will bring mid councils, churches and individuals together to explore this vision. What does it mean to eradicate poverty; how can we begin dismantling systemic racism; how will we know if we are building a vital congregation? We are offering you an invitation to innovation. A chance to dialogue, learn with and grow with others in exploration. Featuring innovative speakers, thriving ministries, transformative workshops and space to imagine what’s next!

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