First Presbyterian Church
647 East Market Street
Akron, Ohio 44304-1684
330-434-5183

Ryan Lawrence, Director of Youth Ministry

Then the Lord said to me: Do not say "I am only a youth," for you will go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I tell you. I Timothy 4:12

• Biographical Information
• Annual Report to the Congregation for 2006

Biographical Information

Full Name:
Ryan Charles Lawrence

Family Status:
Married to Elise, father of Eliana.

Where and when were you born?
Akron, Ohio, on June 29, 1982

How did you meet your spouse?
At college in an Intercultural Communication Class.

What degrees do you hold?
A B.A. from Judson College; Major in Communication Studies: Rhetoric and Minor in Biblical Studies

What do you like most about your job?
Giving my students that "Aha!" moment when they realize their calling and purpose in life is to be involved in God's Kingdom.

How did you become a Christian?
When I was really young, I went forward at a Sunday Morning service with my dad and I prayed with him but I'm not sure if I really understood what I was doing.  I know for sure that I decided to become a disciple of Christ when I was in 7th grade on a mission trip.  I was really confronted about my behavior from the messages we were sharing with others.  I decided to commit myself to God and asked Jesus for forgiveness in a dark hotel room with a bunch of other guys on the trip.

What gifts do you hold?
Teaching, Acting, Singing, Leadership, Humor, Impersonating Accents, and I make a mean omelet!

How do you spend your free time?
I enjoy watching movies, reading or listening to fantasy fiction novels (like Lord of the Rings), and playing video games.

What is the best way to make you laugh?
Dry sarcasm

What is your biggest fear?
Disappointing or hurting other people

What is the best gift you received?
The assurance of salvation and the hope for it to be made real.

If you could live anywhere, where would you live?
If geography were the only consideration, then I would live in Ireland.  Plus I love their accents.

If you were given the chance to meet and speak to anyone, who would that person be?
Sunday-School answer, but true: Jesus

What is something you will never forget?
The time I was wounded in the marching band.  I don't have a manly football wound or a black eye from a fastball to the face... I was "scalped" by an over-zealous trombone player and had blood running down my face during a pep rally.

What is your most annoying habit?
Forgetfulness... my wife could tell you that.

If you could go back in time and do something over, what would that something be?
Continued to take piano lessons.

Is there something you would like prayer for?
My family

What would you like to express to the people of Akron FPC?
Seek first God's Kingdom and then, if there's time... your own.

What is your favorite...
Song? Come Thou Fount
Artist? Skillet
Movie? Braveheart
TV Show? Who's Line is it Anyway?
Restaurant? Olive Garden
Food? Mexican
Bible Verse? Ephesians 2:8-9

Annual Report to the Congregation for 2006

Spiritual breakthroughs. Healing. Experiencing God.

Regular Participants:
Junior High (Grades 7-8):  Approximately 10-15 people
Senior High (Grades 9-12):  Approximately 10-15 people
Post High School:  4-5 people (on occasional attendance)

Even though I have only been here since the later part of October, it is my duty and privilege to inform our congregation of the happenings within the Ministry to the Youth.  While the report I present is as accurate as the information available to me, please keep my absence for the greater part of the year in mind.

Mike Kager, Jr. served as Youth Director with the help of our Malone College intern, Tara Craig.  Under their leadership, the youth group met twice a week; Sunday School, which meets at 9"30 AM and Sunday Night Live, which meets from 6-8pm.  The Youth Sunday School was divided into Jr. and Sr. High (Jr. High usually led by Margaret Ruppert) and centered around different ethical topics that the youth would like to discuss.  Sunday Night Live usually spent half of the time hanging out and playing games and the other half in Biblical teaching.  For a change of scenery, Sunday Night Live would meet at someone's house once a month.

The proceeding list marks the events and major interactions with the Youth Group Members outside of Sunday School and Sunday Night Live up to my arrival in October.

Social:
The Grog (a game like hide and seek) - January 15th
Super Bowl Party - February 5th
Movie Outing - February 19th

Service:
Walk-In-Meal - January through September
Youth Fundraiser Dinner - February, March, & October
Summer's Best Two Weeks - June 26-July 7th
High School Mission Trip to Washington, D.C. - June 18-23rd

Spiritual
30 Hour Famine - March 31-April 1

Tara Craig continued to provide Godly leadership for our Youth in the months after Mike Kager, Jr. left First Presbyterian Church.  In October, I officially took the mantle of Director of Youth Ministry.  Since then, I have attempted to keep the momentum and traditions moving along.  My reason for doing so is threefold.  One, a transition in leadership is already a huge change, and I do not wish to compound it by destroying all sense of familiarity for our youth.  Two, I wish to respect the developed customs of our youth, as many of these customs have been implemented by youth.  And third, I am still learning the job.  Though I have had insightful internships and enlightening education for ministry, I realize that I must first invest in who these young people are and what they need.

With that said, for my part of 2006, I have attempted to build relationships with the youth through the proceeding events and meetings, as well as provide an environment conducive to the growth of friendships among the youth.  We have continued to meet as a group twice a week: Sunday mornings for Sunday School and Sunday evenings for Sunday Night Live.  My teachings for our Sunday evening gatherings have been centered around the following: God's perspective of us, our perspective on ourselves, faith and action, the Christian as set-apart, and the nature of sin.  Sunday School lessons have been on various topics, such as depression, anger, historical context of Jesus, and reasons for our faith in Christ.

The proceeding marks the events and major interactions with members of the Youth Group since my beginning in October, outside of our regular Sunday morning and Sunday evening meetings:

Relationship Building:
Lunch with one youth - 12/24
Lunch with three youth - 12/28
Lunch and video games with three youth - 12/30

Service:
Walk-In-Meals - October and November

Spiritual:
Weekend Rivalry with Stow and Hudson Presbyterian Churches - 11/17-18

Social:
Christmas Party - 12/21
Movie Outing - 12/27

Looking ahead to 2007, I am excited to continue to develop relationships with our youth, some of who are our member's children and others who come in from the neighborhood.  Wherever those that darken our doorways come from, they can count on getting leveled by love from our church and receiving sound Biblical teaching on the Christian call and the Christian life.  It is because of our call to advance God's Kingdom, and not First Presbyterian Church of Akron's Kingdom, that I am making movement to partner alongside our fellow Christian brothers and sisters in our neighborhood to reach the youth in our neighborhood.  Though, I cannot yet say what this will look like, by keeping in close contact with the Akron area Youth Pastor's Network, and attending the Church of the Holy Spirit's Youth Meetings, my desire is to see this community transformed by the power of God.  Pray with me as we continue to labor for the youth in and out of our church.

If you have any questions on the ministry  or upcoming youth events, you can contact me or access our website at:  http://www.orgsites.com/oh/fpc-youth/.

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)