Youth Fellowship Ministry (YPD)

Coming Soon Youth Mentoring Program

Women’s Missionary Society The YOUNG PEOPLE and CHILDREN'S DIVISION (YPD) is a youth organization, established October 1915, under the auspices to the Womenʹs Missionary Society (WMS) of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. You will find African Methodists Episcopal Churches in the United States, Caribbean, South America, England, India, and Africa. YPD units may be found in most local churches throughout the Connection. The YPD membership is estimated at over 800,000.

Purpose:

• To provide meaningful youth training programs in all areas of church life which will provide for full participation in the total mission of the church _

• To provide specific training in evangelism, Christian social relations, and education programs designed to increase knowledge of the AME Church history and the Scriptures. _

• To provide opportunities for leadership experience.

Goals:

• To organize and develop a Young People’s and Children’s Division wherever there is a Senior Society

• To interest Christian Youth in discovering opportunities for witnessing in today’s world, and put their Christian convictions into action in all of their daily relationships.

• To develop leadership committed to Christ and the Church.

• To enable youth to know the historical background of the AME Church and the Connectional Women’s Missionary Society.

• To do our best in helping make God’s Kingdom come on earth, as it is in Heaven.

Structure:

The Young People’s and Children’s Division of the Women’s Missionary Society of the AME Church shall be composed of the Connectional, Episcopal District, Conference Branch, the Area, and the Local Church.

Divisions:

• The Mother Sunbeams, age level preschool to primary (2‐6 years).

• The Allen Stars, age level primary to six grade (7‐12 years).

• The Young People’s Auxiliary (YPA), age level 13‐17 years.

The Adult Division, age level, 18‐26 years. Young adults shall be encouraged to transfer to the Senior organizations of the Church (i.e. Missionary Society, Lay, Young Adult Network, etc.).

YPD Pledge:

I pledge my willing and untiring service to all efforts of the Young Peopleʹs and Childrenʹs Division to aid the needy and suffering people, regardless of race, color or creed. I further pledge to take the Bible as my guide, to aid my church, and to attend meetings regularly. In all these tasks I seek the Saviorʹs guidance.

YPD Colors: Forest Green is symbolic of growth and Christian Vitality; white represents purity, light and faith. We wear our colors:

• At all local YPD Annual Missionary Days which include both WMS days and YPD days _

• Youth Night of the Annual Conferences _

• YPD workshops _

• YPD Area Meetings, Annual Conventions, Annual Conferences, Episcopal District Meetings, and Connectional Meetings _

• Annual Conference Branch African American Heritage Celebration

YPD Motto: ʺGrow, Glow and Go for Christʺ

YPD/Missionary Benediction: In the name of the triune God May the spirit of Christian mission Enter every heart This we ask in Jesusʹ name Amen.