Youth Ministry
1958 -Westminster Senior High Fellowship
In 1958 Orangewood's Senior High Westminster Fellowship Group won all the trophies at a rally sponsored by the United Christian Youth Movement. On that occasion the following picture and caption was in the the local newspaper. (This information was provided by George Peters (1994) via Joe Abdai)
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Win All Orangewood Presbyterian Church's senior high Westminster Fellowship took all the trophies at a recent rally staged by the United Christian Youth Movement. Three of the trophies are revolving and can be kept only until the next rally. The fourth for "Most Outstanding Youth Group of 1958," they will keep. Above Sally Wilson, center, UCYM president presents the trophies to Orangewood officers. From left, Sue Murphy, Adrian LaForce, Miss Wilson, Joe Abdai, and Karen Cress. |
A picture of the whole Westminster Fellowship Group taken about the same time as the above is shown below
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The advisors of the Westminster Fellowship Group celebrate a successful year with a party.
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1968 to 1982 - Out of Doors Adventure Programs
by Lyle and Marilyn Six
Christian Education at Orangewood Church during the late 60's and early 70's was enhanced by supplementing the weekly Church School and weekly Sunday Evening programs with occasional out-of-door adventure events.
The idea behind the out-of-door adventure events was to use the somewhat stressful (but fun) environment of backpacking, rock climbing, and river running to facilitate the learning process. The youth and adults worked together in groups to accomplish the adventure and thus develop a sense of community, caring and mutual respect: and at the same time develop a sense of personal worth and self reliance. Interactions experienced under these fascinating and sometimes exciting conditions would provide indelible examples, emphasis and insight for subsequent Church School discussions as well as for discussions around the campfire at the end of each day.
Key to the success of these adventure events was one of Orangewood's former pastors, the Reverend Gene Lefebvre. Gene arranged and led most of the two to four outings per year. Participants included adult groups, high school and college age groups, groups of parents including their junior high age children, and intergenerational groups. Groups comprised from 8 to 40 persons, depending on the type of outing.
To name a few of the out of door adventures, there were:
 | Saturdays at Camelback Mountain, learning to rock climb with ropes, and day hikes in the Superstition Mountains and the local deserts. |
| Two to four day weekend backpacks to the Cibeque, the Aravaipa, the west fork of Oak Creek, West Clear Creek, and Bonita Springs. |
| Four to seven day river running trips (sometimes including rock climbing) in the Grand Canyon, or beautiful and exhilarating backpacks to the top of Mount Baldy, and to Phantom Ranch and Havasupai in the Grand Canyon. |
| Seven to ten day large group trips, river running on California's Stanislaus and Tuolumme Rivers. |
Orangewood's good fortune to have these educational experiences derives from Gene Lefebvre's being on the governing board of the PAK Foundation. The PAK Foundation was formed in 1968 by the Patmans and the Aikins, parents of two associates of Gene’s. The youths were members of a club called the Kachinas. One of the sons was accidentally killed on a backpack outing when an earth slide occurred, and the other son, also a Kachina member, was a Marine killed in the line of duty. So convinced that out-of-door experiences were beneficial to the development of youth, and especially under the gifted leadership of church oriented persons, the bereaved parents formed the PAK Foundation, and established Gene as its leader.
Orangewood's program was used as the pilot for PAK's main effort, the Challenge Program. Using experience gained with the adventures at Orangewood, the Challenge Program was carried forward into various Phoenix high schools. Also, Orangewood was the home base for storage of PAK's high quality out-of-door equipment, state-of-art for that time. Equipment included aluminum framed backpacks, down sleeping bags, light weight mess kits, light weight back pack tents, and very complete sets of small item such as compasses, match containers, flashlights,- pocketknives, etc. sufficient to permit independent existence. Some of the equipment was purchased by PAK, and some donated by local vendors.
The PAK Foundation continued long after Gene left Orangewood. In addition to the benefits to Orangewood, during Gene's 7 years at Orangewood, PAK and the Challenge Program benefited hundreds of Phoenix youth in its 17 year existence.
 Backpacking Adventures |
 River Rafting Adventures |
 July 1982 - A Group From Orangewood After a Seven Day Float Trip Through the Grand Canyon. Ages Range From 7 to 70 and the Older Ones Enjoyed the Water Fights as Much as the Young. (Carl Merrell) |
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October 1991 to November 1993 - Ongoing Youth Ministry
by Crys Wells
I signed on again as a volunteer with the Sr. High program in 1991. My plan was to get youth work “out of my system” as my own children were nearing that age. I quickly found myself as a paid, part-time Director of Youth Ministry at Orangewood Presbyterian Church. Those were two of the best, and busiest, years of my life.
During those two years a kitchen was transformed into a Youth Ministry Resource Center and the Fireside Room became a comfortable and inviting location to meet with Orangewood’s Jr. and Sr. High students. We had Bible Studies, first with Marty McKelleb and later with our then new pastor, Brian Paulson. Parents were brought into a more active role with some combined parent/student meetings. We put on fall costume parties for the church school. Our youth prepared and served dinner at Martha’s Place, baked bread for World Communion Sunday, walked in the annual CROP Walk, made and sent Valentines to elderly church members, filled Christmas stockings for needy children, prepared and lit the luminaries for Christmas Eve services and provided materials and labor to paint the Fellowship Hall at Ft. Defiance Presbyterian Church on the Navajo Reservation. Our youth worked with the entire congregation to make afghans for the homeless and we delivered them to the downtown homeless shelter. We also provided some short-term child care in the nursery at the shelter. Mixed in were lock-ins, retreats, games, and weekly meetings where we discussed a wide variety of topics.
Orangewood has a long history of an active youth program combining fun, faith, and service. That legacy continues today.
New Radical Generation (NRG)
by Christina Olson
New Radical Generation (NRG) is the name of the mid high group at Orangewood Presbyterian Church. NRG's purpose statement reads that it "exists to reach young people with the Good News of Jesus Christ, promote Christ-centered fellowship and community with others, challenge them to honor God with their lives, equip them to serve Christ, and support them as they grow in their faith journey into adulthood." To promote these goals, NAG meets every Thursday to play some incredibly wacky games, discuss God's presence in the lives of the youth and to enjoy Christian fellowship. Youth are encouraged to share the Good News by bringing friends to weekly meetings.
NRG does mission projects such as "gleaning" and serving at St. Vincent DePaul. They go on two retreats each year to spend some intense Jesus-youth relationship building time. When youth enter the 8th grade they are encouraged to participate in the confirmation process with the goal of publicly declaring their faith. NRG also does a lot of fun activities to help build friendships and foster a strong sense of Christian fellowship. Overnight lock-ins. laser tag, dinner and a movie and water games are a few of the favorites. You never know when a "water fight” might break out on a Sunday morning between NRG youth and a few adoring sponsors -beware to all in the way on the patio!
The backbone of the group is solid leadership from adults who truly care and are interested in developing meaningful relationships with mid high youth. The group is currently under the leadership of Christina Olson with help from sponsors Jean Lee and Diana Mitten.
