Group youth worship service will be Wednesday

Valley pastors encompassing many denominations gather monthly as part of the Valley Ministerial Association. Now that collaboration and cooperation is extending to the youth. A mass youth worship service, expected to be a quarterly event, is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Valley Church of the Nazarene, 20th Avenue and Sullivan Road.

“It’s not going to be structured with any denomination,” said Gordon Fitch, youth minister for Good Shepherd Lutheran, Christ Lutheran and Holy Trinity Lutheran churches. The service will include a band and an illusionist. “It’ll be relaxed.”

Teens from a variety of churches are expected to attend, including Lutheran, Catholic, Nazarene, Assembly of God and nondenominational churches. Youths in grades 6-12 are welcome.

Fitch, who began working in the Valley in March, went to the pastor of Valley Nazarene with an idea to involve the youth in the cross-denominational work going on through the Ministerial Association. The idea evolved from there.

“We all jumped on the same bandwagon at the same time,” Gordon said.

The idea was mostly to show teens that they could be involved anywhere. “It seemed like there’s a lot of churches in competition, especially with youth programs,” he said. “It’s really to show the kids that we aren’t in competition. We all believe the same thing.”

Youth pastors all over the Valley have been talking up the event, which has created some excitement from the youth, Gordon said. “We think it will be a good one.”