First Congregational Church has embarked on a journey to creatively meet the needs of the young people of Ramona. Over the last couple of years, we have been thinking about ways we can move forward with our youth ministry. FCC has long had a strong and vibrant youth ministry, but our leaders see that there is clear potential to do more. So we thought outside the box a little, and through discussions with our neighbors in Ramona, we have begun exploring the possibility of starting a collaborative ministry among the other mainline churches in Ramona. With representatives from each of those churches, we have joined together with an exploratory committee to consider creating The Ramona Youth Collaborative.

The Ramona Youth Collaborative is a groundbreaking initiative designed to unite four local churches—Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church, First Congregational Church of Ramona, Ramona United Methodist Church, and St. Mary’s in the Valley Episcopal Church—in a shared mission to enrich the lives of Ramona’s youth. This collaborative effort seeks to create a vibrant, inclusive youth ministry that embodies core values of love, hope, and radical hospitality, offering a nurturing space where young people can explore their faith, learn about the Scriptures, and build meaningful connections in a judgement free environment.

This initiative is particularly timely given the growing need in Ramona for a more inclusive youth ministry that can accommodate diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Many young people in our community are searching for a place where they feel welcomed and valued, and the Ramona Youth Collaborative aims to provide that essential sense of belonging. By uniting our resources and strengths, our churches hope to create a supportive environment that not only addresses the spiritual and social needs of our young people but also offers a haven for those seeking community and connection.

As of our most recent meeting on July 21, 2024, the committee has made significant strides in advancing this vision. Each church has affirmed their commitment to the project, and we've made notable progress on drafting agreements and job descriptions. Our discussions highlighted the initiative’s potential to deeply impact the Ramona community by providing diverse and engaging programs, such as weekly gatherings, prayer retreats, and mental health support. By hiring a good leader and fostering collaboration among the churches, we aim to create a supportive environment that reflects our shared values and addresses the needs of local young people. We anticipate and hope that the Ramona Youth Collaborative will be able to launch sometime in 2025, with the goal of having a fully operational program in place to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Ramona’s young people.

There are still a lot of logistics to work out, especially the financial logistics. We are hoping that the Ramona community will come through to help us. We expect that the total cost of this program would be $80,000 per year for the next 3 years. With financial support from the four collaborating churches and with support from the community through donations and fund-raisers, we are optimistic about what might be!