At the heart of the Ramona Youth Collaborative is love. We believe that love comes first, setting the foundation for everything we do. Before we ask anyone to believe, we want them to know they belong. We create a space where all young people are welcomed just as they are—embraced with warmth, acceptance, and care.

Our mission is to embody radical hospitality, ensuring that every youth feels safe, valued, and loved unconditionally. In this community, you don’t have to have everything figured out; you simply have to know you’re not alone. Here, you are loved.

We’re committed to creating a space where young people can genuinely explore their faith. Here, we don’t shy away from hard questions or doubts—we embrace them as part of the journey. Together, we’ll dive deep into studying the Bible, learning to pray, and seeking to understand God’s presence in our lives. It’s about going beyond surface-level faith and discovering a spiritual life that’s authentic, challenging, and transformative.

Q: How does the Ramona Youth Collaborative function, and who leads it?
The Collaborative is guided by representatives from each participating church. While First Congregational Church will oversee the legal employment aspects, all four churches will share decision-making power equally. The leadership structure ensures a collective approach to supporting youth in our community.

Q: Why is the commitment for three years, and when will the program start?
A three-year commitment allows us to build a sustainable, thriving youth program. We believe it takes time to develop a healthy youth ministry, and we plan to hire a youth minister to begin in early 2025. Setting a clear limit keeps the commitment more manageable and allows for the possibility of changes that may lead to the churches deciding to either re-up and keep it going longer, or do something different. This way, whatever happens, we’re not overcommitted.

Q: What happens if one of the churches cannot fulfill their commitment or withdraws after the first year?
Ideally, all four churches will commit for the full three years (2025-2027). However, if a church has to withdraw, the remaining financial responsibility will be shared among the others, proportionate to their capacity.

Q: How many young people do you expect to participate?
Currently, there are about 15-20 middle and high school students across the participating churches. With a full-time youth minister, we anticipate this number will grow to about 25-40 by the end of 2026, and we hope to see 40-55 youth participating by the end of the three-year period.

Q: Where will youth gatherings be held?
Youth gatherings will rotate among all four churches. This allows the group to experience the different traditions and spaces within each church community.