History & Description of MCYG
The town of Mediapolis, Iowa, cares about its youth. Rather than six different youth programs in six
different churches, this town of sixteen hundred saw its churches band together to provide one
first-rate program for all of its teenagers, whether they went to church or not. Today the program
involves one-third of all students in this rural town. Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians and
Roman Catholics are working cooperatively through the Mediapolis Community Youth Group
(MCYG). During the school year, fun activities planned on a regular basis are especially
appreciated in this community where there are few other options. Each Sunday evening the youth
meet for two hours. Small-group discussions, called "cubes," start the program. Their purpose is to
build trust and openness among the youth who include junior and senior highs. The leadership is
shared by one adult and one youth who have been trained in youth ministry. The cubes come
together to share a meal, which is prepared each week by different parents. The evening closes with
song and remarks that tie the emphases of the program together. During the course of a year there
are weekend retreats, day trips, progressive dinners and an annual Parents' Retreat. When asked
why he chose to participate in MCYG, a junior high student said, "Because it is a time during the
weekend, away from school, when I can see my friends and have a good time." A high school junior
says, "I come because it is a good learning experience. You can openly talk with friends and
authority figures like pastors about questions you have regarding the Bible and God. You can't ask
questions during a sermon, but the cubes offer the opportunity." "About 50 percent of those who are
active in the program are unchurched kids," remarks H. Dick Reynolds, Jr., who has offered key
leader-ship in MCYG and is a Presbyterian pastor. "Anytime a kid's life is touched by Jesus Christ,
there is a positive impact on the community as a result." Another adult, from St. Mary'5 Catholic
Church, observes, "We have found that we all focus on the one thing we have in common -
developing our relationship with Jesus Christ. The youth program has been good for us adults as
well as for the kids because it has helped us see things from beyond our own church's perspective."
Another woman states, "I am concerned with what our youth are exposed to today - the movies they
watch, their school environment, the influences they are exposed to at a vulnerable, questioning age.
I want to expose them to the other side of things - the spiritual side. "Adult leaders, of whom there
are fifteen, make a one-year commitment to lead the youth in the cubes. The theme of one Parents'
Retreat was communication. One father called the night before to ask how many fathers would be in
attendance, as he didn't want to be the only one. The same father left the retreat moist-eyed, stating
that he felt a lot closer to his son than before. The program is organized in this manner: The
Mediapolis Youth Committee is a subcommittee of the Inter Church Council of the town. MCYG,
meeting once a month, established goals and objectives for the year. The Mediapolis Community
Youth Group responds to these goals and objectives in its planning, and since MCYG is composed
of both students and clergy representatives of the participating churches, they can communicate the
decisions to their respective church boards. Gary Torrens, East Iowa executive Presbyterian
says,
"The impact of this program within the context of the church's ministry in rural Iowa, where small
town populations are dwindling, is absolutely phenomenal!"