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30

Erin Sloan Jackson Named New National Director for Community and Care

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It is with great excitement that I announce the addition of Erin Sloan Jackson to the Center for Youth Ministry Excellence (home of The Youthworker Movement) as our new National Director for Community and Care.

Erin and I have crossed paths a number of times sharing in Youthwork together over the last decade.  What I appreciate about Erin is her clear Christ-centered way of being in ministry with Youth and also with her fellow Youthworkers.  She has a clear Wesleyan passion for the Bible, Prayer, and for those on the margins of life in God’s grand creation.

Central to her new position with CYMX is her passion for caring for the hearts and souls of Youthworkers.  I think she would say that “self-care” is a growing edge for her personally and frankly she convicted me of my need for more God-time as well as rest and renewal with my family and friends.  She has helped me to purposely add Sabbath back into my weekly schedule.  I can’t imagine anybody I know with better gifts and graces to help serve our growing networks of Youthworkers around the USA to resource them and care for them as a community, while being a safe contact individually to share the burdens as well as the frustrations of ministry with Youth.

In the coming weeks you will hear more from her directly as she works to build intentional relationships among the members of The Youthworker Movement.  For now I’ll let her introduce herself.

Charles W. Harrison
CEO & Executive Director
CYMX & The Youthworker Movement

My name is Erin Jackson.   At a recent youth ministry convention, I was struck by the theme of a need for healing in the hearts and souls of youth workers.  So many youthworkers seemed to need healing, reassurance, support.  I am excited about this new position and see it as an opportunity to give community and care to youthworkers.  As a youthworker, you pour your heart and soul into youth ministry.  Sometimes you might even wonder if you’re making a difference, or you can feel isolated and criticized.  I believe a youthworker’s best asset is a community of supportive youthworkers.  I would love to see networks of Wesleyan youthworkers to form around the country, networks you can turn to for support, fellowship, training and ideas.  With spiritually healthy youthworkers, we can really change the future of youth ministry.
I am a lifelong United Methodist who’s been serving in youth ministry for over 15 years.  I’ve served in youth ministry in both United Methodist and Presbyterian churches.  I currently volunteer as a senior high Bible study teacher for St. Barnabas UMC, Arlington.
I have completed Professional Certification in Youth Ministry for the United Methodist Church through SMU Perkins School of Theology.  Before being called to work in youth ministry, I was in professional sales.  My undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics from Baylor University.
I am married to my best friend, Dennis, and together we have three kids – Trey (10), Nate (8) and Kathryn (4 1/2).  We live in Arlington, Texas.  I grew up in an Air Force family and have lived all around the U.S., but Texas has been home for the last 13 years.
My favorite things include: coffee, watching my kids do just about anything, scrapbooking, reading, playing Words with Friends, Facebook, traveling and attempting to play guitar.  Not necessarily in that order.  My coolest adventures recently included a mission trip to rural Jamaica, a hot air balloon ride and a road trip to both the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone.
Erin Sloan Jackson
National Director for Community and Care
CYMX & The Youthworker Movement
erin@ywmovement.org
817.371.1127
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I was so, so excited to hear that Erin had agreed come on board as the National Director for Community and Care at CMYX. My own relationship to the YouthWorker Movement extends back to 2006 when I met the then leader of YWM, Terry Carty. I was also present at the first Covenant Member gathering at Perkins School of Youth Ministry in Dallas, where I helped put words to the group effort of crafting what became the Youth Worker Covenant. At that same meeting I met the red-shoed, oddly-jacketed Charles Harrison, who has since become CEO of CYMX and the YouthWorker Movement as well someone I consider a personal friend. 

My point in all this self-prattle is that I feel like over the years I’ve developed a pretty solid feel for what CMYX and YouthWorker Movement hold as precious at their heart, and my excitement about Erin’s continued involvement with both entities arises from the knowledge that she holds those same things close to hers. In my opinion, support of Erin supports all that I have known to be central to the existence of CMYX and the YouthWorker Movement.

Kevin Alton, the tall one at the YouthWorker Circuit
kevin@youthworkercircuit.com

KEVIN ALTON :: youthworker :: musician :: friend
423.227.5466 :: twitter: elvisfreakshow
www.purringtonmusic.com :: www.youthworkercircuit.com

Follow elvisfreakshow on Twitter

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I have had the pleasure of knowing Erin Jackson for over a decade and have always been very impressed by her hard work, her ability to work with churches from around the country, and her passion for those who serve in youth ministry.  Her perceptiveness, knowledge of youth ministry, and a desire to help others in ministry has always drawn people to Erin and to her ministry.  Her boundless energy and dedication to God always shows and I know that she will be a great addition to the Center for Youth Ministry Excellence and to the Youthworker Movement.  Every ministry should have a person on staff with the purpose and passion of Erin.
Eric McFarland
Owner of The Ministry Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Last year when I became involved with the new day of the Youthworker Movement I was introduced to Erin Jackson as part of a volunteer team to lead this endeavor. Since then I’ve come to appreciate the many gifts that Erin brings to teenagers as a youth pastor, a grace and knowledge as a leader for other youth workers and and a good friend. She is someone who gets things done so I am extremely excited for the vision and desires she is going to be implementing and pursing for youthworkers.

Gavin Richardson, the Short one, Youthworker Circuit

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Comments

  1. Eric says:
    September 1, 2011 at 1:35 pm

    I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Erin Jackson for over a decade and have always been very impressed by her hard work, her ability to work with churches from around the country, and her passion for those who serve in youth ministry. Her perceptiveness, knowledge of youth ministry, and a desire to help others in ministry has always drawn people to Erin and to her ministry. Her boundless energy and dedication to God always shows and I know that she will be a great addition to the Center for Youth Ministry Excellence and to the Youthworker Movement. Every ministry should have a person on staff with the purpose and passion of Erin. When I am helping a church search for a new youth worker, its people like Erin who I search for.

    Eric McFarland

    Reply
  2. Lauren Benedetti says:
    September 2, 2011 at 6:32 pm

    YAY!!! Erin, I am so very excited and happy for you! I knew God had big plans for you! This sounds like a wonderful opportunity for you to share your many gifts and talents. ;o)

    ~~CONGRATULATIONS~!!!

    Lauren

    Reply

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