October 2007 Message
“Children, after all, are not just adults-in-the-making. They are people whose current needs and rights and experiences must be taken seriously”. - Alfie Kohn
In 1997 the parish initiated an endowment fund to provide full-time professional ministry for the youth of our community. The parish realized that the needs and experience of out younger generations must be taken seriously and a specialized ministry must be adequately funded. The ‘21st Century Endowment Fund’ was designed to raise $500,000 for this essential service. Last spring we reached our goal and realized that in today’s economic climate we could not totally fund this position. With the approval of the Lorain Laham family, the ‘Jeffry L. Laham Memorial Fund’ was designated to assist in funding of a full-time professional youth worker. These two funds equal nearly $800,000; whish provides enough income to fund the position. Over the summer, the Parish Council approved a job description and compensation package. We initiated communication with a qualified candidate and interview him. At a special Parish Council meeting on 27 August we agreed to hire Khalil Samara as the full-time Youth Director for our parish. We expect Khalil to begin his duties in early November.
Khalil Samara is no stranger to St. George parish, for three years [2002-2005] he served as our Teen SOYO advisor and director. During those years he developed an exceptional rapport with our teens and their parents. His qualities of leadership and personal skills are well known and admired. These skills along with his education, training and work experience give him the background we are looking for in a Youth Director.
Khalil will be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive program aimed at a wide age range of young people. Programs responding to the needs of our elementary school age, preteens, teens, college students and young adults will be proposed and designed. The current census indicates we have over 300 youth in this age range. Khalil will work closely with our Church School staff, our JYFC program, our Parents Guild and our Teen SOYO to enhance the success of these ministries. He will also coordinate ministry for College students. We enthusiastically welcome Khalil and look forward to his ministry. His work on behalf of our young people deserves our full support and encouragement. Thanks to all of you who so generously supported the ‘21st Century Fund’ and the ‘Jeffry L. Laham Memorial Fund’ we are now able to open this new and exciting chapter in the history of St. George Parish.