Youth coordinator joins Lutheran Conference

Southwest Conference Dean Rev. Alison Leitzel has announced that Ian Eastman has been named Youth Ministry Coordinator. He will work with 14 congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America throughout Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.


Eastman brings to the position a background of ministry, youth work, and social services. He coordinates the Shared Lutheran Youth Ministry, a youth group collaborative of four Jamestown area churches, and is a Youth Minister in the Pastoral Care Department of Lutheran Social Services, where he cares for youth at GA Family Services. He is a graduate of Northwest Nazarene University (M.A. Spiritual Formation) and is currently a student at the Institute for Youth Ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary.

He is looking forward to planning conference-wide events for youth and providing training opportunities for congregations. He has put together a new website at younglutherans.blogspot.com that offers resources and ideas for churches to expand their current ministries with students.

Rev. Leitzel says, "Ian's leadership and gifts for faith formation are evident in his work in developing the Shared Lutheran Youth Ministry. This conference, and particularly the youth who will receive support and encouragement from Ian, will benefit from his practical skills and theological reflection."

Eastman, a community educator with Family Services of Warren County, resides in Jamestown with his wife, Tara, and his children, Heather and Nigel.

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Here's a link to the 10/1/11 announcement in the Dunkirk Observer.
**UPDATE** Here's a link to the 10/21/11 announcement in the Jamestown Post-Journal.