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Austin College Mobile Youth Ministry Team
The Austin College ACtivators are a group of Austin College students who work with Chaplain John Williams to plan and lead regional Presbyterian Church (USA) youth ministry events. The ACtivators traveling teams normally include four or five Austin College students and Rev. Williams. The teams choose scripture-based themes and prepare keynote presentations, small group materials, music, and recreational activities for each event. ACtivators also act as partners with other program organizations, filling leadership roles and working with other church groups who work with children, youth, adults, and senior citizens.
Since 1995, the ACtivators program has involved 521 Austin College students who have traveled over 162,000 total miles to plan and lead 608 ministry events in 13 states involving over 48,000 children, youth, college students, adults, and senior citizens.
Requirements for Being an ACtivator
Being an ACtivator is no easy task. We are looking for people who are faster than a speeding bullet and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, willing to put their life on the line….Well, that or… People who are willing to take a weekend and spend it having fun with groups of wonderful kids, can be silly, ready to work with other fun and interesting (and we do mean interesting!) college students. Typically you have to be an Austin College student, and you have to sign up for an event. Other than that, we have ACtivators of all types, shapes, sizes, talents, gifts, smells, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions about the ACtivators
Do you have to be Presbyterian to be an ACtivator?
Heck no! The only thing you have to be is willing to be stuck in large rooms filled with a great many Presbyterians.
What is an Energizer?
If you don’t know, we can’t tell ya. Come on one of our events and find out for yourself. You should probably stretch first.
What is the time commitment?
Along with 40 hours a week we require that you pass an exhaustive physical, academic, and psychospiritual qualifying exam. NO! It is like a lot of things in life…You get out of it what you put into it. You can sign up for one event or more (except first semester freshmen)…or if you are having a particularly busy semester, none at all. ACtivator events are almost always a weekend-long commitment unless you hear otherwise.
How do I get one of those cool ACtivator T-Shirts?
Survive being part of an ACtivators team, get a T-shirt—they are extra-special nifty and cool!
Do I have to be Christian?
Depends on the event. For some events, yes. But there are many things that the ACtivators do that cross all sorts of cultural boundaries. We would not want to limit ourselves to getting to know only one kind of God’s people.