By: Marissa Dilmeang Spires
KOROR, Palau — The Church and Youth Ministry of Omekulel a Biblia er a Belau has been selected as an NGO recipient of the NCD Grant for “A Drug Free Palau.” For 17 years, Omekulel has been hosting Gospel-focused activities every Friday night from 7 to 9 p.m. for youth ages 9 to 19.
Pastor Jon Clapp, a key founder of the NGO, recounted the early days when only about nine kids participated. Now, they see 40 to 50 kids participating in their activities at the PHS gymnasium every Friday.
“With the support of the NCD Grant, we will be able to continue to do more for the youth ministry and improve upon it,” Pastor Jon said. The mission of their activities is to spread the Gospel to the youth and instill in them a stronger sense of moral accountability in faith. The Bible-centered programs aim to better the hearts of the youth beyond changing bad habits. They want to guide the youth to make their own healthy choices that resemble spiritual wellness and good character.
Pastor Jon expressed gratitude for the grant support, which helped bring these positive changes to fruition. Some of the organization’s activities include mentorship training and outreach programs such as their Island Jam summer event, which combines sports and Bible study. The next Island Jams will be held in July, closer to the upcoming school year.
Last week in Ngeremlengui, Omekulel a Biblia er a Belau successfully hosted their annual Youth Retreat for high schoolers, which has been running for 12 years. The retreat began with a “Pre-treat” introductory event on Monday, June 24, on Long Island, where the 25 students and the ministry staff could connect. Each Youth Retreat revolves around a central theme, and this year’s theme was the Olympics. From Tuesday to late Wednesday night, the students took part in engaging, unique, and inclusive sports and scripture activities. Between activities, the students gathered for four chapel sessions focused on priority setting, money management, establishing positive friendships, and time management skills. They sang songs together, studied Biblical principles, and built an understanding of God’s plan in their lives.
The retreat included a no-device policy to encourage the students to be more present, and by the end, several students reported they enjoyed being disconnected from their screens. The Youth Retreat concluded with a wrap-up lunch on Thursday.
In addition to their summer activities and annual retreat, Omekulel has been investing in a mentorship and training program for young adults. Pastor Jon has guided a few previous participants in returning to the programs after graduation to lead the new generation of youth. The mentees work with the pastors and other mentors in forming one-on-one relationships through the Gospel. The program has been successful in being a support system and pushing against negative peer influences. The mentorship program reinforces accountability in the youth through the Gospel and their personal choices. With the NCD Grant, Omekulel hopes to reach more youth and positively impact their lives.
Rising high school seniors Charby and Ru-shell shared their experiences at this year’s Youth Retreat.
“Substance abuse is something almost all teens struggle with,” said Ru-shell. “It’s easily accessible and a lot of teens rely on it to distract themselves from personal problems. I love the Youth Retreat because it helps not only me, but the rest of the youth grow in our relationship with God and each other. It also helps us keep our eyes fixed on the important things, godly things, instead of being influenced by the world. ‘A Drug-Free Palau’ means healthier teens who are more involved in community work and a community with less violence.”
Charby felt that the support of the program and the church community made him “feel like I’m part of things so that I won’t feel left out.”
“I think they help the youth a lot, they help them understand about the things and also prepare them about the truth,” added Charby about the Youth Retreat and Omekulel a Biblia.
This article is made possible through the Palau Media Council’s Summer of Health & Wellness initiative for the locally-funded NCD Prevention and Health Promotion Programs.