WHITING, N.J. Lew Weil, president of Northern Shore District UM Men and a veteran Boy Scout leader, is available to help New Jersey churches reach out to young people through Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Camp Fire USA, Big Brothers-Big Sisters, and 4-H.

Weil serves as one of six scouting ministry specialists in the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference.

“Scouting in my youth formed my ethics, my love of the outdoors, and my leadership skills,” said Weil. “Serving as a scouting ministry specialist provides a way to give back all I have received from scouting.”

While serving on the Conference Board of Discipleship, Weil is also the Amachi coordinator for the Greater New Jersey Conference. Amachi is a program of Big Brothers-Big Sisters that matches men and women with children of incarcerated parents.

Weil organized a training experience for other scouting ministry specialist at the Monmouth Boy Scout District, and he represented the United Methodist Church at the Region Five Boy Scout Membership Summit

The scout leader recruited Doug Clayton, another scouting ministry specialist in Forked River, to promote scouting in the Northern Shore District.

Other specialists in the conference include: Jacqueline Burgess, Ocean; James Smith, Shamong; Jennifer White, Whiting, and Shelly Potter-Abrahams, Howell.

Any of these volunteers will be able to provide information about ways in which your church can sponsor a youth-serving agency. They can also explain the religious awards program sponsored by the St. Louis-based Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (PRAY), the former God and Country award program for four age groups (www.praypub.org).

Scouting ministry specialists can also provide your church with information about awards for young people and adult leaders, Scout Sunday activities, and ways for churches to strengthen the relationship with existing organizations.

If you are interested in volunteering as a scouting ministry specialists, contact LaNisha Sayles at the scouting ministry office of the General Commission on United Methodist Men (lsayle@gcumm.org) (615-620-7260). She will provide you with details.