About MATE Youth Connection (MYC)

Vision Statement:

MYC offers a welcoming, open community youth group with a parental component, growing out of the work of Mission of the Eastward. It was created in 2020, to enrich the lives of youth and their families and to build resiliency in our communities. MYC will offer (in person, virtual or a hybrid depending on CDC guidelines in 2021) fellowship, retreats, service projects, spiritual formation experiences, and education/enrichment opportunities for youth/parents throughout the year that will nurture faith, compassion, Biblical values, stewardship, leadership, peacemaking, justice, wholistic health, ecumenism and interfaith relationships.

MYC is building collaborative relationships with youth/parents to encourage all to reach their God-given potential. Our year-round program exists so that our partners will discover what it means to love God, to love themselves and to ‘love their neighbor,” creating a community that harnesses the awesome potential for good in God’s people.”

MYC’s Innovative New Program

If there is one thing that is apparent in Western Central Maine, there is a resource gap for youth and their parents who are seeking a wholistic, healthier life. We at MATE believe that a wholistic, intergenerational, interfaith, ecumenical, open/affirming approach that considers body, mind, and spirit for youth and their parents, is the innovation that will make a difference in our communities.

The book, The Neighborhood Church, by Tatenlove and Mueller has informed our vision of a life-affirming mission. We will create a “brave space,” where we will listen to each other as we articulate our neighborhood’s needs and work towards a brighter future together. The framework mentioned in this book is integral to work we will do. We will use an asset-based community development format which builds on our communities’ strengths. This approach is also innovative in our region.

Unlike the Boys or Girls Clubs or after school programs, MYC will introduce families to the things that make for faith: peace, kindness, acceptance, outreach, justice, forgiveness, and love. We believe that this innovative “church” experience might not take place in a sanctuary but will exist in the relationships we create between God, the people we serve, our neighbors and ourselves.

Innovation also occurs when we offer varied spiritual formation experiences where some learning takes place in an interdenominational, multi-faith environment. Whether it be in person events or virtual formatting due to COVID-19, or a hybrid of both, we will be enriched by differing perspectives regarding topics that deal with the human condition. Through our partnerships, we believe our youth/parents and we at MYC/MATE will all be transformed. MYC will sow intentional leadership seeds that will produce future leaders of faith, nonprofits, public servants, and educational/governmental institutions. This is gift that will keep on giving!

We bring strength, confidence, enrichment, support structures, leadership, and relationship building skills to those in our influence sphere, and so by, we build up youth and families. Through our programs, we inspire hope and offer help. We do this by offering a vision of a preferred future and partnerships to get there. We realize MYC may be the only exposure to Christianity that some people may receive. Hope and support of all kinds can help build faith, strength, and community.

Contact Us:

Mailing address:
Mate Youth Connection

PO Box 206
Farmington, ME 04938
Phone : (207) 713-6283

What People Are Saying…

TESTIMONIALS

Youth Trip Leader

“In addition to being the Senior Pastor, I have been the Youth Pastor and I have always found that meaningful service work is transformative for youth. It’s transformative for everyone, but for young people I get to actually watch the before and after. So that’s the first reason why MATE matters to me.”

Rev. Max

MATE Volunteer

Volunteering has so many wonderful outcomes: It builds life skills, provides opportunities to learn, boosts confidence, grows leaders, reduces stress, inspires happiness, helps create new friends and appreciate diversity, and it can even plant seeds for future careers! We can volunteer any time, even amidst these very challenging times!
Karen H.

MATE Volunteer

“Our recovery work team commitment has transformed our comfortable community church into one of mission and outreach, and has had a life-changing impact on those who go. The stories are endless, inspirational, spiritual. We return with opened hearts and minds. Our work restores our faith in humanity.”

Larry C.

MATE Client

“I’m just trying to do the best I can for my kids—trying to break the chains of an abusive childhood and give them a life of stability that I never had.”

-Ashley

MATE Volunteer

“MATE gives me the opportunity to put my faith into action, and work together with others to accomplish something that we couldn’t do individually. It’s a living illustration of the Body of Christ, where we all contribute our different talents toward a common goal.”

MATE Volunteer

I got to help on a crew that was putting a metal roof on a mobile home. Valerie, the homeowner, was such a special person. I loved getting to hear her story. Often the most rewarding part of this job is listening to the homeowners.
Karen R.

Youth Trip Leader

“MATE gives people, including youth, the opportunity to really serve others in tangible and meaningful ways. Young people from all over our school district rush to sign up to come to MATE with us when the first announcement goes out in September.”

Rev. Max

MATE Client

“I woke up that morning and felt like a new person. The constant stress was gone and I could breathe again. I could get my life back on track.”

-Ashley

MATE Volunteer

“Working in the kitchen with the crew is always such fun… We all serve different purposes, but are all part of God’s work team.”

Joy D.

MATE Volunteer

“I’ve met homeowners who inspired me with their perseverance in such difficult situations, and the kindness and generosity they showed to us strangers.”

Alan D.

MATE Volunteer

“Hard work paid off. The finished product is amazing. So glad I was able to make a difference.”

MATE Volunteer

“Working in the kitchen with the crew is always such fun… We all serve different purposes, but are all part of God’s work team.”

Joy D.

Youth Trip Leader

“When I think of the 30 odd families that the teams of adults and youth from our church have helped in those four years, the ways in which we have improved the quality of their lives with safe stairs and ramps, weather-proof walls, siding and roofs, new floors, kitchens and bathrooms, anyone who has come to MATE knows what’s possible, well, it just warms my heart. To know that these people really have nowhere else to turn and not getting the help may very well mean having to leave their homes, and to know that every time some lady or gentleman turns on their kitchen water or holds the handrail while walking through winter snow and ice, that she or he might just think of us and smile while thinking, ‘that was that pastor and kids from down near Boston who did this for me,’ that’s more than thanks enough for me.”

Rev. Max

MATE Volunteer

“I learned lots of very valuable life lessons on this trip. Thanks MATE!”

MATE Client

“I didn’t want to lose my home, but that was the only option we were coming to before MATE was able to help.”

-Ashley

MATE Volunteer

“This has already turned into a highlight of my summer. Thank you!”

MATE Volunteer

“This experience has been such a blessing to me. Thank you for this opportunity”

MATE Volunteer

“Thank you MATE for the experience and opportunity to help others.”

MATE Client

“It’s a surreal feeling to know that my house and kids will be warm this winter.”

-Ashley

MATE Volunteer

“Thank you MATE for the experience of a lifetime.”

MATE Volunteer

“Awesome Time. Great projects. Great people. Great state of Maine.”

MATE Volunteer

“This has been such a great experience that put everything into perspective.”

MATE Client

“Thank you to all those who support MATE and make it possible to help people like me. There are families like mine out there, doing their best to make ends meet and provide for their children, who just don’t qualify for the aid they need.”

-Ashley

MATE Volunteer

“Thank you so much for the opportunity! So grateful for what this has taught me and shown me.”