BYG Update
By Lynne Onishi, BYG Director
It’s almost summer! When we asked the youth what they were most excited about in the upcoming weeks, we heard over and over again how much they’re looking forward to the end of the school year and the arrival of summer break. As this school year winds down, BYG is excited to celebrate our graduates and return to summer camps once more!
This is also a time of much transition for our leadership team. In April, Lawrence Paltep stepped down from his director position and we have since welcomed our two new associate directors: Kaylee Yokoyama and Kai Yamamoto! Let’s hear how they came to lead BYG…
Hello, my name is Kaylee Yokoyama. I am currently a sophomore at the University of Washington studying psychology. I have been a Blaine Youth Group leader for the past two years, and I am excited to step into this new role as an Associate Director of Youth Ministries. I have been attending Blaine since I was three years old, and Blaine to me is a welcoming faith community, where I grow in my faith and have developed many meaningful relationships. In my experiences as a youth, I have felt the warmth and guidance that BYG provided me. As a youth, I always admired my leaders and directors. I hope to provide the same comforts to the youth as an associate director and contribute to fostering a community of inclusion. I am excited about supporting the youth in their passions and engaging in opportunities to continue growing BYG. I hope to contribute to making BYG a community where youth can explore their faith through service, relationships, and curiosity.
Greetings, Blaine Community, my name is Kai Yamamoto, and I am excited to be working with Lynne and Kaylee as an Associate Director of Youth Ministries! I have been attending BYG since 6th grade and have been a part of BYG ever since. BYG has always been a special place for me, as it was a community of people who were around my age that also cared and looked out for me. After I graduated high school, I became a BYG leader to help facilitate and preserve this community. When Lawrence and Lynne approached me about this opportunity, I decided I wanted to take on this role, to ensure that this community will be there for both our current youth and future youth.
I am excited to be working with Lynne and Kaylee to plan different events and work with our youth to keep our community thriving!
Important dates for June 2023
| Sunday June 4, 2023 Graduation Sunday |
| Saturday June 17, 2023 BYG Graduation Party, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM (Location TBD) |
| Sunday, June 18 Last BYG Sunday Gathering of the school year |
| June 25-30, 2023 Junior High Camp |
BYG meets on Sundays at 10:00 AM. We will gather in the sanctuary for the beginning of worship service before transitioning over to the Nishida Room for BYG time after the children’s message. Our last Sunday BYG Gathering of the school year will be on Sunday, June 18. BYG will be on break over the summer!
Blaine Youth Group (BYG) is a place where youth (6th-12th grade) are invited into a loving community and celebrated as they are. BYG provides a safe environment for youth to build lasting friendships, grow spiritually, learn acceptance of self and others, express compassion for the world, and develop a love for God and neighbor. BYG has a space for any person who is interested.
Director of Youth Ministry: Lynne Onishi, lynneonishi@gmail.com Associate Directors of Youth Ministry: Kai Yamamoto, kai.yamamo@gmail.com and Kaylee Yokoyama, kaylee.yokoyama1@rev-karen
Read our latest issue of the Beacon!
The June edition of the Beacon features stories from our church in celebration of Summer! Download the PDF!