Ministers Of Christian Education And Youth
During his eight years at Calvary Fred Eichberger expanded our youth program. He coached our highly successful basketball teams. Each team was supported by a squad of enthusiastic cheerleaders. Fred taught Christian fair play and insisted on high standards. Basketball players were required to attend church services. With Fred they sat in the front pews wearing a suit and tie. At basketball games Fred always held a tension towel. He twisted it during tense periods, of which there were many.
The Prince of Peace Corps, which Fred started, was close to his heart. This group of youth distributed Bibles, visited the residents of the Holly Patterson Home, served in the Vacation Bible School, baby sat, did house work, raked leaves, cut grass, washed windows, cleaned out basements, and did other useful tasks. Thirty years later a married couple testified, "Through the Prince of Peace Corps we learned to serve. That experience has benefited us throughout our lives." Fred arranged many retreats and a number of college nights for our youth. He emphasized the recruitment of youth for frill-time service in the church.
Daryl Pichan, an able Bible teacher and apt planner, served Calvary for three years. Like other Ministers of Christian Education and Youth, he worked effectively in the Sunday School, the Vacation Bible School and confirmation and Bible classes. He continued the work of the Prince of Peace Corps, was involved in sports activities, and took the youth program into new directions. He planned a number of spiritually uplifting retreats, organized excellent Sunday School Christmas programs and assisted Pastor Kern in several dialogue sermons. During his time a team from Lutheran Youth Encounter called Malaehi spent a week at Calvary. As a result of their visit a great singing group of about thirty of Calvary youth was formed named "Second Coming."
Kevin Cook, Mr. Enthusiasm, served us for almost three years. He was a good delegator. He arranged a church picnic at Long Island Lutheran High School and was involved in the first Christmas Eve candlelight service at Calvary. Kevin recently reminisced about "the energetic worship experiences during Vacation Bible School, youth retreats with extremely little sleep, the dedication of a group of youth who made evangelism calls with Pastor Kern and me, the once-in-a-lifetime youth trip to see Beatlemania on Broadway, and the countless kindnesses of young people, parents, and others to the bachelor fresh out of college. The Isaiah verse 'You are precious in My eyes, and honored, and I love you,' remains with me 25 years later."
Bruce Hubmeier was our only Minister of Education and Youth with previous experience. He had been a Nassau Lutheran School teacher and school principal and Director of Christian Education at St. Mark's, Yonkers. He was another dedicated, conscientious young man, who served in many of the same capacities as his predecessors. He was a fine role model for youth and taught them to have a good time within bounds. Bruce sought to develop in the youth a desire to be a blessing. Recently he mentioned that he, too, has often recalled the encouraging assurance of Isaiah 43:4 that he is precious to God and deeply loved. Bruce began his service among us with Pastor Kern and continued for some time after Pastor Whitsett came on board.