Four small churches in the dioceses of Western Kansas and Oklahoma decided to pool resources and follow their vision to provide effective youth ministry for their own few young parishioners while attracting the unchurched.

After scouring the world, the small churches of the Panhandle/Southwest Cluster lured veteran youth director Bill Fienga from Central Florida to the western plains. He arrived attracted by the challenge of doing something totally new. With some major help at the two diocesan levels (Western Kansas pitched in for longer tenure and Oklahoma boosted the transportation and office accounts) the churches raised $50,000 in two years of campaigning.

In Mr. Fienga's first year, community enthusiasm has been incredible. Unchurched youth came into budding youth groups with staggering numerical surges. For example, at Hugoton, Kan., a group of four young persons suddenly grew to 61 once Mr. Fienga announced he'd let the young people shave his hair if they could bring in 50 kids. They did. Many stayed to form the nucleus of a 30-member youth organization still going strong.

At Ulysses, Kan., St. John's small high school group has exploded from six to 26. People have noticed.

And at Guymon, Okla., something formally ecumenical was put into place as St. Stephen's youth, with six junior high parishioners, joined hands with their school mates and friends to form "Youth Unlimited," an ecumenical youth club supported by local pastors, priests, and enthusiastic families among the Presbyterian, Christian, Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches. Sequencing parish halls each month means each church gets a three-month rest after hosting 80-150 young people each Sunday evening. Monthly activities are combined efforts. Each church "subscribes" for $300 per month to defray extra costs and to own a share of the Youth Unlimited Ministry.

An ecumenical steering group comprised of four priests and pastors monitors "money, morals and safety," according to the Rev. Tim Kline, missioner of the Episcopal cluster and Mr. Fienga's immediate supervisor. Meanwhile, planning activities, program, and week-by-week logistical matters are determined by a larger body known as YAC (Youth Action Committee).

Fr. Kline, missioner of the cluster, is assisted by two non-stipendiary priests and a deacon.

"We're not wholly original at the organizational level except to say what you see here is spread across quite a lot of geography," Fr. Kline said. "We claim 10,000 square miles now. That's some sizable piece of real estate and Bill is giving us what we once thought our youth would never get: A first-class Episcopal Church youth experience."

"It may not be exactly what a wealthy suburban parish could underwrite, certainly not in terms of a 24-hour, seven days a week pastoral presence, since I can't be everywhere, but it is having a surprising impact in the communities," Mr. Fienga said. "And I'm plenty available."

"There is no doubt about our surprise," Fr. Kline said with a smile. "Bill's first efforts at rallying kids overwhelmed our small undercrofts and tiny parish halls. We had all expanded our facilities somewhat. So we were particularly glad when larger church facilities became available in Guymon via local ecumenists and visionaries in friendly [mostly related liturgically] congregations. Also, welcoming individuals made space in homes and at the civic center in Ulysses. We are shy space and still looking to grow."

"People are catching the vision," Mr. Fienga added. "Some of our own parishioners are still reeling from amazement but most are pulling the wagon."

Are there concerns? "We don't have all the costs in hand yet," said Fr. Kline. "Both bishops (Vernon Strickland in Western Kansas and Robert Moody in Oklahoma) have solidly backed our experiment. Our communities are not poor in the Appalachian sense so we think we can carry the day."

Bishop Strickland, noting that youth ministries generally take a few years to effect significant parish growth, advised "Keep buying time."

The Cluster of Episcopal Churches has been spending salary for Mr. Fienga while collecting gifts to keep extending his tenure. "It's going to be a close thing," Fr. Kline said, "but our name is on the rise in our communities. We've put the Episcopal Church in the best possible light by opening our doors to unchurched youth. That's something anybody can understand."

A recent United Thank Offering grant is expected to help resolve the transportation costs and give Mr. Fienga the best-sized vehicle for moving the ministry around and expanding it even further.

"Our priorities are to introduce youth to Jesus, let them bond in a community of peers committed to telling the good news to others, and to welcome them to the life of our churches," Mr. Fienga said.

"That's enough to keep us busy for quite awhile."