
DATE: Friday, July 25, 1997                 TAG: 9707230174

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY SUSAN W. SMITH, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   83 lines

PAYETTE DEVOTES HIS FREE TIME TO CHURCH'S PROGRAM FOR TEENS

F OR YEARS, Aldor Joseph ``Chip'' Payette III lived and worked in Charlottesville and Richmond. But come Friday night, Payette, 41, has always returned to Chesapeake.

Monday through Friday, Payette, 41, is employed by the Virginia Department of Health. But on weekends and vacation time, Payette heads east to serve as director of the Methodist Youth Fellowship Program at Oaklette United Methodist Church.

As a child, Payette, the son of Aldor and Lucille Payette, attended Indian River Schools and Oaklette United Methodist Church. With loyalty, commitment and enthusiasm, Payette has moved through the Oaklette ranks from youth-group member to counselor to director of the program. Patient and mild mannered, he is the ballast for the church's energetic and motivated young people.

Payette attributes the successful teen program to the people of Oaklette.

``They just jump in and make it happen whether we need meals, drivers, chaperons or supplies,'' Payette said. ``They know our teen-agers are the future of the church and of the community.''

But Payette is the heart and soul of the program, said Debbie Rippard, a youth counselor and involved parent.

``He knows what the kids like whether it's music, movies or dialogue, Rippard says. ``They see him as an authority figure and as a really cool guy.''

Payette described his time with the kids with a string of words.

``It's refreshing, frustrating, rewarding, challenging, exciting and often spontaneous no matter what the plan,'' Payette said.

Kelly Carroll, 17, and Andrea Howell, 18, echoed each other when they said they depend on Payette to listen, to have fun and to relate to serious issues.

``He gets us involved,'' explained Howell.

Payette has always been involved. When his father was transferred, his family moved to Lakenheath Air Force Base in England. They joined a local church but kept in touch with Oaklette friends and activities through letters and church bulletins.

On the base, several Air Force personnel and a local physician sponsored a Christian program for American and English teens. An overnight vigil in a 1,000-year-old cathedral is a favorite memory.

``It impressed me that these busy people would spend time with young people and try to make a positive difference,'' Payette said. ``Working with teens is my way of giving back.''

When his family returned from England, they settled back in Indian River and at Oaklette United Methodist Church. Although, Payette was busy at Virginia Wesleyan College, he served as a youth counselor at his church.

After he graduated with a biology degree and moved away, he drove back on weekends to help coordinate activities and work with summer programs and special events. Between youth directors, Payette often filled in.

He has logged in untold hours at lock-ins and retreats, planned dozens of seminars and mission trips and routinely supplied forgotten ticket money. And over the year's and over countless slices of pizza, he's listened patiently to teen trials and tribulations.

``I try to be a good listener,'' said Payette. ``And in between the lines try to figure out what the kids are really trying to say or what they really want to hear. And never let them see your jaw drop.''

Last year when the program director left to attend seminary school, the Oaklette people asked him to take charge of the program.

He strives to keep more than a dozen teens thinking about issues like world hunger, the environment, relationships and their future. There are serious projects such as volunteer time at CANDII House, soup kitchens, homeless shelters and food banks. And there are fun activities like movies, golf or volleyball.

For the past nine months, he's been busy coordinating a mission exchange week with Manassas St. Thomas United Methodist Church. Recently for a week, the youth group from Manassas stayed with host families and joined the Oaklette teens in service projects and getting-to-know-you activities. In August, Payette and his group will go to Manassas to return the favor. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by GARY C. KNAPP

``It's refreshing, frustrating, rewarding, challenging, exciting and

often spontaneous no matter what the plan,'' says Chip Payette,

director of the Methodist Youth Fellowship Program at Oaklette

United Methodist Church.

Photo by GARY C. KNAPP

``It's refreshing, frustrating, rewarding, challenging, exciting and

often spontaneous no matter what the plan,'' says Chip Payette,

director of the Methodist Youth Fellowship Program at Oaklette

United Methodist Church.