Youth Ministry

Vision

To impact youths and share the day-by-day, moment-by-moment gospel through teaching, community, service, discipleship and outreach.

Goals

• Place youths on a scriptural track that matches the sermons parents experience in Sunday service. Equip youth with application questions and deeper investigations that can be facilitated by parents outside of church.
• Help youth navigate their lives and experiences through the lens of the gospel. Increasing their awareness of sin in and around them, increasing their awareness of God’s work through Jesus, and opening their eyes to obedience of God’s word and the experience of His work in their lives.
• Maintain and mirror the church’s outward-facing direction by sponsoring monthly community events that are both socially enjoyable and service oriented with a specific goal of outreach and ministry growth.
• Provide a safe environment for sharing and support of life’s myriad issues.

Sunday Morning

Every first and third Sunday morning the youth will accompany a teacher at the end of worship. After a youth lead prayer students will take part in a short (10-15 minute) time of teaching that will scripturally and thematically mirror the parent’s sermon but with specific targeting and application for youth. Teaching should not be a monologue, but rather interactive, with lots of opportunity for “why” and “how”. The teaching will end with discussion starters to get everyone talking about applying what we’re learning. This will be lead by the teacher, but the youth will do the majority of talking and thinking out loud, sharing experiences and their own understanding as God reveals himself through His word. We will end with a reminder about the next upcoming monthly event or service opportunity (such as the following Sunday’s duties) before the teacher closes in prayer.

For the second and fourth Sunday morning each month, youth will have the opportunity to serve the church in various ways. Nearly every ministry or facet of the church should be available to a youth helper. Some service opportunities, such as greeting, will take place at the beginning and end of service, freeing the youth to join parents for worship and sermon. Others, such as nursery work or helping in the children’s ministry will take the full time. Rotation and getting new experiences will be encouraged as well as following up on those experiences the next week.

Monthly Event

As an extension of service, internal relationship building, and outward focus each ‘family’ in the youth will rotate in responsibility of planning and facilitating a monthly youth event. In addition to the benefits provided to the youth in giving them a temporary leadership role, it also provides parents a way to get to know their own child’s colleagues and friends. For consistency and help one youth leader will be present at each event. Monthly events should alternate (if not combine) between service and socially oriented.