Service Times : Sundays at 8:00am, 9:30am, and 11:15am
Service Times : Sundays at 8:00am, 9:30am, and 11:15am
Answering the Call
The purpose of our Youth Ministry is to grow youth in their knowledge of and relationship with Jesus Christ. By using sound biblical teaching principles and discipleship, the ministry seeks to excite, inspire, capture and ignite young people for Jesus Christ. It is our goal to connect with and engage young people in an appropriate way, so they understand the relevancy of God today and enable them to become tomorrows Christian leaders.
Our Safety
At First Christian Church, our goal is to guard our ministries from preventable harm and foreseeable risks and liability. Therefore, we have partnered with Protect My Ministry to make sure that all of our leaders and volunteers are screened through a background check to ensure the safety of the students who are under our care in order to create an environment that is safe and fun.
Wednesday Nights
Who: 6th 12th Grade
When: Wednesdays @ 6:00pm 8:00pm
Where: Youth Room (Modular 3)
What: Each month we will explore
different topics through small
sermon series that look to challenge
and grow our students in their faith.
The first hour consists of intentional
relationship building as we give them
free time to fellowship, followed by an
hour of Bible study. The last Wednesday
of each month we typically celebrate a
Free Day as we go off campus to
build stronger, lasting relationships.
We exist to elevate students by equipping them to develop a deeper relationship with Christ, encourage enriching relationships with other Christ-followers, and empower them to make a lasting impact in this world as God has called them to stand out, not fit in.
Discipleship begins here. Student ministry does not merely exist to keep the students entertained while their parents go into big church to hear the message but exists to inspire students to follow Christ with their lives through intentional relationships. Though these students may be young, the apostle Paul wrote to young Timothy saying, Don't let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity (1 Tim. 4:12, CSB). So, too, will we strive to encourage these young believers in these 5 areas as we believe that each one of these students can make a lasting impact in their community, and the world, by living out our student ministry values: LOVING GOD and LOVING PEOPLE (Matt. 22:37-40).
We want to instill core values into our students that collectively helps to shape a biblical worldview that will serve as the very foundation for which they will stand as they become mature adults. Sean McDowell writes, Here is a stark reality: if we do not consciously equip young Christians with a biblical worldview, they will unconsciously absorb the ideas of todays culture (So the Next Generation Will Know). If we do not invest in them, someone else will. Therefore, our leaders will strive to build a biblical worldview that involves learning how to properly love the things of God. ELEVATE Student Ministry divides Matthew 22:37-40 into two main sections: Love God and Love People. Diving a little deeper into these two main sections, we want to build a biblical worldview as we emphasize our six core values: Bible, Worship, Prayer, Community, Serving, and Sharing.
(1) Bible Since our founding, we have never wavered nor compromised on the inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God. We are committed to accurately teaching and preaching Gods Word at every opportunity. Whether in a Sunday morning service or Wednesday night group, we place a high value on the Word of God.
(2) Worship Any time the word worship is mentioned in Christian circles, the first thing that comes to the minds of most believers is music the praise and worship songs we sing on Sunday mornings. While it is true that we can find great joy in worshipping God through music, the very act of worship is not to be limited to a song or a series of songs on Sunday morning. True worship of God is to be reflected in our lifestyle in every moment in every decisionin every relationship.
(3) Prayer Our youth group is committed to integrating prayer into every aspect of our ministry as we humbly realize our dependence upon the Lord. We desire for it to be a part of our group whether in our classroom (Modular 3), in the Worship Center, or even when we are off campus.
(4) Community God did not create us to be alone, nor are we supposed to live out our faith alone. Our student ministry wants to embody one of our churchs mottos, Lets do life together. We are called to bear one anothers burdens (Gal. 6:2) and we strive to support one another as the active community of Gods people.
(5) Serving Built upon the many principles found in the New Testament, we are called to serve one another in the body of Christ. Of course, this is not just limited to service within our church walls. We are also called to serve and love our neighbors. Therefore, we desire for our students to grow in their faith as servant leaders who leave a lasting impact in our community.
(6) Sharing Following the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20), we are called to take the message of the gospel outside the walls of the church. We want to compassionately serve our local community, as well as, actively participating in missions around the world. As Jesus was moved with compassion as He ministered to the multitudes, so should we follow His great example.
Our Vehicles
We are called to train, mentor, and disciple the students in a personal and
intimate relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, through a
cooperative partnership with the parents. With the power of the Holy Spirit,
incorporating fun, exciting, and unique ways of learning Gods truths, we equip
the students for a lifetime of success in their spiritual lives. We will accomplish
this through vehicles such as service projects, Bible studies, events that are open
to the community, great Christ-centered curriculum, and any other avenue that
can span from these.
How We E.L.E.V.A.T.E. Students:
We believe that the students who remain active in youth ministry will stay,not because of creative programming, but because of healthy and genuinerelationships.
(1) Engage We want to intentionally engage the students where they areat in their walk and allow them to encounter God through Scripture,prayer, and worship every time that we meet. Students truly desire anauthentic encounter with the true God of Scripture, and this must bedone in a fresh way. This is important to make the connection of whoGod is and how He impacts their everyday lives.
(2) Lead As Jesus is the reason we gather, we want to lead students to thecross through the message of the gospel to allow it to transform theirlives. It is important for the truth of the gospel to be passed down fromgeneration to generation in order to grow the body of Christ. Ultimately,helping youth to grow spiritually in their formative years will equip themto make an impact for Christ both now and in their future.
(3) Empower As kingdom people, we want to live a life counter-cultural.Jesus empowered His disciples, and we want to follow His example. Wewill strive to empower our youth to take charge by challenging them
along the way. By empowering these students, we are helping them totake ownership of this ministry by partnering with them as we servetogether. This will help steer them from being consumers to becominglife-long participants of the kingdom.
(4) Value Our students generation suffers from an epidemic of lonelinessas their worth and acceptance come conditionally. The loneliness of thisgeneration stems from broken relationships, and many lack the healthyrelationships that God has designed for them to experience with Himselfand with other people. We will show that every single student is valued,loved, and that no student is left behind.
(5) Affirm Students are starved for affirmation and encouragement, and wewant to create an environment that allows our students to feel valuedand significant. We want to celebrate what they are doing in their livesby expressing words of encouragement as we affirm what God is doingin and through them as He builds them up. This will help build theirconfidence and sense of identity in Christ Jesus.
(6) Teach Teaching the Word of God is one of our main callings in ministry,and this is especially true in student ministry as we have the awesomeopportunity to plant His Word into their lives and watch it sprout overtheir lifetime. Students want to know what is real and what God has tosay about life. Therefore, we will present the truth of the Bible in a waythat they can understand it and apply it to their lives as His Word isliving and active.
(7) Equip Students grow up too fast, and as parents it can be stressfulknowing that they will soon venture out into this broken world. The sadreality is that many young Christians do not know how to live out theirfaith beyond the walls of the church. This is the reason why we want tohelp equip and prepare our students for that next step in their walk withJesus. We want to equip them by building a biblical worldview,discussing apologetics, establishing their identities in Christ, applyingScripture to their lives, and helping them to understand their spiritualgifts and how they can serve as part of the body of Christ. We willstrengthen their foundation in Christ before they enter into adulthood.
Our House Rules:
House rules help create structure and following rules at church can helpstudents learn to follow rules in other places. Our house rules create a healthyministry environment that is inviting as it helps ELEVATE CHRIST and ELEVATERELATIONSHIPS.
1) Its all about Jesus
2) All are welcome
3) No one sits alone
4) Moments create moments
5) We are tone setters
6) We are better together
7) We love to have fun
8) Everyone matters to God
9) We elevate others
10) Jesus changes everything
Offer a welcoming, safe and nurturing environment that models the love of God. They are equipped and encouraged to use their God-given gifts, resources and training to confidently and effectively minister to children.
We are excited about partnering with Jesus and families to faithfully serve Jesus Christ and His mission to make disciples are we Connect, Grow, and Serve. Click Here
