We are committed to building relationships with students and sharing our lives and Christ with them.  We are focused on proclaiming the full Gospel of Jesus Christ, equipping parents as the primary ministers to their children, and building relationships between all generations in the church.

 

Here’s what each part of our purpose statement means:

 

Jesus said that he came to give us life, and to give it to the full (John 10:10), and in Matthew 28:19-20, he gave us the great commission to “go and make disciples of all nations.”  So one of my youth ministry goals is to present the good news of the gospel, the joy that comes from knowing Christ, to youth and their families who have never heard it before, that they may know the abundant life that God intends for them.  We seek to accomplish this goal through two avenues: 1) Special events and occasional youth group meetings geared toward presenting the gospel, and 2) programs intended specifically for parents.

 

Without a doubt, it is hard to survive in this world, especially if you’re trying to do it alone.  Christ never calls us to follow him alone, He encourages us to connect with another believer to provide accountability, support and friendship.  One of our goals is to connect youth to the extended church family, other believers their own age, and an adult mentor.

 

None of us will love God perfectly in a day, or a year, or even a lifetime.  It’s a process that we grow in through consistent fellowship with other Christians, study of God’s Word, prayer, challenge, etc.  Through our youth group programs, Sunday Schools, small group Bible studies, and one-on-one discipleship, it is my prayer that the youth will grow in their commitment to and knowledge of God.

 

I think it was St. Francis of Assisi who once said, “Share the gospel, and when necessary, use words.”  This has almost become cliché, but there is a powerful truth there.  We proclaim the gospel as much through our actions as we do through our words.  I want to help kids discover their gifts and talents and help them to use those gifts and talents in the world to bring God glory.  This is done by giving the youth leadership responsibility of their own, taking them on mission trips to help them discover their gifts and to what career God might be calling them. Through monthly service projects, through summer mission trips, the youth here have the opportunity to proclaim God’s love to the world.

 

This is simply a reminder of why we are in youth ministry in the first place, and what we are about in life!  Ephesians 3:20-21 has become my youth ministry theme verse.  “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (VISION!), according to his power that is at work within US (POWER!), to him be the glory in the church in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever, Amen. (PURPOSE!)”