From the Youth Ministry Team:

We are so excited about this season of youth ministry to 6th- through 12th-graders! (Hover over “Youth Ministry” above to see the link to get involved.) We have two main objectives for the 2011-12 school year:

Building Community
Students will have opportunities to build friendships with their peers, relationships with adult-leaders and outreach to peers and non-peers outside of our faith-community.  That means we’ll be having plenty of fun with friends and parents at events like Pool & Popsicles, Burgers & Bowling and Pizza & Putt-Putt, and we’ll be participating in outreach events like the Auburn Food Drive, Cleanup at the Football field, and bingo, etc. with the elderly and disabled.  These events will happen 2-3 times per month and will require a few adult chaperones, not just for physical protection (as the meaning implies), but to model Christian living and to take an interest in the lives of the young people.  We hope all of these things will expand our understanding of what it means to love our neighbors, and will continue to build a community of Christ-followers.

Knowing God’s Story
Knowing goes beyond intellect – it starts with listening and learning, but knowing means we believe it to the extent that we act on it.  For our Youth Ministry this year, Knowing God’s story begins with our Sunday School hour each Sunday morning (9:45-10:45).  Bill and Dawn Townsend will continue leading our Senior High and Pastor Jason will continue leading our Junior High (6th-8th).  Topics for this year include Revolution: A Bible Study for Teenagers, The Hole in Our Gospel (based on the book by World Vision president Richard Stearns), and Dave Ramsey’s Generation Change (financial management curriculum for youth).  In this short hour each week, these studies will give our students some biblical overview and helpful hints about what our faith in Christ looks like.
But we also want to offer an opportunity for a higher level of knowing who Christ is and what it means to be a Christ-follower!  Beginning in September, we’ll be inviting students to be a part of “D-groups” of 4-5 students each. (The “D” is for discipleship.)  Each participant’s devotional materials will be sponsored and will lead them through key stories in scripture, focusing in on the life of Christ. Each group will get together 3-4 times a month with the adult that invited them to be a part of the group and together, they’ll share what they’ve been learning.  We’re excited to see our youth grow in their understanding of God’s story and how our lives are a part of it!

Hover over “Youth Ministry” above and click on “GET INVOLVED” to learn about three ways you can help with our Youth Ministry this year!