Youth
Our ministry to students seeks to meet the differing needs of junior high and senior high ages separately, with similar goals under the same roof at The GYM. You can read more about our facilities on the Location page.
Senior High
Our ministry to high school students seeks to develop them as disciples of Jesus Christ and give them opportunities to reach out with the beauty of God's grace to their culture.
We see this mission accomplished by focusing our attention on Jesus Christ. Our goal is discipleship which means that students would know Him, love Him, and learn to live like He lived.
Opportunities
We focus on relationships and service, loving God and loving others. That is accomplished through our Wednesday night Crossroads, Sunday morning Youth Bible Fellowship (YBF), S.A.L.T. Groupls, Student Discipleship School, and one-on-one ministry. We encourage students as a central value to take this ministry as their own. See each student using their gifts and talents ministering to the entire Grace Church family and their peers in the Senior High ministry.
Junior High
Our Junior High ministry exists to help students learn God’s Word, find their identity in Christ, develop a faith that is their own, build meaningful relationships with peers and adults, and have fun in the process.
Opportunities
Traditionally it is recognized that there are five levels of teenage involvement in the church. We seek to provide programs that meet students at each level of involvement and move them forward in the discipleship process.
Community events: These are our social/outreach events which build relationships. They provide our youth staff with an opportunity to meet students and get to know them. Our goal is for them to meet us, associate a name with a face, know that church people are non-threatening and like to have fun too. We want as many students as possible at these events and strongly encourage our students to bring their friends. We try and program a few of these events each semester. Examples of programs geared towards this level of student: Saw You at the Pole Rally, Halloween Party, Turkey Bowl football game, Christmas Party.
Crowd events: We basically have one event for this level of student. We would consider it the “front door” into our ministry. By that we mean, this is where we want students to experience not just WHO we are as people but WHAT we do as a church. This event is for the believer and non-believer. We try to create a warm, friendly, fun environment that students look forward to coming to, are excited to be at, and want to invite their friends to be a part of. We want them to laugh, have a lot of fun through games and hanging out with their friends, and make a meaningful connection with a caring adult in one of our small groups. We want students to leave wanting to experience more of what they did on this night. Our Crossfire program is for this group of students.
Congregation events: These programs are for those students that we consider “ours.” We have made a connection and have a relationship with these students. These students are most likely good friends with a lot of the other students in our group. We know they have been introduced to Christianity and the Church and already are most likely believers. We are seeking to disciple them and take them forward in their spiritual journey. Examples of these programs: Youth Bible Fellowship (Sundays), Pine Cove Retreat (Fall), Disciple Now (Spring Retreat), Student Life Camp (Summer).
Committed events: These programs are for students who want another opportunity for discipleship. They already come to most everything else we do, and in reality, they just want more time with our youth staff. We seek to challenge these students to really step out and be leaders in our youth group and their schools. Examples of these programs: U2 Groups, Intern Summer Bible Studies, other small groups.
Core events: These programs are for students who are already leaders and are looking for opportunities to serve. They want to give back to their youth group and community. We seek to provide service opportunities for these students. Examples of these programs: The ARC, Faith Mission, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, Band, Sound Booth, and others.