Youth Ministry...EXPANDING....
- Pastor Doug Leslie
- May 21, 2008
Since the end of April of this year the youth ministry has been in a state of change, some say that state has been longer. Regardless, this state of change has the fringe benefits we all wish we had - GROWTH.
For more than four years the youth ministry and the children's ministry at Hope has been trying to detail plans for the introduction of a Jr. High ministry. However that was always tenuous as a point of clarification had never been agreed upon on how exactly to transition students from the children's ministry to the youth ministry. That transition has been remedied.
As of the date of the writing of this article, a Jr. High ministry has officially begun - and for that we are incredibally excited. Although we are in the infancy stages of this new ministry endeavor, the horizon looks promising. How will it play out?
- The Jr. High Ministry will involve all students 6th to 8th grades with an official transition happening August 1st of each year. In August all new sixth grade students will shift up and become official members of the youth ministry. And although they are not officially in the youth ministry at the onset of summer they are still invited to all summer activities to help with the transition.
- For those entering the 6th grade we are leaving the parents in the drivers seat in terms of what area they want their youth to participate on Sunday evenings. In other words if your new sixth grader wants to continue in the Royal Rangers children's program on Sunday evenings instead of the Jr.High youth group that will be allowed. We only ask, for the full enrichment of the youth and the program not to switch back and forth.
- The Jr. High will have their own Sunday School class on Sunday mornings and be part of the larger youth group on Sunday evenings. The Jr. High and Sr. High will meeting during the first half of the meeting for worship and activities and then will separate from the Sr. High for their discussion and lesson.
- We will be actively recruiting adults and college students to work with this great group of youth as leaders. They will help in not only leading Sunday School lessons, but as discussion leaders during the youth group discussions as well as chaperones for Jr. High events. If you are interested in helping, this is a great and worthwhile area to serve. It is where I (P. Doug) got my feet wet in ministry and learned about reaching youth.
We are really excited for a full calendar of activity coming this summer for all the youth including Jr. High Cosmic Bowling, HS Laser Tag lock-in, youth camp, youth missions trip, plus much more. So if you youth is not currently involved, they should be. If you let me know I will personally call them and invite them.....over and over and over......
Thank you for the privilege of allowing us to lead and serve your youth. If you have any questions about these changes or would like to help in the Jr. High please feel free to contact Pastor Doug by calling the church office at 602-843-0990 or via email at .
