Students
We understand that being a follower of Jesus as a high school or junior high student can be hard. We also understand that having a passionate and trustworthy community of adults and fellow students who love you, care for you, challenge you and uplift you can make all the difference during those critical years. Our desire is to bring the life-transforming message of Jesus Christ into contact with the lives of all students in a way that they can grow and develop their own independent and deeply rooted faith.
Retreat
The world is a hectic and disorienting place. Even Jesus took the time to periodically retreat from the pressures of the world to recenter himself on the path he was trying to walk. Once a month we provide opportunities for students to participate in a retreat alongside students of other churches in our Presbytery. This is a space to breathe, restore the soul, create real and meaningful relationships, and encounter God in profound and unique ways. Want to retreat with us? Contact Matt to find out when the next retreat dates are.
Worship
We were created for worship, and our worship is created for youth. Especially our Sunday evening services twice a month, we desire youth in our church to be engaged in the larger intergenerational worshipping community. We think that youth who are engaged in the church, and not quarantined far away from it, will be better prepared to find and establish a meaningful connection with a loving church community later in life. The church is important, and we want every student to learn that they are an important part of it. The church can’t exist without their voice, vision, passion, and hope.
Serve
Service is perhaps the most profound way that students experience God. Through trips to Mexico to build houses, spending Saturdays stocking a local food pantry, mentoring younger students, or participating in our many service opportunities offered throughout the year we have seen students establish a character of generosity, gratitude, and sacrifice that has stuck with them throughout their life.
Disciple
In the time of Jesus, young people who desired to learn about God would ask a rabbi to become their disciple. This relationship was a two-way street; built on trust, empathy, honesty, and mutual commitment to each other’s wellbeing. In the time of the pandemic, where schedules have been upended and relationships strained or lost entirely, it is our hope to resuscitate this ancient practice for our modern youth. Matt has been visiting youth in their homes, coffee shops, and other public places. He has been teaching, answering questions, providing help and encouragement and building relationships with any students who desire it. If you would like to set up times of intentional discipleship, please visit our staff page and contact Matt Moncrief, the Minister or Spiritual Formation for Students and Families.