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Youth Ministry
Plans Moving Ahead
A group has been meeting regularly to plan
for a Grace youth ministry. Part of this process has included
determining a youth ministry philosophy for Grace with
corresponding Scripture passages. The following are intended to
be a focus for this ministry.
Foundation of prayer
– to encourage our youth to turn to God in prayer in all they
do: "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be give n you;
search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened
for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who
searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be
opened." (Luke 11:9-10)
Service/Missions
– to foster awareness of the needs of those around us and
encourage youth to participate in service and mission projects
and to be open to the gifts they can receive by serving: "And
the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did
it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,
you did it to me.’" (Matthew 25:40)
Mentoring/Inter-generational ministry
– to encourage members of all ages to both share and learn
values of life as experienced in different generations:
Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you;
consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their
faith. (Hebrews 13:7) The glory of youths is their
strength, but the beauty of the aged is their gray hair.
(Proverbs 20:29)
Team approach
– allows for congregational ownership and diversity of gifts
and conscience of direction: Now there are varieties of
gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services,
but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it
is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each
is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
(1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
Save, affirming environment
– create an environment where each youth feels important,
valued, save and respected: But immediately [Jesus] spoke to
them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be
afraid." Then he got into the boat with them and the wind
ceased. (Mark 6:50b-51a)
Christ-centered ministry focus
– everything we do must ultimately help to achieve our mission
statement, which is "To inspire youth to be alive in faith
and share Christ with the world": As you therefore have
received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in
him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith,
just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
(Colossians 2:6-7)
Student leadership
– recognizing our youth as growing in faith, we will provide
opportunities and encouragement to use their creativity in
leadership: Let no one despise your youth, but set the
believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith,
in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)
Impact events
– impact events provide opportunities for a "mountaintop
experience" which can bring our youth closer to God: O
come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the
rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with
thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of
praise! (Psalms 95:1-2)
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