Connecting, Serving, Growing…These three simple words give shape to and guide our youth ministry at Immanuel International.
CONNECTING
The importance of connecting as Christian youth was brought home to me at our most recent Club 24 activity. We had just finished playing some crazy games and had gathered around the tables for some snacks. Sitting around the table were youth from different schools, backgrounds, and ethnicities, and yet as we ate our snacks a deeper level of conversation began to unfold. Students began to talk about their lives and share encouragement with each other. Youth activities give us a precious opportunity as youth and leaders to build trust and openness in the youth group.
Jesus calls his followers to connect with each other in communities where we practice the things he taught us. Young people are at a formative stage in their life and we believe Christian community is vital in forming Christ-like character and identity. Through gathering around the Scriptures in open, honest study and discussion we are seeking to allow Christ to form our character and shape the way we live. Through fun events and activities we seek to deepen relationships and enjoy each other's company in a God honoring way.
SERVING
Each Sunday before the worship begins there is an exciting thing happening. Several youth arrive early to help prepare for the day's Sunday school lesson. They are excited about the opportunity to work with the children and serve God in this way. This is truly something to celebrate as a church!
Jesus gave his followers a high calling when he called them to serve as he has served us. He also promised his followers that they would know a deep joy that comes through serving in his name. We want to encourage the youth in our church to explore ways they can begin to serve each other, the church and the world in practical and meaningful ways. We long for them to experience first hand the often forgotten truth of the gospel… true joy comes through giving, and not in what we receive.
GROWING
We began the year with the theme of reaching out with Christ's love. Over this term several youth have brought friends to church or youth group for the first time. Many youth have been speaking humbly and openly about their faith in school. This takes a lot of courage and commitment. This is a sign of spiritual growth in our youth.
Giving ourselves to the worship and service of Jesus Christ means that we have begun the journey of a lifetime. Growth implies a transforming process that begins in our lives when we come to faith and continues until we meet Christ in his glorious future kingdom. Many of our youth have begun this journey of faith, and we want to do everything in our power to equip them with practices and disciplines that encourage maturity in Christ. In youth ministry we want to continually ask ourselves, "How are we inviting our youth to grow in their walk with Jesus? How do the teaching and activities invite them to deeper spiritual maturity? Spiritual growth is ultimately God's work in us, and yet we too must be willing and open to God's work in our lives. Spiritual growth doesn't just happen. We must go after it. As pastors, leaders, and parents we are seeking help our youth stand firmly on the foundation of Christ so that they can continue to grow long after they have left the nest of their family and church.
