Over the last several months, we've spent a lot of time praying and dreaming about where God is leading us in youth ministry. And what we keep coming back to is this image of youth group being an oasis—a life-giving place unlike any other where students find refuge from the pressures and noise of the world as they experience Jesus' joy and love through people.
All of this dreaming and discerning has led us to a big decision to bring together our youth program (Gap) and preteen program (Gap Jr.) onto a shared ministry night on Thursdays, a change that will take effect this September. This isn't just a structural change, but a cultural one that we feel God has led us to in order to create the kind of oasis he desires for students. Bringing the two programs onto the same night will provide our students with a consistent place of belonging through some of the toughest transitions of adolescence. It will also help our leadership team better leverage our strengths to see students grow in their faith and reach the thousands of students in our city who haven't yet met Jesus.
As we prepare to launch this shared ministry night in September, we want to invite you to be a part of creating this oasis with us. We've often done calls to action inviting people to join our youth ministry team. But this call to action is different for two reasons.
1. We aren't just looking for small group leaders or people who feel naturally gifted with teenagers. We are looking for people in our church who want to be a part of creating this oasis in a multitude of ways: greeting students at the door, praying for students throughout the week, playing music, making or serving a snack. We want our church to be a place where, when students walk in, it immediately feels different from anywhere else—more welcome, more joy, more care, more presence. And we believe it takes a wide range of people with different gifts to make this kind of community possible. We want to give you the opportunity to use your gifts to bless the next generation.
2. We aren't asking you to cram yet another thing in when you're "pouring out" into your already busy schedule. We are inviting you to come and be poured into as you experience this oasis for yourself. Many new leaders come in expecting to help students grow in faith and then are surprised to find God using the students to deepen their own faith. One new leader recently shared with me about how her faith journey had become spiritually stagnant, but when she started serving in youth ministry, she felt a renewed sense of purpose and a desire to know God more deeply. This reminded me that youth ministry is not just an oasis for the students but for those who serve. It is a place where leaders are encouraged by each other and by the work God is doing around them.
So this September, we're inviting our church family: come experience this oasis and be a part of creating it for the next generation. Whether you can lead a small group, help with games, welcome students at the door, provide food, pray faithfully, or simply be a caring presence, there is a place for you.
If you're curious about getting involved, stop by the Spotlight table this week or connect with me by email (by clicking the button below). I'd love to have a conversation about what it might look like for you to be part of what God is doing among our students and come experience the joy of Jesus with us.
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