a new start for youth

After a fruitful summer of working out in the community as a Youth ministry, a new fall has meant a new start for Youth at Bethel! The Friday night Youth program this year is structured the same as it has been in the past:

Outlet is our ministry designed to build relationships with youth through fun activities. Just this last Friday we had 80 students show up for the Cornmaze (many of them discovering Bethel through youth and children’s camps).

Additionally we have Catalyst,  our Bible Study with Worship and “Tribe Time.”

In an exciting development this year, our new Worship Director Kevin will be working with our students in creating a youth worship team to play at Catalyst!

This year the theme for Catalyst is “Wrestling with God.” Some of the Bible studies we will have include questions like “Can we learn anything from other religions?” and “If God already knows what we are going to pray, why do we do it?.” It will be exciting to see what comes out of these learning times. In addition to teaching, every Jr and Sr High student is placed into a “Tribe” with adult leaders who commit to be an older brother/sister for them in Jr/Sr high.

Another development in the Youth Ministries this year is the creation of the “Youth Executive Team.” This is a team made up of parents, youth, youth volunteers and youth staff who are committed to see the youth of Bethel, and our surrounding community, grow in their love for Jesus. Their most important mandate is to pray for our young people and all of the ministries they are connected to. They will also review the vision, programming, and intergenerational elements of Bethel Youth on a regular basis. We pray these conversations will lead to fruit in the ministry.

Over the next year as a congregation we will see youth increasingly more involved during Sunday Morning Services and the life of the greater congregation, and also in connecting with Bethelites of all generations through “Prayer Partners”!

Please keep the young people of Bethel in your prayers over this next year J

- Pastor Ryan