Hope Church’s Youth Ministry vision is that youth:
- Have fun when they get together and realize that life in Christ is an adventure worth pursuing
- Feel at home at church and in our group
- Build strong bonds with each other and with leaders, crossing natural boundaries and comfort zones to create a safe space to be themselves
- Make meaningful contributions to our community and the larger world through mission trips and service projects.
The Youth Ministry values a sense of adventure and fun, open communication and a safe space, and the integration of faith and life as part of everything we do. Together, we work to nurture faith, build character, create community, and engage in service.
Middle & High School Youth Group (Grades 6-12)
This gathering, led by Pastor Jackson and the Co-Leaders, is a time of food, fellowship, play,
worship, and engagement with Scripture. Using the “Follow Me” Curriculum as our guide, we
will walk through spiritual practices and postures of faith that center around the following
themes: Following Jesus, Welcome All, Hope, Confession, Spiritual Disciplines, and Living in
Community.
What to expect: Fellowship, higher energy, wider age ranges, singing a song, artistic
engagement with scripture and the lesson
G.I.F.T. (6th – 8th Grade)
G.I.F.T. is about what the name represents: Growing In Faith Together. It is a focused time led
by Pastors Gordon and Gretchen for the participants to explore faith in God and their
connection to the church and faith as a part of daily life. It’s a time for learning and questions
and wondering about faith and life together. For some participants G.I.F.T. will lead them to
make profession of faith in Christ at Hope Church, but that is not required – each person will be
able to sort through that step when the time comes. The broader idea of G.I.F.T. is that 6th-8th
grade is an important age to deal with issues of faith and life as a part of the church, and the
G.I.F.T. experience is a unique way to do that together.
High School Hangouts (Grades 9-12)
This is a new offering and takes the place of the previous High Hopes “Sunday School”. Pastor
Jackson will lead this gathering, which will take place at a local coffee shop (we will start by
trying Lemonjellos). The format of this group will be loosely held and responsive to the needs
of the young folks who choose to attend, but will start with this skeleton:
• The group will gather around a faith adjacent topic of the week.
• Jackson will read something short, and ask one question which he’ll invite those
gathered to answer.
• After that the group can ask as many questions as they’d like on the topic, ask
completely random questions, decide on future topics, or just hang out and do
homework.
This group is open to all highschoolers, and does not require going to Hope Church, so feel free
to invite a friend.