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YOUTH MINISTRY
The Gathering Youth ages 7-12 Grade meet on the second Friday of each month at the church. We also have various activities and projects that are accomplished throughout the year. Please see below or check the calendar for details. For more information on how we view Youth Ministry and what our vision entails see below.
Philosophy of Youth Ministry
With the Word of God as our authority (2 Timothy 3:16,17) we believe God reveals that two institutions ought to championed. The Church and the Home. While civil governments would be included as well, these two primary institutions are what God designed for the development of youth and children. The Bible reveals the primary influence of youth are their parents. (Duet. 6:7-9; 11:19; Eph. 6:1,4; Col. 3:20,21; 1 Thess. 2:11: 1 Tim. 3:4,12; Titus 1:6) Therefore any healthy youth ministry must in fact champion the home and Church as the place where true youth ministry takes place.
Traditionally over the last 50 years or so, the model has been to abdicate this role to “professionals” and this is where youth ministers got their start. Before this time the word “teenager” had not even been invented! The home has slowly lost its influence not to mention male and female roles being distorted beyond recognition and now we have a culture in which no parent stays home. This model has extreme flaws that are leading to the dropout ratio of our youth from the church after high school and the lack of discipleship taking place in young people’s lives.
The Church can better equip families in this long journey of transformation by having a renewed vision.
Vision Statement
Our intention for Youth Ministry is to begin a journey that, by God’s grace, will reform how ministry is accomplished to our children and young people. To do so opportunities for youth to integrate, rather than segregate, into the culture of the church and its ministries is a must. Families must be strengthened and built up with tremendous support and resources developed for the purpose of life and culture change.
A paradigm shift is in order in our society and we want to make a statement where we stand, on the Word of God. The youth as a group, need to still meet for the purpose of discipleship and support to each other as peers, however, the focus of the group should be Christ-centered with the purpose of pursuing Him and not “things to do”. We believe our youth will stand out to a world that desperately needs Jesus when we put knowing and glorifying Christ and His Word as the primary focus.
The Gathering Church Covenant
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord in faith and repentance; and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now in the presence of God, angels and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to not forsake the gathering of ourselves together; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge and holiness; to give it a place in our affections, prayers and services above every organization of human origin; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrine; to contribute cheerfully and regularly, as God has prospered us, towards its expenses, for the support of a faithful and evangelical ministry among us, the relief of the poor and the spread of the Gospel throughout the world. In case of difference of opinion in the church, we will strive to avoid a contentious spirit, and if we cannot unanimously agree, we will cheerfully recognize the right of the majority to govern.
We also engage to maintain family and personal devotion; to study diligently the Word of God; to disciple and educate our children in Christian faith and practice; to pray for and preach the Gospel to our friends, family and acquaintances; to walk carefully in the world; to be kind and just to all, faithful in the service we promise others; endeavoring in the purity of heart and good will towards all men to exemplify and commend our holy faith.
We further engage to watch over, to pray for, to exhort and stir up each other unto every good word and work; to guard each other’s reputation, not needlessly exposing the infirmities of others; to participate in each other’s joys, and with tender sympathy bear one another’s burdens and sorrows; to cultivate Christian courtesy; to be slow to give or take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, being mindful of the rules of the Savior in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew, to secure it without delay; and through life, amid evil report, and good report, to seek to live to the glory of God, who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
When we remove ourselves from this place, we engage as soon as possible to unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.