Youth programs help youth see that God, church and faith are not just for “old folks.” Besides giving them additional regular opportunities to hear the life-changing message of love, grace and forgiveness, they can interact with their peers in a place where faith is central.
Della Stanley-Green, executive director for Indiana Network for Higher Education Ministries, says church is a place of spiritual anchor.
She added that when youth know they have adults beyond their own families who care about them and peers who can share their struggles, their chances for achieving success both in the eyes of God and out in the world are increased.
It also prepares youth for their post-high school years, whether they attend college or enter the workforce.
“If youth feel like it is being done ‘for’ them or ‘to’ them without any sense of ownership, they will not be interested,” Stanley-Green said. “If they know their opinions matter and the adults that lead the programming truly love and care about them, they will invest in it and grow into the disciples and leaders God calls them to be.”
Here are several local churches who explain their youth ministries.
Illuminate: A Heartland Youth Worship Experience
Mission: Heartland is a multi-generational church! We see the next generation not as the church of tomorrow but the church of today. Rather than separating youth from the mainstream, we’re intentionally engaging students in the heart of our ministry. On Sunday mornings you’ll see student leaders serving at Heartland on our worship and arts teams, tech teams, host teams, children’s ministry teams, in mentoring relationships, and leadership roles. On Sunday evenings at our Illuminate Service we have a full out service with a live band, games, videos and amazing messages. On Sunday nights we have a dedicated team of Row Pastors who mentor students through prayer, weekly follow ups, retreats, activities and leadership events. Our Purpose is to:
• Create environments where students can make positive, meaningful friendships.
• Prepare students to live gratefully, respectfully and with integrity.
• Help students discover and develop their God-given gifts to serve and influence others for God’s glory. Inspire students to know and love God with all their hearts and minds.
Programs/Activities: At Heartland our students meet every Sunday night at 5:43 p.m. for our Illuminate Service. This service consists of live worship, which is led by some of the best musicians in town, followed by games and competitions. We try and make this night as fun and exciting as possible, to show teens that serving and following Christ is fun! And then we keep the energy up by bringing in some of the best speakers ever who can relate and challenge our students to live bold and confident lives for Christ. About once a month we do different activities with the students and twice a year we have retreats. One in February called the Blizzard Rush where we go skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing and then a weeklong camping trip full of crazy fun outdoor activities during the summer.
Future plans: Future plans for Heartland students is to create small groups for students where they open their homes and do Bible study together. We are also looking forward to and planning our Winter Retreat this year, which is going to be AMAZING, Blizzard Rush 2! It is a fun weekend getaway where we enjoy the cold and the snow and separate ourselves from the distractions around us and focus on God’s creation and love for us. Heartland students are looking forward to another exciting year!
Heartland Church is located at 9665 Hague Road, Indianapolis, IN 46256. For more information call (317) 842-5500.
TNT Ministry/Teens in Training
Mission: To lead lost teens, in the most loving way, into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to help lead those that already believe into a place of spiritual maturity. TNT serves as a training ground where teenagers become empowered, equipped and educated in the Word of God. This ministry works to lay a spiritual foundation in the lives of teenagers as they are trained up in the way they should go.
Programs/Initiatives:
• TNT Halftime on Thursday Nights which is our Teen Bible Empowerment Service
• Education Nation which is an initiative that seeks to assist with the academic needs of our children.
• 27:10 from Boys to Men Empowerment Conference (Psalms 27:10).
• Step it Up Youth Leadership Team! Empowering our Teen Leaders of Tomorrow
• 106 & Praise Fest.
• GC1 (Gods Chosen Ones) Dance Team.
• S.O.U.L Team Choir (Singing Out Unto the Lord).
• Drama & Spoken Word Ministry.
• College Connection which seeks to prepare youth for college and connects with youth that are already in college.
Future plans: Our future plans are to continue to assess the needs of our youth and to provide quality services and programming to minister to those needs. We are constantly looking for new creative and innovative ways to share the gospel message and to lay a strong spiritual foundation in the lives of our youth.
New Beginnings Fellowship Church is located at 2125 German Church Road, Indianapolis, IN 46229. For more information call (317) 891-3318.
The Building a Better You Ministry (BABYM Program) and BOOMTOWN sponsored by Virtue and Praise Ministries Inc.
Mission: Virtue and Praise Ministries Inc. is a family oriented outreach church that has a heartfelt focus on “Generation Next.” We believe in getting our hands in the dirt in order to insure the positive outcome of our youths’ futures.
Programs/Activities: Building a Better You Ministry (BABYM), a free mentoring and tutoring program. Providing one hour of tutoring per student each week at church, within Indianapolis Public Schools and at the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center. The focus is making basic math and reading come alive to students. But more importantly we want each child we encounter to become confident in the area of education so that they see themselves as successful on their tomorrow.
BOOMTOWN is an under 21 Christian nightclub and a reward of sorts for our young people’s educational accomplishments. So the two go hand-in-hand. A “Gathering Place Empowered by the Holy Spirit,” these events provide a positive outlet for inner city and at-risk youths through recreation and athleticism. BOOMTOWN is held on the last Saturday of every month, from March through October, from 7 to 10 p.m. Each month there is a different theme such as football, basketball, or open mic nights.
On Oct. 27, BOOMTOWN will host the Naptown’s Best Dance Crew competition. Young people can sign up as individuals or as team for only $5 each. There will be several prizes awarded. All attendees will also receive a free meal. The event will be held at The Eagle’s Nest located at 2819 Clifton St.
Future plans: That the BABYM Program would evolve into a free private school, providing an elite education to our community’s children. It may sound cliché, but it is true, that the children are our future.
For more information on Virtue and Praise Ministries Inc., BOOMTOWN, or the Building A Better You Ministry, call (317) 388-1541, email virtueandpraise@yahoo.com or visit virtueandpraiseministries.org.
Eastern Star Youth Ministry
Mission: Eastern Star Church led by Pastor Jeffrey A. Johnson Sr. is proud to have a long history of serving youth from infants to college age. When it comes to our mission, every ministry, including our youth ministries, are committed to evangelism, discipleship and service. To that end Eastern Star Church provides several types of programs to meet the needs of youth and their families.
Programs/Activities: Summer Enrichment Camp, Boys & Girls Christian Basketball Leagues, Youth Audio Visual Technicians, Youth Ushers, Youth Choirs & Praise Team, Youth Mimes and Dance Ministries, Sunday School for Youth, Weekly Youth Fellowship, Scholarship Program, Girl Scouts, Student Leadership Retreat, Sunday Nursery and Children’s Church.
These activities involve our youth in recreation, performing arts, leadership development, spiritual growth, community service and academic achievement all of which we believe will help them mature into the kind of Christians who contribute to society and impact the Kingdom of God.
Future Plans: Our plans moving forward are emphasizing student leadership with the newly added student leadership retreat. The retreat gives students the opportunity to get away for a weekend of intensive leadership training and return to their church ready to lead in the above-mentioned activities as well as be the catalyst for adding more.
To find out more about Eastern Star Church youth programs, call (317) 591-5050 or visit easternstarchurch.org.
