PROGRESS 2019 FAITH: Youth, churches grow together

Youth are the future of the United States. Many different programs seek to help young people succeed and make the most of their lives.

One style of organization to assist in this process are the local churches.

Many local churches have created programs to involve youth in the church setting. These programs involve youth services and activities for young people to become connected with others their age through one main point — Jesus Christ.

Churches like Temple Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, and Life Chapel: Assembly of God in Puxico, among many others, have created programs to involve young people.

At First Baptist Church, church leaders like Jarrod Goodhue, youth pastor of the Frontline Ministry, have made it their goal to make sure students feel included and welcome at services.

“We have a service on Wednesday night specifically for our youth,” Goodhue said. “We start off our nights with a game that is themed around the message for the evening. This allows the students to become comfortable with one another. This is followed by a worship service, then a mini-sermon, and ending with small groups, usually categorized by grade level.”

Goodhue explained that the connections formed during these meetings have allowed the students to grow together.

“With these students growing together in Christ, there is a strong sense of unity amongst the students,” Goodhue explained. “The students support each other and look to be together to serve others.”

At Temple Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, the church youth group makes sure there are activities to involve the young people of the church. Youth director Trent Stilwell explains there are many activities for students to get involved with.

“We have activities like game nights, movie nights, festivals and trips we take together.” Stilwell said. “We also make sure there are appropriate activities for different ages of students. We have Wednesday night bible classes for grades first through sixth, the Royal Ambassadors and the Girls in Action.”

At Life Chapel: Assembly of God in Puxico, students are invited to gather on Wednesday nights at the Family-Life Center to grow together. Students come before the normal service time to play basketball and volleyball, amongst other activities. Once it is time to start the service, the students come together to play a game as one group led by the youth leadership team.

Bridget Epps, youth pastor of LC Youth, explains the importance of having students attend these services.

“We believe that it is vital for our students to experience the presence of God,” Epps explained. “We start our service out with worship led by our student ministry. Then, students will engage in a Gospel-centered message filled with meaningful moments on how to grow deep roots in Christ.

“Students then respond to the message by breaking up into small groups and are given the opportunity to express their needs and questions in a safe place.”

All of the youth leaders from these churches expressed the desire to bring students together and to serve together.

Each program invests time into serving others. This serves in various different ways. Some students at Life Chapel have positions in the church assisting on the multi-media team, the LC Kids program, and the breakfast team. At First Baptist Church, students serve food to community members at the Bread Shed, assist with Love Packages and help in a program called Love to PB. Students at Temple Baptist Church prepare boxes for Operation Christmas Child and gather items like food and health products to give to the community.

“The motto at Life Chapel is, ‘We Make Disciples,’” Epps said. “A part of discipleship is serving.”

Students throughout all of the churches make these meetings a part of their weekly lives. Many students attend these services without fail and look forward to gathering with peers to learn and grow together.

A student at Life Chapel: Assembly of God and a regular attendee of LC Youth, Luke Shepherd, explains his feelings on why his youth group is important to him.

“The devotions we have on a weekly basis are one thing that I need every week,” Shepherd said. “It’s always good to come together and bond together through Christ. We are all one family in Christ and we need to know each other better so we can lift each other up. These services allow us to do that.”

Each of these churches have both a Wednesday night service for youth and a Sunday School program, amongst other activities for students to become involved. The youth leaders express their desire for more students to jump in and take an attempt with the programs.

All students are welcome to join these youth groups, to come together and grow together.