VISION PT 4 ---Purpose of FaithPointe Students

Over the past few month's God has really been challenging some things within the Youth Ministry He has allowed me to be apart of. I have been allowed to pastor a group of teenagers for a little over 5 years. This is amazing considering the avg. stint at a church for a youth pastor is about 18 months.

It is easy to get set in the ruts and in what's comfortable and known. Same event schedule, same teaching schedule, same service schedule. It works. It's stable. It's safe. But honestly ...it's been boring. Actually I have just been going through the motions and not been a good steward of what God has given me. In August I sensed a change coming, sort of an urgency to get more leaders connecting with our kids. Beginning in Nov. we have averaged 90+ students each week. But I don't want to be large group with no purpose and a list of names on an attendance roster. Still we have been doing more out of routine than out of purpose. It's kind of humbling and embarrassing to think that I have been just "doing" youth ministry without a clearly defined purpose for our ministry.

After a few weeks of quiet contemplation, prayer, and review...God is beginning to help me solidify some of the next steps in getting this youth ministry on purpose, growing and healthy. Funny thing about the timing of this is that it comes at a time when our first group of students are graduating. This group were 8th graders when I started...and now they are graduating. It's almost like a passing of a torch on to the next generation. A new start maybe.

Our Goal - Reaching students to become Fully Devoted Followers of Jesus.

Step 1 - Get students to a life changing commitment to Jesus Christ

• This can happen through services, camp experiences, one on one mentoring

Step 2 - Help them continue growing in their relationship with God

• This happens through small groups, church services, Sunday school, individual study.
  

Step 3 - Get them connected to and serving in the local Church

• Involvement in ministry teams, leadership, service opportunities
  

Step 4 - Help them reach out serving and sharing Christ with those who are lost.

• Friendship Evangelism, Missions, Service Opportunities,
  

There are several ways students are able to advance from one step to the next. And even if they reach step 4 they will not "have arrived." They will continue to work through steps 2 through 4 constantly growing and learning.

MUCH MUCH MORE TO COME