Here’s a quick recap at what’s been happening in the senior high youth ministry at FBC….

LIFE- In 2009 we had over 20 student’s commitment or recommit their lives to following Christ. We consistently averaged 40 students at our Sunday night youth service. And our goal for 2010 is to have every student being discipled by at least one individual who is older and more spiritually mature than themselves. Currently more than half of the students are already involved in this process.

COMMUNITY- In the fall we began hosting monthly Youth Parties where 15-30 students gathered in a home on a Saturday night. This is an attempt to build a bridge between students who are un-churched and the students who have grown up within the church. This will also allow them to invite their friends to a more relaxed environment, thus making it easier to extend an invitation to a Sunday night youth service. Students are also finding community in Life Groups, which are being led by Joey Rodriguez at Tim Gilbert’s house every other week. At these meetings students are being held accountable and discipled alongside a community of student and adult believers. Lastly, the students are discovering and discussing the gray areas of their faith in Sunday School which is taught by Mike Rivera and has been averaging a consistent attendance of 18-22 students a week.

SERVICE- In 2009 we served and discovered what it meant to be the hands and feet of Christ in a broken and hurting world. A few highlights are: 11 students and 2 adults attended the Chicago Mission Trip, 12 Students volunteered as servers and host at the ECDC Benefit Dinner and 8 Students volunteered to rake an elderly congregation member’s yard. And one of the most beneficial aspects of the high school ministry is that over 70% of the students currently serve in a role on Sunday night. Anywhere from vacuuming and cleaning the youth center to teaching a lesson or leading worship.

FREEDOM- This year I have been preaching that we need to lay down our fleshly desires and stand out from the people of the world. This has resulted in over 30 students making a commitment to stay abstinent until marriage. This has given me the opportunity to have conversations with students who have gone too far sexually and wanted to make a commitment to remain pure and allow God to heal them of there wounds or addictions to sex. I was also deeply moved when one of our student found support and forgiveness after stealing and doing community service hours in which students from IMPACT have worked alongside her in this process.

Finally…..Thank you to all who have committed to praying for the youth ministry at First Baptist it has made 2009 our best year yet. It could not have been made possible without your service, faithfulness, financial support, and prayers. I really believe for Gods best in our church this year! So let’s live more, serve more, invite more and most of all LOVE more…it’s what Christ has called us to do.

Making an IMPACT on this generation,
Josh Lee