PURPOSE STATEMENT

The purpose of youth ministry at HCC is to Attend to each other and our community, to Grow spiritually, to Impact the world with the gospel, to Link students to one another and our congregation and to Exalt Jesus Christ!

 Attend  (Serve)

Grow    (Discipleship)

Impact  (Outreach)

Link      (Community)

Exalt     (Worship)

 ATTEND

Students are encouraged to get involved in ministry to children at HCC.  We play an active role in assisting adults in the Nursery and King’s Kids.  This summer we had many students volunteer at our Sports and Arts Camp.  We also participate in the 30 Hour Famine during odd numbered years and go on a Mission Trip on even numbered years.

GROW

The main teaching component of the youth ministry is Sunday School.  We offer a class for 6th-12th grade before the service on Sunday mornings.  This year we will be doing a general overview of the New Testament.  Kinship (Friday nights) also serves as a platform for Bible Teaching.  We attend a winter youth retreat at Camp Berea called Deep Freeze.  RightNow Media is a new resource with many excellent Biblical Study series for youth to access individually.  We plan to use this extensively starting this fall.

IMPACT

This year a lot of effort will be put into the 30 Hour Famine in April 26-27, 2013.  We also plan to offer some free babysitting events for the church and the Winchester community.  Our students also participate in Church-wide events like Town Day.

LINK

Kinship is our Friday night gathering that allows for a variety of activities.  The main focus is building relations through outreach, service, bible study, and fun.  We gather from 7PM to 10PM and 6th – 12th graders are eligible to attend.  We conclude structured activities by 9PM for parents who want to pick up their students earlier rather than later.  During the year we also have events like Apple Picking, Christmas Party, Laser Craze, Beach Day, and Six Flags.

EXALT

We believe worship is more than just singing songs.  Our intention is that everything is done with an attitude of worship.  This theme is consistently revisited throughout the year.

  YOUTH MINISTRY GOALS

 A mongoose is considered one of the most AGILE animals of God’s creation.  The mongoose is gifted with assets that allow it to kill snakes with relative ease.  Our goal is have a “Mongoose Faith.”

POWER

The Lord has the power to ATTEND to our needs and empowers us to do the same for others.  (Eph. 4: 1-16)

THICK COAT

As we GROW in our relationship with Christ our ability to resist temptation also grows.  While we will never become impenetrable, our “coat” thickens as we deepen our relationship with Christ.  (James 1:22, Proverbs 22:6)

SPEED

The degree of IMPACT increases with speed.  A mongoose’s speed allows it to go on the offensive.  In the same way we are called to be on the offensive in our community. As we mature in Christ our ability to IMPACT also improves. (Matthew 28:18-20)

ANTI-VENOM

Linking with other believers makes it harder for negative influences to take hold of our lives.  We will not become immune, but Satan’s venom losses some of its strength.      (1 John 1:7)

DEXTERITY

Worshiping the Lord is not limited to singing songs.  We can EXALT the Lord with everything we do.  (Romans 12:1)