Youth Ministries
Our greatest resource are the youth of this church. Our youth bring creativity, energy, wisdom and service to the life of our church family and to our wider world. We offer a rich variety of programs and ministries intended to help youth grow in their walk with God through Christ. Youth and adults work collaboratively to create and implement meaningful ministries. Wherever your interest lies, there is a place for you (!):
Youth Sunday School Classes: Individual classes for Middle and High school youth meet each Sunday at 9:50 am. Classes seek to relate the timeless truth of God in the Bible to the challenges and opportunities facing youth today. Each class is staffed by adults who desire to help youth come alive in their faith in a fun, creative, respectful setting. A safe place to ask questions, test out ideas, and grow in one’s walk with God through Christ. We study with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other.
Worship led by Youth: On the second Sunday of the month, the youth help lead the 11:00 Celebrative Worship. It can include anything from reading scripture, playing a musical piece during offertory to performing a skit to help give the message for the day. Their leadership is always a joy to have in worship.
Alternative Sunday Worship: This alternative to the 11:00 worship is geared for the Middle School youth. The youth will participate in the celebrative worship at 11:00 in the sancturay. After the story on the steps, the middle school youth have the option to go to the alternative worship in the youth room. They will read the scripture and discuss what it means in their lives. It will be engaging and interactive. Each week is facilitated by parent volunteer and once a month there will be a focus on mission and a service project beyond the walls of our church.
YES! LOGOS: We offer a Wednesday evening program for both the Middle and High school youth during the school year. Click here to read more about the LOGOS program.
Y.A.H.O.O. Mexico Mission: Each year during Spring break high school youth go on a mission trip to Mexico. They work cooperativily with eight other churches from the Yamhill County to build house for underprivileged familes in Mexico. Click here to read more about the Y.A.H.O.O. Mexico Mission trip. program.
YES! Summer Events: A fun filled summer of events is always planned for the youth, both middle & high school and even alumni. We have an exciting summer program each year. First Baptist Church, McMinnville Cooperative Ministry and St. Barnabas Episcopal Church joing together to have grand adventures. We call ourselves YES! for Youth Ecumenical Services or maybe better still Youth Enjoy Summer. Click here to read more about the 2009 Summer Calendar of Events.
Youth Ministry Team: Consists of youth and adults who have an interest in planning our ministries. This team works collaboratively with our staff person ( Youth Ministry Co-coordinator) to set the course for our life together. New participants are always welcome.
A Note from Georgine, Youth Ministry Coordinator  I attended a youth conference called Kaleo at George Fox University. The following statement was on their brochure and it is a philosophy I am hoping to bring to the Youth Ministry at First Baptist Church.
"We don’t know how to be with our kids. We know how to entertain them, market to them, test them, and statistically measure them. But we’ve forgotten how to BE with them. As a result, today’s youth have become more and more isolated, alienated, and left to fend for themselves within the molesting arms of the corporate media culture. Sadly, our absence from the lives of young people is connected to a deeper problem; We don’t know how to be with ourselves. Most adults are busy. We have no downtime. We tend to act as if we’re nothing more than our roles and jobs.
If we want our young people to live lives of faith, we need to live into the presence of Jesus. If the Christian faith is to offer any light, love or truth to young people, we have to move beyond words. We have to share not only the teaching of Jesus, but more importantly, the presence of Jesus. Contemplative youth ministry is an invitation to slow down and receive the young people in our lives. It is about refusing to be so busy that you overlook God within your ministry. It’s remembering that Jesus goes before and beside us. It’s about helping kids become alive in Christ."
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