Students Connect with God and each other

I've spent a good part of the day today getting ready for our first official gathering of students at the Pizza Pub this evening (Wednesdays are all-you-can-eat pizza and Pizza Pub has great pizza!) In addition to talking about upcoming events and brainstorming youth group name ideas, we'll be unveiling the new Journey North Student Ministries Connect small groups.

I am very excited about this for a number of reasons, foremost is the fact that I truly believe that people grow best in small groups. As we launch this new church ministry in Pine City I want small groups to be at the very core of what we do in student ministries – built into the very DNA of who we are. The life-on-life interactions are invaluable in helping students walk close to Jesus. I am thrilled that we are implementing this small group ministry right at the very start of our church.

Here are some of our dreams for what our small group ministry will look like*:

• We want students to be known and cared for by other students and adults.
• We want students to form deep, authentic relationships with peers and adults.
• We want students to grow in their walk with Jesus.
• We want students to learn what it means to follow Christ.
• We want students to explore God’s Word together.
• We want students to consider their small group experience as a highlight and one of the best time investments of their week.

The groups will meet in a home each week and begin with a large group teaching time before dividing into smaller groups of about 3-5 students, each with an adult leader who will facilitate discussion, sharing, and prayer. The small group leader will shepherd the group throughout the year, building relationships and investing in the lives of these students.

I have seen God work in awesome ways through student small groups and can’t wait to see what God is going to do through this ministry!

*thanks to Matt McGill and Doug Fields’ resources on small group ministry for helping articulate several of these ideas. More great youth resources from them and others are available at www.simplyyouthministry.com