Our youth ministry is not an exclusive club within our main church body, but rather an extension of the main ministry of Calvary Chapel Southeast. Therefore, our goal as a ministry aligns with the mission of Calvary Southeast. We seek to connect students with Jesus, their true healer and Savior, and encourage fellowship with other believing students. Everything we do as a youth group, events, retreats, missions trips, and weekly youth gatherings, has this goal in mind. Our ministry is designed to be a place where all students, whether or not they are actively walking with the Lord, can be pointed to Jesus. This is more than merely allowing the students to have fun or seeking to attract the largest number of students possible. Our goal is to connect the students that walk through our doors with their Savior, Jesus Christ.

Because the student ministry is an extension of the church body, we accomplish our goals through both whole church activities and youth specific events for a cohesive environment.

Acts 2:42 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

The Apostles Teaching (Scripture)

We emphasize teaching Scripture at our weekly youth gatherings, as well as many of our youth events. Consistent Bible teaching allows the Holy Spirit to speak to our students in order to encourage, direct, and convict.

'All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.' 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT

The Fellowship (The Church)

We allow ample time at events and our weekly youth gatherings for students to connect with each other and with their leaders. This is not only a time of fun for the students, but allows God to speak to them through their peers and through their leaders.

Hebrews 10:25 “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Breaking of Bread (Intimacy)

While we do take communion together as a group, this verse also speaks to the intimacy of a shared meal. We seek to make our youth group an environment where students can be open, vulnerable, and honest with their peers and leaders. This includes students sharing each other's joys, but also confessing sin and brokenness to one another and allowing the Lord to heal.

'Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. ' James 5:16

Prayer (Communication with God)

We do spend time praying together as a group, but we also desire first and foremost for our group to be a place for students to connect with Jesus. This is done through all of our activities.

'Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you…” James 4:8a

The goal of these activities is to transform the lives of students through contact with Jesus. We desire to actively disciple each student in our ministry to be more like Jesus. Here is what we are hoping to accomplish through our youth ministry.

Nuture the Youth Already in the Church

We want this to be a place for young believers to be encouraged, convicted of sin, motivated towards loving each other and towards service to Jesus.

2 Peter 3:18 “Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”

Equip Followers of Jesus

We want the students who go through our ministry to be equipped to serve Jesus in the Church as well as in the rest of the world. This means being equipped with Biblical knowledge and practical skills of ministry such as teaching, worship leading, and general service. This also means learning to rely on the Holy Spirit for wisdom and strength to accomplish these things.

Ephesians 4:12-13 “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,”

Colossians 1:28 “He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.”

Teach Followers of Jesus to Help Others Follow Jesus

We want the students to not only grow in their own faith, but to learn how to encourage and equip other followers of Jesus as well.

'And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Spread the Gospel

This is also a group to minister to those who don’t know or haven't personalized the Gospel of Jesus. If an unbeliever walks through the doors during one of our youth gatherings, we want to make every effort to introduce them to Jesus and the gospel message. This is done both from leader to student as well as student to student.

'How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Romans 10:14-15

A healthy student in our ministry should consistently be growing in their love of others and of God. They should be actively growing not only in their knowledge of the Bible, but learning to apply the Word to their day to day lives. They should be actively encouraging other students to follow Jesus. Students should become representatives of Jesus not only within our group, but in their daily lives at home, school, and work, spreading the Gospel message wherever they go.

The goal is not perfection in these areas, but consistency.