Youth

First Baptist Church Youth Ministry 

WHO WE ARE:

Our youth ministry at First Baptist consists of students grades 6th-12th.  As a church staff, we have attended seminars based on research out of Fuller Seminary regarding “sticky faith.”  We are committed to helping our students develop a faith that sticks and a deep relationship with God that lasts way beyond our youth group.   We also want to create an atmosphere where students feel safe, welcome, loved, and cared for by Christian adults.  We make sure to have numerous adults pouring into our students both on Sundays, Wednesdays, and at every event we do.  We sometimes have more adults volunteering than youth attending, because we believe intergenerational relationships are vital to developing sticky faith.  

We asked our students how they would describe themselves as the youth group at First Baptist.  Their response to this question:  FAMILY.

F:  We desire to be faithful followers of Jesus, and at the same time faithful friends toward one  another.

A:  We seek to be attentive to God’s action in our lives and in our world. 

M:  We believe God’s mission is to bring reconciliation to a broken and hurting world.  We desire to partner with God in his mission of making all things new in our city, schools, families, friendships, and world. 

I:  We know God is intentional in his love for all people whom he has created in his image.  We  seek to be   intentional in loving God and all of his creation, and in reminding ourselves and others our identity is found in Christ.  

L:   We seek to learn from one another with patience and love, to laugh together, and to encourage one another to step into leadership in our church and community with our gifts and  passions.  

Y:  We are a youth ministry, but we are so much more than that. We believe youth are not the future of the church, but a vital part of the church today.  We strive to provide a safe and encouraging space for young   and old to mutually invest in one another as we grow in wisdom together.

WHAT WE DO:

Sunday Morning:

Every Sunday morning at 9:15am, our students gather in the Youth Center for donuts and discussion on Scripture and theology.

Wednesday Night:

Every Wednesday night we join the entire church in what FBC calls “The Gathering.”  This is a time for dinner and intergenerational prayer beginning at 5:15pm to 6pm.  From 6-7:30pm, our students gather in the Youth Center for youth group — a night of worship, fellowship, fun, and a forum centered on the biblical narrative. 

Winter Discipleship Conference

In February each winter our middle school and high school students attend a conference in Dallas, TX called Planet Wisdom.  At Planet Wisdom, thousands of students gather to worship together and grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus.  We stay in a hotel, eat at delicious restaurants, and spend time together as a youth group!

Spring Break Mission Trip

On Caddo School District spring break each year, we take our middle school and high school students on a mission trip.  The last two years we have gone to Houston, TX to work with our homeless brothers and sisters, as well as at risk little children living in poverty through several ministries in the city.  Student devote this entire week to learning how to be a servant leader and love like Jesus loves.

Summer Camp

Every summer in July, FBC youth attend summer camp together.  The past two years we have joined with other Baptist churches from Texas and Oklahoma to go to “MountainCamp” in Winter Park, Colorado.  Students stay at a ski resort and enjoy Colorado’s summer outdoor activities such as: hiking, white water rafting, mountain biking, alpine slides, horse back riding, and much more!  Each day we gather for meals and fellowship, worship, and small group Bible studies.  

Fall Retreat

This past fall we started a new tradition for our youth group, an in town retreat called “Breathe Retreat.”  Students were asked to miss school and extra curricular activities in order to commit an entire weekend to studying Scripture, developing new spiritual disciplines, and discovering what it looks like to truly live as a disciple of Jesus.  We worshipped, studied Scripture, had a bonfire on the beach, played capture the flag, had a movie night, and ate delicious home made food.  Each year the retreat will fall sometime in November.