Foundations for Youth Ministry
Whose job is it? We at New Life Presbyterian Church (NLPC) believe the primary responsibility for training children to know and serve the Lord Jesus Christ belongs to parents. This belief is founded upon the clear teaching of scripture:
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the way, when you lie down and when you get up.
Ephesians 6:4 - Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
So what should the church be doing? The church's responsibility, then, is to assist parents in ministering to the young people within their homes. NLPC is committed to helping parents in whatever way necessary as they seek to mold their children into faithful believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
How New Life Plans to Help
By encouraging and enabling parents. The Elders of NLPC are committed to provide Biblical encouragement and training for the parents in this church, particularly for fathers. This happens at New Life in several arenas:
1) During the worship service
2) At the adult Christian Education classes
3) At our men's meetings
4) Through dedicated men’s discipleship
5) By helping parents to have social times with their families and encouraging them to plan other events for those of the church
At New Life, our goal is that every father becomes the "youth pastor" of his home.
By providing solid Biblical teaching to our church's young people. The leadership of NLPC sees the teaching of the church's young people as one of its highest priorities. We at New Life are especially committed to providing our high-school age youth with the Biblical wisdom they need to thrive as God's people living within a hostile world. This commitment is demonstrated in the following:
1) In our senior high Christian Education curriculum that is particularly tailored to the needs of young people desiring to serve the Lord with all their heart.
2) In our yearly seminars that are designed to provide Christ's young people with the tools they will need to wage war with the kingdom of darkness.
3) By scheduling at least regular yearly contact between our Elders and senior high youth through occasional individual meetings and Sunday school instruction.
At New Life, our goal is that every young person growing up in this church will be thoroughly equipped to be a mighty warrior for Christ's kingdom with a solid understanding of His mission in whatever vocation the Lord has planned for them.
By providing opportunities for our young people to serve the Lord's body at New Life. NLPC welcomes and encourages the participation of young people in the church's ministries:
1) Young people from grades 10-12 are greatly encouraged to attend and participate in our church's bi-monthly prayer meetings.
2) Youth of all ages are encouraged to serve the Lord's people through a variety of other existing church ministries – from assisting with mercy meals to helping with the maintenance of the building and its grounds.
3) Short-term missions trips will allow opportunities for all of our youth to participate in God’s work outside our church.
At New Life, our goal is that children will realize what is true of them – namely that they are not just a vital part of Christ's church in the future, but that they are a vital part of Christ's church NOW. This will prepare our children for service to the Lord's people wherever the Lord may take them in their lives.