We believe that if God has called you to be a part of our youth group, it is because He wants you to be blessed and to be a blessing. On top of that, if you are a believer in Jesus, you are not just a part of this group—you are a part of the eternal family of God. We’re going to spend forever together, so we might as well start serving God and loving Him together now.

Here are a few next steps you can take:

1. Keep coming: Our hope is that you will find and build life-giving and life-changing friendships & fellowship with our leaders and students. So, commit to coming to our weekly services, make time to go to events, and step out to our retreats. All of them are intended to help you grow in your relationship with God and His people.

2. Get connected: Be sure to share your phone number with your small group leader, and also fill out a connect card so that Pastor Josh can be there for you as your pastor. There will be highs and lows, and we want to be able to praise God with you on the mountaintops, pray with you in the valleys, and be with you on the journey in between. (Fill out a digital connect card here.)

3. Open the door: One of our goals is to provide a safe place with trustworthy leaders where you can be vulnerable, confess sin, and share struggles. Our small groups are also a great place to foster Christ-centered friendships, so you are strongly encouraged to invest in those times. Be willing to engage, share what’s going on in your life, and pray for one another.

4. Sign up to serve: Jesus said, “Seek first the Kingdom of God, and the rest will be added unto you.” Serving in our group is a great way to be a blessing and to experience all that God has for you here. (Sign up to serve here.)

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. - Romans 10:9

“Jesus is Lord”

Lord means king, this means you are giving up ownership of your own life and giving it back to the one who created you. You do so because you believe He is who He says He is, did what He said He did. You believe He is wiser than you, stronger than you, even loves you more than you…therefore He is worthy of leading your life and your life itself. Even though you don’t understand all that He is or is doing, you know Him enough to trust Him with your life and your forever. This will look like obeying Him, prioritizing Him, seeking Him, and trusting Him through thick and thin.

“Believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

You are not only welcome here; we want you to know that we are honored to have you among us. It is admirable that you are here seeking God, even if you aren’t sure about Him. One thing that sets Jesus apart from others is how He loved those whom others saw as “ungodly.” In fact, He was given the title “the friend of sinners.” Our prayer is that you would experience Jesus for yourself and that He would reveal Himself to you personally and through His Word biblically.

God does not call you to have a “blind faith” in Him, but instead, a biblical one. That means if you want to have faith for yourself, you need to know the Bible for yourself. The truth is not afraid of investigation; in fact, it is only proven by it. We would be honored to process with you any questions you may have about God. Please reach out to Pastor Josh or your small group leader at service—they would be honored to help you find answers from God’s Word.

What an amazing desire God has given you! He has not called you to just go to church, but to be the church. The best way to grow is to seek and serve God—both in church and in your daily life.

Read the Bible Daily

God’s Word is called our “daily bread”—it nourishes our spirit in ways we both understand and don’t.

• Read John to get to know Jesus more.

• Study Proverbs for wisdom.

• Study James or 1 John for practical guidance on following Jesus.

• Study Romans to understand how and why we are saved.

• Study Philippians for God’s instructions on our thoughts and mindset.

• Pray through Psalms to grow in prayer and praise.

Pray at the Beginning, End and throughout your Day

Then, keep an ongoing conversation with God throughout your day. A helpful way to structure your prayer:

• Start with praise – Thank God for who He is and what He has done & is doing.

• Ask God to have His way in your life.

• Seek His help in areas where you struggle.

• Confess your sins and ask Him to help you forgive others.

• Ask for guidance and strength to overcome temptation.

• End with praise again.

Writing out your prayers is also a great way to focus your mind and reflect on how God answers over time.

Share the Gospel

God has called us to know Him and make Him known. Don’t hide what God is doing in your life or stay silent about the Good News. Share it with your friends, family members, and anyone God puts in your path. Let the Holy Spirit—who lives in every believer—lead you in how to do so. You can invite others to church, pray for them, ask them about their beliefs, or simply follow how the Spirit leads you.

Serve & Connect

Make the most of the opportunities God presents, whether it’s a need at church or a gift He has given you to serve. Take the opportunity to serve—your family, your friends, and your community. When in small groups, open up, ask for prayer, and share what God is doing in your life. Connect with students outside of service and seek God together.