Student Mission

 

Student Mission?  Don't we mean Student Ministry?

 

We’ve tried “student ministry,” and we haven’t found it to be very effective for shepherding students toward a lasting faith in Christ. Calling what we do with youth “student mission” marks a change in direction in our efforts to reach teenagers with the gospel message of the saving love of Jesus.  Student ministry, in its typical form, often leads students to view the church as a place where they are entertained and served, rather than a place to worship and serve the God who made them. Student ministry often encourages students to attend events, rather than to become something lasting - a disciple of Jesus Christ. Student ministry often has very low expectations for students, rather than challenging them to take their spiritual lives seriously, to study God’s Word, and to actually live out its message in their daily lives.

In addition, we seek to have a presence in the places where young people spend their time and to equip youth with the ability to share their faith and lead in the local church. Young people today often spend much of their time in a culture that segregated from older generations and is not Christ-centered, which provides them a great opportunity to share their faith if they’re strong in their faith, but also the potential to be molded by the world if they’re not. Our desire is to have young people join us in our mission to reach their generation and to take what they learn in the local church into their schools and peer groups.

Lastly, in light of Titus 2, where the Scriptures declare that older men should teach younger men, and older women should teach younger men, we’re praying for, and actively pursuing, adults (of all ages) to "walk with" our young people, from seventh grade through graduation and beyond. We want to create a covenant family of aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas, mentors, and friends in Christ who will support, pray for and encourage each one our youth with the love of Christ. As a church we take seriously the call of Christ to live as a covenant family and to support each other, regardless of age, in our walk with Jesus.

In this way, by challenging youth to learn to study and understand God’s Word, teaching youth to share their faith and learn to lead in the local church, and connecting them with older generations of Christians, we’re on mission!
 

Our Mission

We extend the transforming presence of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ by brining students into the body of Christ, nurturing them in their relationship with Christ, equipping them to serve in the name of Christ, all by the grace of God, all for the glory of God. We’re playing for keeps!

 

Contacts: Sandy Tuinstra, Decon of Christian Education

 

Sunday School Hour, 9:00 - 10:00 AM

 

Blast (Bringing Light and Sowing Truth)

"Catechism Kaleidoscope", study through the Westminster Confession of Faith

Teachers: Trent & Dawn Vis
Room: Youth Classroom, East wing, lower level

 

New Life (High School Mission)

"Burn This Book", devotional by Garth Heckman

Teachers: Amanda Carlson
Sundays, 9 to 10 am.
Room: Youth Room, East wing, lower level
 

 

Sunday Evening Student Mission, 6:30 - 8:00 PM

 

New Life (High School)

We meet every Sunday night for fellowship, fun, worship and teaching about how to live out the wisdom of the Bible practically in our lives.

Leader: Amanda Carlson

Room: Youth Room, East wing, lower level

 

For more information, please visit the youth website at www.westkirkyouth.org

 

WOW (Westkirk on Wednesdays)

Schedule

5:30 - 6:15 Supper in the Great Hall

6:15 - 7:30 Discipleship for all ages

7:30 - 8:30 Choir Rehearsal

 

Relational, relevant and edgy, the GOSPEL Journey is all about real questions and real conversations,.  Seven young strangers with divers spiritual worldviews and a Preacher named Greg Stier explore spiritual questions together, triggering intense spiritual dialogue and a tidal wave of emotions.  "Is there a higher power?  What is the purpose of life?  What happens when we die?"  Ultimately it boiled down to this:  Can everyone be right?  The focus of this curriculum to help Christian and non-Christian students understand the gospel together, seeking to understand the message of Jesus more fully and how to share that message within the context of youth culture.  Both Blast (Middle School) and New Life (High School) will study the GOSPEL Journey together each week and break up into small groups, divided by age, for discussion of each lesson.

 

BLAST (middle School Youth Mission)

Leader: Amanda Carlson

Room: Youth Room, East wing

 

New Life (High School Youth Mission)

Leaders: Mark and Hanna DeGroot, Molly Yentes, and Scott Withers

Room: Youth Room East wing