MSM & HSM: Student Ministries

Today’s culture is force feeding a message that is being easily digested by teenagers and preteens: Truth is relative. Students today are ill equipped to look at the messages bombarding them from the media through the lens of a Christian worldview. The result? A belief that conflicting ideas can be equally true. As Christians, we know that to be false.

The student ministry at Gladeville Baptist Church works diligently against the “Truth is relative” mantra. Our programs are designed to equip students to sift through the changing messages of today’s pop culture. We believe firmly that Truth is not relative and that investing in students will inspire them to influence positive change in their culture rather than conforming to it.

A glimpse at this ministry…

WORSHIP
The Premier for Middle School students and the District for High School students are midweek worship opportunities for students, and usually where they walk through our door for the first time. We have a place for students to hang out with their friends over a coke or a coffee, and there’s no pressure for them to do anything when they walk through the door. We play games, worship through music and other arts, and students hear a relevant message of Truth. The bounce-off-the-wall outgoing and the shy, quiet, more reserved teen will both find a comfortable fit at either of these services.
CONNECT
Sifting through all the relative truths targeted at young people today and finding absolute truth as a teenager is becoming increasingly more difficult. To help students grow in their relationship with Christ, we have ongoing Sunday morning groups for Middle School and High School students that meet every week at 9:30am. We dig into God’s Word and apply it directly to ever-changing teen culture. Students and caring adults discuss parents, dating relationships, work, peer pressure, friends,values, and boundaries all within the context of God’s perfect plan for their lives.

Small group Bible studies are a way for students to go even deeper in both their relationship with Christ and their relationships with their peers. Small groups are gender specific and meet in 6-8 week intervals 4-6 times a year, typically on Sunday nights. We find that this schedule works best for most students, and the absence of the opposite sex alleviates pressure and discussion barriers for guys and girls alike.

SERVICE
Middle School and High School students are encouraged to serve by participating in local missions and mission trips. Students who volunteer locally usually perform some type of service for the community or an individual.

Our Middle School ministry has a mission strategy to have one local trip where we serve our community and one away trip working with the World Changers organization.