FRCC Youth Plan

Cultivating Healthy Environments for Growing our Teens

For More information, download the "Understanding our approach to Family-Based Youth Ministry" document here

THE GOAL

We are a “family growing people to the glory of God.” An integral part of growing our family is to grow and shape our young people in the image of Christ. In order to grow, our young people need rich environments. The purpose of this plan is to set forth a strategy to foster rich environments in which our young people may develop a life-long faith grounded in Christ.

THE PLAN

1. An Environment of Stability – Elder Care of Families and Teens.

The Eldership and youth leadership is committed to the growth of our youth and involvement in their spiritual development. The Eldership and youth leadership has spent considerable time thinking and praying about the hopes, thoughts and concerns of our youth and their families. As a result, in addition to general oversight and shepherding of our youth, the

Elders and youth leadership are committed to the following:

Continuing to build relationships with the youth and parents.
Helping to equip families and youth to reach spiritual goals.
Meeting individually with youth for spiritual guidance & help.
Shepherding parents and meeting with them one-on-one.
Mentoring youth leadership.
Heading the Search for Summer Intern.
Helping to equip families and youth to reach spiritual goals.
Hosting a progressive dinner at various Elders’ homes
Hosting youth devotionals several times a year.
There will be a teen Wednesday night Bible Class.
Elders will teach Sunday Morning Bible Class as needed
Will attend teen events/activities.
Will seek out teens that participate sporadically to bring them in.

2. An Environment of Support & Opportunities To Grow.

In order to grow, our youth and parents need opportunities --- and the Eldership and youth leadership are committed to providing those opportunities. In addition to the support and opportunities described other places, the Elders and youth leadership are committed to the following:

Offering a Christian homebuilding class all next year on Sunday morning
Offering a “parents of teens” class in the Fall on Wednesday night
Offering a Mentoring Ministry so teens can learn to serve
Offering a Marriage Class for parents in the Spring on Wednesday night
Offering Parents opportunities to plan events for their teens

3. An Environment of Learning and Fun.

Teens need to learn, but they also need fellowship with other Christian teens so they can encourage each other, support each other and learn from each other. This year the Eldership and youth leadership are committed to the following:

Teen lock-ins
Youth In Action Mission Trip.
Seek out spiritually-oriented activities with other Church of Christ youth groups.
Participate in service projects.
Teen devotional every 2^nd Sunday evening of the month – hosted by Bryndyn or an Elder.
Teen devotional every 4^th Sunday at various members homes so teens can meet other members.
Bible Study Sunday Mornings
Bible study Wednesday evenings
Leadership Training for Christ (Fall thru Spring, with the convention in Kansas City the Saturday before Easter)
Have a representative for youth on Education Committee.
Providing opportunities for our teens to have times of fun and fellowship together.

4. An Environment of Belonging and Friendship.

In order to grow in Christ, our young people need a healthy and safe environment. A place where they can be themselves. A place where they can open-up and be accepted. A place where they are supported by their peers in their dreams, questions, confusion and hurts of being a teen. A place where they can be vulnerable and not be criticized. A place where they can be Christians and where Christian behavior is modeled and expected. A place where the values and attitudes of Christ are the attitudes and values of the youth group.

The Eldership and youth leadership are committed to creating such an environment. With this in mind there are some expectations of our teens as to their conduct and attitudes as follows:

Teens need to be respectful of any and all who are leading, assisting, or chaperoning a class, event, and/ or activity.
Teens expected to arrive on time for Bible class and events.
Teens expected to stay for duration of entire event unless otherwise agreed by parent and supervisor.
Teens are expected to be respectful of each other in order to build a community of love and to exhibit Christ-like behaviors. Disrespect of adults or fellow teens will not be tolerated.
Relationships between teens are inevitable, so it is expected that those who attend any youth function should realize that the function is a Christ-centered activity where HE should be our focus. Youth functions are NOT dates.
Teens will be expected to support one another.
Teens will be expected to think and act as teammates.
Teens need to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with Christian living.

Consequences: The Eldership and leadership are confident our young people will be able to act appropriately, but on occasion if not, the first consequence will be a warning. If the behavior or attitude does not change, it may be necessary to remove a teen from the class or activity and speak with the parent. If a teen is removed more than once, the parent will be asked to sit in on the classes, or be a chaperone at the teen event that the teen wants to be a part of. If inappropriate behavior continues, more serious consequences, such as removal from the youth group for a period of time, will be considered.

The rational is not to punish but rather to foster a healthy environment. The Eldership and youth leadership will not allow behaviors or actions of one or more jeopardize the attitude and spirit of the youth group in general.

5. An Environment of Richness and Consistency.

For our young people to grow, they need richness and consistency. Part of that consistency includes parents and families of our young people fostering an environment of spiritual growth in the home. It is the responsibility of parents to create such an environment and the Eldership and youth leadership want to help and guide families in that process. Part of creating a rich environment is supporting the spiritual activities of the youth. The Eldership and youth leadership expect parents to do the following:

Assist in planning youth events.
Host devotionals.
Chaperone youth events.
Attend some of the youth functions.
Work with the parent coordinator to help the facilitator the work to:
Plan and implement eight events through-out the year.
Plan and implement the High School Banquet (parents of 8^th through 11^th graders).

6. Conclusion – A Family Growing People to the Glory of God -- A Legacy for Life.

The Fairview Road Church of Christ is a family growing people to the glory of God. Guiding teenagers through this time in their lives is certainly a “family” affair and will require the work of all: Eldership, Youth Leadership, Parents, Other Members and the Teens. While it takes effort, the work is worth the reward – a relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord. A relationship that, started early, will continue now and forever.