Section Title: Youth Ministry
link to the Youth section home page titled the board
link to the page where the youth ministry mission is stated
link to youth bible study page
link to youth fellowship page
link to youth mission page
link to the youth group music page
link to youth sunday school and confirmation page
link to youth trips and special events page
link to permission forms for youth trips and special events
link to the West Schloarships page
 
First Nights @ First
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Matthew 22:37-40

Bible Study
As a part of our First Nights @ First program, our youth meet regularly on Sunday evenings in the Rec Room of the West Youth Center. We spend time considering how we can grow in our relationship with God and with one another, deepen our sense of discipleship, and learn to live in Christian community through music, games, drama, study, prayer, and fun. We feel that this multi-disciplinary approach offers each youth many places to enter into the discussion and grow into their faith in Christ.
Middle School Youth, 6-7pm
High School Youth, 7:15-8:15pm

Mission Activities
All of our Mission Events are focused on getting our youth outside of their comfort zone and facilitating opportunities for them to learn how serving others expands their relationship with God by following Christ's example of self-giving love.

United Ministries of Sumter
United Ministries of Sumter County is an organization, supported by multiple churches throughout our area, that provides crisis management, counseling, food, as well as a range of further serives to those most in need throughout our community. Throughout the year, our Youth Group raises money and gathers non-perishable items (i.e. canned goods, etc.) for United Ministries through our annual "Fall Canned Food Drive" and the "SOUPerbowl of Caring." In addition, each Christmas season our Youth Group participates in the Christmas "Angel Tree" Gift Delivery during the week before Christmas.

Samaritan House
The Samaritan House is an extension of United Ministries that provides temporary shelter for the homeless population in our community. Approximately every other month our High School Youth Group goes to take dinner and to spend time with the residents.

Crosswell Children's Home
Crosswell was started in 1935 to provide a place at which local orphans could live. Today it provides a home for children who unable to stay with their families for a variety of reaasons. Approximately every other month our Middle School Youth Group goes to play games and spend time with the children living there.

Fellowship
Throughout the year, our Youth Group takes part in various fellowship events. Some of these are All-Church-Events, such as the Kick-Off Picnic and Chili Cook-Off. Many of these events are just for youth, such as our Super Bowl and Christmas Parties. And each semester the Youth Group as a whole takes a turn cooking dinner for our First Nights @ First program. This type of event occur approximately once a month and will be on the montly calendar. These events are designed for the group to have fun together and to learn what it means to display God's love to others by the way we live and play together.