STUDENT MINISTRY OVERVIEW:
PHILOSOPHY AND VALUES
Purpose: We exist to reach students with the gospel and lead them to become mature worshippers of God.
Student Ministry Values
• The family is the God-given agent for the discipleship of children (Deut. 6:4-9; Eph. 6:1-4).
The primary minister in a student’s life is his/her parents. While it is true that student ministry is important, it’s role is not to assume the responsibility given by God to the family. Therefore, we hope to partner with parents to support them in accomplishing their God given task. We seek to support, encourage, and train parents to fulfill this vital task.
• The Word of God is the foundation of ministry (2 Tim. 4:1-2; James 1:22-23; Psalm 119; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; John 17:17; 1 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 4:12).
It is our belief that the Word of God transforms lives. Without the centrality of God’s Word, any ministry loses its focus and, as a result, opportunities for lasting spiritual impact are diminished. Therefore, from start to finish, the Scriptures permeate all that we do.
• Leading students to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ is the only worthy goal (Eph. 2:1-10; Phil.3:7-11).
Games, events, craziness of all kinds is great, but only when they work to accomplish the ultimate goal – saving faith in Jesus Christ. For this reason, all that we do will be designed with this end in mind. Our goal is not to entertain students or to have the coolest ministry in town, but to remain true to the gospel, trusting that God can, and will change student’s lives. We will send our students on mission to take the message of the gospel to their schools, sports teams, families, and around the world.
• All people matter to God (Luke 15; Luke 19:10; Rom. 5:8; 1 Tim. 1:15-17; 2 Pet. 3:9).
In case you haven’t noticed, students come in all types of different packages: whether it is style of dress, type of lifestyle, or personal background. All people matter to God. Therefore it is our desire to make a maximum impact on them all and allow them to come face to face with the message of the gospel.
KINGDOM SEEKERS STUDENT MINISTRY HANDBOOK
• God wants to use students to do great things.
Our country has high expectations for students and so do we. Students are leaving high school to play in the NBA, to serve in the Army and die for their country, and they are winning gold in the Olympic Games. The school system challenges students academically, athletic programs challenge students athletically, and we are going to challenge students spiritually and theologically. We believe that students are tired of being treated like children. We believe that they want to be challenged to do something great and radical for Christ. If students can learn physics, chemistry, biology, and calculus, then they can learn theology. If students can go to war in another country to die for our freedom, then they can go as a missionary to another country and die for Christ.
• The church is the body of Christ, and student ministry has a responsibility in that body (1 Cor.12; Eph. 4:1-16; Col. 3:15).
Student ministry is not a separate church, rather we gladly submit to the authority of Faith Baptist Church. We desire to plug students into the body to form an intergenerational worshipping community. One question we continually ask is, “How can we involve students more and more into the life of the whole church?”
• Spiritual growth takes place in the context of accountable relationships (Luke 6:12-13; Matt.18:15-20; Phil. 3:17; Tit. 2).
The Christian life was not designed to be lived in isolation. God has given us the amazing gift of other believers who can help spur on our spiritual maturation. For this reason we seek to connect students to mature believers for the purpose of discipleship.
• Discipleship with students is a process (1 Cor. 3:5-8; Eph. 5:17-24; Phil. 2:12-13; Rom. 6:4; 1Cor.9:24-27; Col. 3:1-17).
It will not happen overnight and therefore, we are in it for the long haul. There will be highs and lows, but we will stick with students through the journey, trusting that the Lord will sanctify His children.
Student Ministry Process:
- Worshipper
Worship is the attribution of love, attention, devotion, or worth to anything or anyone. All of humanity worships someone or something.
- Worshipper of God
The question is not, “Do you worship?” but rather, “Who or what do you worship?” It might be a boyfriend or girlfriend, a video game, a sport, a computer, or the TV—the reality is that often things and people take the place of God. We desire to properly direct our students’ worship to the One True God. Worship is the primary purpose for which God created humans. In this sense, worship can be defined as the humble response of the whole person (mind, will, and emotions) to God in light of the gospel. Students will begin to live by this principle, “Life is not about me, and it’s all about GOD!”
- Mature Worshipper of God
However properly directing worship to God is only the beginning. Students then begin the journey of learning how to worship God with every area of their lives (school work, sports, relationships, home life, church life, etc.). Worship in this sense is not just about singing, but about living. Living a life that is characterized by obedience to God’s Word and reflects the life of Christ. This person can agree with the Psalmist that the Word of God is “sweeter than honey” and “more precious than gold.”
- Mature and Missional Worshipper of God
Mature worshippers of God then begin to understand that God has a mission for their lives. Missional worshippers of God view their whole life as on mission for God. We believe that all students are missionaries, beginning in their community and going to the very ends of the earth. Their lives are characterized by intentionally developing relationships in every sphere of their lives with the goal of sharing the gospel.