Mission: Youth

Our ministry philosophy is based on the biblical command on parents to act as primary disciple-makers of their children (cf. Eph. 6:4). Based on this, we expect the home to be a model of Christian discipleship that prioritizes the Godward orientation of the next generation. This prioritization includes but is not limited to family worship, catechizing in central doctrines, regular prayer, accountability, and influence upon the mind.

We are fully aware many children are raised in broken homes or unbiblical homes and will outreach accordingly. However, a church is designed to gather for growth and then scatter to witness, so our primary objective is the maturity of the saints. Due to the recent surge of immoral instruction from the secular school system we advocate various forms of private school or home school while understanding this is not feasible for every family. Further, we advocate the biblical model of the father providing for the home while the mother remains home with school-aged children to provide instruction and accountability.

Because we are a continuation ministry, receiving parents from Mission: Kids, we heartily recommend parents read and implement the parenting forms prescribed in “Shepherding a Child’s Heart” by Tedd Tripp and “Age of Opportunity” by Paul Tripp.

Although we are aware of the modern paradigm regarding adolescence, we do not agree with this definition, specifically that a young adult should be allowed multiple years (e.g., age 13-24) to experiment, party, act immaturely, blame hormones, disrespect authority, or be monetarily funded by parents or the state for loose living. We argue that a healthy biblical worldview condones children trained to engage the world as adults by their teenage years. To this end, we expect the youth to join in Sunday corporate worship, participate in small groups, and begin serving in ministry.

Our goal is that students will graduate from the ministry but never graduate from the body of Christ. We expect many to stay right here in Orange County and continue as the next generation of leaders for Mission: Youth. By the time young adults are ready to graduate, a Youth leads will sit with them and assess whether they can provide a biblical assessment of the following:

Personal Holiness
• Avoidance of habitual sin
• Spiritual disciplines, and ordinances
• Controlled temper and tongue
• Stewardship, debt, budgeting
• No vices, addictions, etc.

Holy Home
• Importance of marital purity
• Loving husband, respectful wife
• How to raise their future children
• Importance of family worship

Public Rapport
• Consistently joyful outlook
• Regular attendance and ministry
• Respectful dress
• Respectful of authority
• Kindly offers opinion and input

Theology
• Clear Gospel presentation
• Name books and genres of Scripture
• Systematized theology

As parents provide primary discipleship for their students, it is the role of the church to support and equip them in this multi-decade process. The key to this statement is the word "support," which is far different from the modern form of institutional youth ministry that acts as a replacement for the home. The task of an excellent student ministry is to offer parents resources and assistance that aligns with and mirrors the biblical doctrine being taught in the home.

Mission: Youth aims to provide an avenue for students to gather with their peers under the preaching and teaching of God's Word, worship, and discipleship groups during the midweek gathering. By utilizing weeknights for youth-focused ministry: (1) students are provided with an opportunity to grow in the word and faith as well as build relationships with like-minded teens, and (2) they are integrated into Sunday worship and provided with opportunities to serve with the larger church body. Alongside the midweek gathering, Mission: Youth offers frequent events to help students connect and develop long-lasting Christian relationships.

Youth ministry leaders are church members who have been vetted by church leadership to support the Family Pastor and Youth Ministry Coordinator in the mission to assist families in producing teenage disciples. Each leader will be granted a cohort of 3-4 families and engage their youth weekly to offer biblical counsel and encouragement aligning with the parents' preset objectives. All Youth leaders have been background checked and have also undergone Sexual Abuse Awareness Training.