Maranatha Youth

John 5:21 is our key verse: "In the same way the Father raises [elevates] the dead and creates life, so does the Son." (MS) 

In a world of hurting teenagers who feel dead spiritually we want to be a ministry that Provides LIFE through Jesus Christ and allow Him to ELEVATE their spirits! 

 
Our purpose statement: 

• [WORSHIP] We are a worshipping community that helps students to know Christ, grow in Christ, and show Christ. We exist to be a Worshipping  Community that helps students 
• [FELLOWSHIP] Know Christ. (in a personal relationship and intimately)
• [EVANGELISM] Grow in Christ (become fully devoted followers of Christ)
• [DISCIPLESHIP] Show Christ (become leaders for Christ)
• [MINISTRY] Attempting to fulfill the 5 biblical purposes of our church within the youth ministry is our goal. 

We want to help the unchurched teenager become a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Here's some info for each category: 

I. Worship: Romans 12:1 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship." Our Wednesday night meeting offers an opportunity for students to worship God through dynamic worship music, hilarious drama, and listening to life related messages. 

II. Community: Acts 2:42-43 42 "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Currently, we do not have small groups or area bible studies. However, we are targeting January to start some groups where Christian students who are serious about their relationship with Jesus Christ can come and have true Biblical community with one another. 

III. Know Christ: Matthew 28:19-20 19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." We believe according to the great commission that Jesus gave, we must be reaching out to students who are Lost, those who don't know Christ. Our heartbeat is to equip our Christian students with the tools necessary to build friendships with students who do not know Christ. We issue a challenge to our students called the Friendship Evangelism Challenge, where they will list several friends who they would like to share their faith with. They begin praying for their friend hoping for an opportunity to invite them to church or share their faith. 

IV. Grow in Christ- Matthew 28:20 "and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." We are not only called to help students know Him, but also to Grow in Him. We encourage students growth to not be based upon our programming or activities at the church. We desire that they would develop spiritual disciplines or habits on their own. 

V. Show Christ- All of these other things would be futile if we were not active in service. We provide the students in our ministry many opportunities to be actively involved in what we do. From Greeting people on Wednesday nights to drama to singing to fasting for world hunger to sharing the Gospel on mission trips, elevate youth ministry wants to facilitate students being involved in a ministry of some type!