Hello Youth Families,
We are excited to share an important change coming to reNEW Youth this fall.
Beginning this fall, reNEW Youth will meet on Sundays from 5:30–7:30pm. We believe this change will help us better support the growth of our Youth Ministry, deepen faith formation, and welcome new families into our church community.
Over the past three years, reNEW Youth has experienced tremendous growth. We have watched our students grow in faith, build meaningful friendships, and engage more deeply in Scripture and service. Average Sunday participation has grown from 4 youth in spring 2024 to 10 youth in spring 2026, with attendance often reaching 14 students. Thank you for your support and partnership in making this ministry thrive.
As our Youth Ministry has grown, so has our church. With the addition of the 9:30am Modern Worship service and an increasing number of families participating in different worship times, we have been evaluating how best to structure the Youth Ministry for the future.
After prayerful consideration, our pastoral and program staff believe moving Youth Group to Sunday evenings will:
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Better serve all families, regardless of which worship service they attend.
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Provide more time for faith formation, allowing us to deepen discipleship and spiritual growth.
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Create greater opportunities for community, including shared meals and additional adult mentors and volunteers.
Our primary goal is to help students grow in their relationship with God and engage faithfully in the world, and we believe this schedule will help us do that more effectively.
This change will also affect those who participate in Youth Music. While the combined Youth Group/Worship Arts model has served our ministry well in many ways, the 45-minute schedule has limited the time available for faith formation and discussion. Moving forward, Youth Music will have its own dedicated timeslot. Anthony Williams is exploring and developing plans for next steps for the Youth Music program and has already begun conversations with students and families.
To help with the transition, we will host one special Youth event each month this summer from 5:30–7:30pm. Our first regular Youth Group gathering in the new time slot will be August 23, with our official Fall Launch on September 13.
We recognize that schedule changes can be challenging for families. If you have concerns or questions, we would love to hear from you. Please reach out to me, Zach Griggs, or any member of the pastoral team. We are committed to helping every family remain connected to reNEW Youth in a way that is faithful, life-giving, and realistic.
Thank you for your continued support of this ministry and the incredible young people who make it so special.
Peace and every good,
Zach Griggs
Family Ministry Coordinator