Youth Ministries

Keeping on the right path with Christ, through active service, Bible study and inclusive fellowship is what JUMC's youth program is all about. Led by Debbie Bell, Director of Youth Ministry, these activities are held during the academic school year.  Summer schedules are different.  Calendar of events and summer schedules are published in weekly bulletins and monthly newsletters.  Come Join Us!

Methodist Youth Fellowship -Middle School (Sunday Evening)

Middle School Schedule

5:00 arrive and gather in the gathering room (lobby)

5-5:30 rec

5:30-6:30 Bible Study.

In Middle School we learn how to be a Christian in today's society.  We discuss scripture, service, witnessing, being Christ-like, and our developing beliefs.  Our program aims to help our youth become the disciples they are capable of being.  Keeping our faith while coping with the ups and downs of early adolescence is a constant conversation.  During our F.A.I.T.H times we serve the community by painting, recycling, reading to students in the elementary schools, etc.

 Methodist Youth Fellowship -High School (Wednesday Night)

High School Schedule

 6-7:00    High school students arrive and often eat family night supper together.  (As of 10/13/08 the cost is $4)

6:15-7    High school students are encouraged to join the handbell choir if they choose to.

7-8:00    Bible Study or C.C.M.A.D (Christians Can Make A Difference)

8-8:30    Extra discussion time with youth leaders or extra Bible study time.

In the high school youth group we learn how we can affect the world as a Christian.  We discuss scripture, service, witnessing, being Christ-like, and our developing beliefs.  Our high school youth grow into true disciples who hold strong beliefs and are ready to spread the word of God.  We aim to be tolerant and understanding of others and as John Wesley stated, "Do all the good we can, to all the people we can, for as long as we can."  Learning what it means to be a United Methodist is key to this part of our program.  "Open doors, open hearts, and open minds" is the mantra we aspire to be.  Keeping our faith and contributing to our world while coping with teenage issues are our areas of focus.

Full Schedule of Activities

Throughout the year, spiritual life retreats, week-long mission trips, wilderness trips, service projects, and numerous other challenging activities are offered. We offer a very busy summer of fellowship, service and leadership development opportunities.

Youth Mission Trip   

Each year we take about 25 youth and chaperones on a 5-7 day working mission trip.  We balance service, worship, and fun in a week-long experience that our youth talk about for years to come.  We have built wheelchair ramps, painted houses, gleaned crops, re-roofed a church, landscaped, chopped wood, cleaned, and done general house repairs.  More photographs can be seen on the walls of the youth hallway outside the sunday school classes.  If you think your son/daughter would like to be a part of our group, please join our youth on Wednesday nights or Sunday mornings to bond and fellowhsip with us.

 This year we went to Brunswick, GA and painted a house, pressure washed houses, cleaned up backyards, hung drywall, fixed fascia and soffit, painted lattice, and worked in a soup kitchen.  But we had some fun too.  We walked around Savannah, went to the beach on Jekyll Island and St. Simons, walked on the pier at St. Simons, went to a waterpark, watched a movie, played Kinko, and had a blast bowling.  We are all already looking forward to next year's mission trip. 

Sunday School

We offer Sunday School year round for our youth.   There is currently a 6th-8th grade Sunday School class and a 9th-12th grade class.  Both are located on the west end of the third floor of the education building.  We encourage families to attend Sunday School and the worship service. The youth Sunday School classes begin at 10:00 a.m. Our church's contemporary service starts at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall and traditional service begins at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary.

Leadership Opportunities

Youth are not the leaders of tomorrow, but of today. Many opportunities for leadership and growth are given within this church, but also on the district and conference levels. Our youth have held the positions of  president for the district and chaplain for the conference youth organization.