Students at First Christian Church of Chicago are vital to our ministry, and vital to the life of the Church. Our students are essentially the lifeblood for the future of our congregation.

So in order to be effective in ministering to our students, our Student Ministry must help students build the foundation for a life of loving, following and serving Jesus. That task requires that the entire church body engage in helping students become like Christ, an engage students in helping others become like Christ.

While our ministry has some programs for specific age groups, our approach is in contast to Student Ministries which isolate students within their own programs with limited to no contact with adults in the church family. Ministries like these have led the church to a place where 80% of American students who grow up in church now leave the church upon graduation from high school.

Our approach to Student Ministry embraces the following principles:

1. Students need to be included in the larger life of the Church body. When possible, "adult" ministries need to be adapted to embrace the presence of students along side of the adults, instead of always segregating church programs by age.

2. Students need to have relationships with the broader Church membership. Many adults have valuable insights that would help students grow more like Christ, so we encourage the development of relationships across the generations.

3. Students need to make meaningful contribution to ministry. We begin early letting student know the joy of serving others. By High School, we work with students in helping them discover their God-designed place for ministry, and help them plug it into "adult" ministry.

Student ministry at First Christian Church of Chicago seeks to help students cooperate with the entire Church body in building Christ-likeness in others. For more information about our Student Ministry, contact Gincy Hartin at gbhartin.fcc@comcast.net.

Click below to listen to Gincy's Student Sunday Sermon from October 30th, 2011.

Children's Ministry Environments 

 SUNDAY

10:00AM

• Preschool Worship Programs (Toddlers, Pre-K & Kindergarten) during Worship Celebration - Bible teaching,  and worship activities
• Worship Celebration - Elementary Age students participate in with adults and teenage students for a time of worship and a practical Bible lesson.

11:30AM 

• Preschool Active Learning - games, crafts and activities for Toddlers, Pre-K & Kindergarten to reinforce their teaching for the day.
• Connection Groups - Elementary Age Students discuss together how they can live out the ideas shared in the teaching during Worship Celebration.

OTHER CHILDREN'S ENVIRONMENTS

• Tuesday Night Basketball - On Tuesdays at 6 pm we have organized basketball games in our Fellowship Hall for young men & boys of all ages. Our goal is to provide a safe place for the youth to have some fun and get to know each other in a Christ-centered environment. Between the games, we have a brief time of sharing and discussion that is focused on topics that are relevant to today’s youth.
• Student Sundays occur quarterly on the 5th Sundays. These are Sundays in which our students engage in ministry by helping to plan and lead the Worship Celebration. The lesson themes on Student Sundays are planned with an emphasis on student engagement and building mentoring relationships between students and adults.
• Vacation Bible School is a community Bible teaching program that rallies the children around a interesting and fun theme. VBS is held annually in July.
• Trunk or Treat is our annual Halloween alternative, hosted by the FCC Student Ministry. Trunk or Treat is hosted on Halloween evening.
• We(e) Dance is a praise dance team for girls in 1^st-3^rd grade. Dancers perform during the Sunday Worship Celebration and other events throughout the year.

Teen Ministry Environments

SUNDAY

10:00AM

• Worship Celebration - Jr. High and Sr. High students participate in Worship Celebration with adults and Elementary age students for a time of worship and a practical Bible lesson.
• Ministry Involvement - Jr. High and Sr. High students rotate involvement in several areas of ministry that assist the ministry of the church including media production, worship leading, and staffing of Children's Ministries.

11:30AM

• Connection Group - Jr. High and Sr. High students discuss together how the teaching from Worship Celebration applies to the life of a teenager today.

OTHER TEEN MINISTRY ENVIRONMENTS

• Tuesday Night Basketball - On Tuesdays at 6 pm we have organized basketball games in our Fellowship Hall for young men & boys of all ages. Our goal is to provide a safe place for the youth to have some fun and get to know each other in a Christ-centered environment. Between the games, we have a brief time of sharing and discussion that is focused on topics that are relevant to today’s youth.
• Sarah's Daughters is a small group for girls ages 13-18 who wish to be inspired, build friendships, break down barriers, make positive changes, and learn life skills. This group will have discussions on a variety of topics, as well as guest speakers, life skill activities, role-playing and community service opportunities. Sarah’s Daughters meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 5:30 pm at the church building.
• Student Sundays occur quarterly on the 5th Sundays. These are Sundays in which our students engage in ministry by helping to plan and lead the Worship Celebration. The lesson themes on Student Sundays are planned with an emphasis on student engagement and building mentoring relationships between students and adults.
• Vacation Bible School is a community Bible teaching program that offers a special interactive program for Jr. High students in connection with our annual theme. VBS is held in July.
• Campus visits provide high school students currently in their Jr. and Sr. years to visit the campus of a Christian College and explore whether God might be calling them toward an opportunity for ministry.