StudentMinistries - First Christian Church of Chicago

A Unique Approach to

STUDENT MINISTRY

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.

Children's Ministry Environments

SUNDAY

10:00AM

Preschool Worship Programs (2-K) 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 students 2-K 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

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.
Harvest Fest is our annual Halloween Alternative, hosted by FCC community outreach partner, Greater Ashburn Community Development Corporation. Harvest Fest is hosted on Halloween evening.
We(e) Dance is a praise dance team for girls in grades 1-3. Rehearsal is held on Tuesday evenings at 7:00pm. Dancers perform during Sunday Worship Celebration and other events throughout the year.

Upper Elementary/Jr. High

Summer Sports Camps

Got game? Try out our Summer Sports programs.

Ultimate After School Sports Camp - celebrate the last week of school with baskbetball, flag football, soccer and ultimate frisbee.

Summer Sports Camp - sharpen your game skills by participating in a skills development camp for volleyball, soccer, basketball and football.

Students must be registered for Summer Sports Camp by a parent. Parents my register their children here, call the church office to request a registration for be mailed to them, or accompany their child to the first day of camp.

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 invovlement 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

30-HOUR FAMINE allows students to experience hunger in an effort to provide financial assistance to those who experience hunger as a regular part of their lives. The famine is held in February or April of each year.
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.
MOVE is the summer conference of Christ In Youth which invites students, through worship and discipleship, to live out their commitment to Christ more completely.
Campus Visit provides High School students currently in their Jr. and Sr. years to visit the campus of a Christian College and explore if God might be calling them toward an opportunity for ministry.