Waypoint Youth

Junior High

Junior High. These two words evoke so many emotions to all of us who have "been there, done that." We consider it a privilege to and we absolutely love being there with our students as they ride these choppy waters. This group is a high-octane and high-energy experience that focuses on fellowship and relationships. We believe that this group should be an introduction into Christian Living and provide our young people with an environment where they feel accepted, welcomed and understand the scope of God’s endless love.


All students in grades 6-8 are welcome to attend. Our Junior High youth group meets on Wednesdays during the school year at the Buoy from 6:00 - 7:30 PM. 

Senior High

High school. We understand that these years can be incredibly extreme in so many ways. Our Senior High program is designed to help our young people navigate and grow through these “greatest years of their lives.” We provide an opportunity to worship God, study God’s word and discuss God’s hope for our lives in an open and accepting environment. During the year we participate in fellowship activities and service projects with students from other churches all over Cleveland.


All students in grades 9-12 are welcome to attend. Our Senior High youth group meets on Wednesdays during the school year at the Buoy from 7:30 - 9:00 PM. 

Confirmation

When a student is in their 8th grade year, we offer our Confirmation program as an opportunity for them to learn about what church membership is all about and the concept of living out our Christians beliefs as an adult. Throughout the year the students will visit several different places of worship along with participating in various service projects as well. The class also participates in a Fall and Spring retreat and each student is assigned a mentor at the beginning of the year to help them understand adult membership more clearly. The students are also asked to compose their own personal Statement of Faith and design their own stole reflecting their individuality and their faith journey. At the completion of the class, the students participate in the Service of Confirmation and are welcomed as full adult members of the church.

 

Our Confirmation class meets on Sundays during the school year at the Buoy from 12:30 – 2:00 PM. 

SLT

SH Student Leadership Team

Part of growing a Student Ministry program is to not only develop relationships, but develop leaders as well. Each fall we invite our High School students to consider applying to be a part of this team. This group of young people is instrumental in planning, developing and leading our Sr. High youth group, providing feedback, offering ideas, and assisting with so much of what we do throughout the year.


Our team meets monthly and participates in two retreats during the year. Each time we meet we provide them with leadership training suited to their role in our youth group and easily applicable to so many other areas of their lives. Applications for this team are open in the late summer/early fall. 

Adult Volunteer Team

The real MVP's. Our programs, our events, our trips and everything else we do is possible because of the adult volunteers that serve as a part of this team. This group pours into our young people week after week and provides a steady supply of guidance, care, compassion, leadership, fun and general awesomeness. Despite the many myths about being a volunteer in youth ministry, the reality is you don't need much beyond a desire to serve, a caring heart, a lot of patience, a willingness to listen and the ability to have a ridiculous amount of fun.


We are ALWAYS looking for more people to be a part of this team. For more information about how you can become involved, please contact us. 

The Buoy is ground zero for all of our Youth Ministries programming. What once served as the church parsonage was converted to this incredible space, dedicated solely to our young people. On Palm Sunday 2013, we officially opened this space and have been growing into (and filling it) ever since. Having a dedicated space like this for our young people signals directly to the value we put on our young people and our care for them. The Buoy is a diverse, inclusive, accepting, welcoming & safe space for any young person, no matter who they are or what they believe or who they love...as they navigate the waters of adolescence. 

Interested in learning more about youth ministries ?

Contact Nate Taylor

Director of Youth Ministries

email Nate Taylor about Nate Taylor
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