Youth

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Westminster’s youth program is for 6th – 12th graders. Many are members of the church, but friends and other youth from the community are always welcome. The youth program combines recreation, local mission, Bible study, and community-building. It is led by the Youth Council, youth advisors, parents, youth, and the Associate Pastor for Youth & Their Families. Check out our 2024-2025 Youth Group calendar of events.

WPC Youth Group is a place where members are encouraged to be themselves. We strive for each gathering and activity to foster a deeper relationship with Christ, each other, and the world. Our youth are very active in our church, local, and global communities, along with our regular weekly program. Youth have opportunities to:

participate in worship
attend youth conferences, like those at Massanetta and Montreat
perform local mission work
travel for mission trips

The youth meet every Sunday from 5:30-7:00pm in the Fellowship Hall and the Youth Suite, which is located on the second floor of the Holderness Mission Center. We have dinner together; the cost is $5 per youth. Parents sign up to take turns bringing dinner for each meeting. Occasional overnight events – like lock-ins, retreats, and conferences – help our youth connect more intimately with each other and create opportunities for them to stretch their faith. These experiences help make our Sunday night gatherings more meaningful for everyone.

Volunteers who serve in our youth ministry are required to complete Westminster’s Child & Youth Protection Policy Training and renew their training every three years.

Mission Work

At WPC we look to Micah 6:8, and hear the scripture calling us to mission as we “seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.” Some of the local agencies we serve with include NC Diaper Bank, Threshold, Urban Ministries of Durham, and Families Moving Forward.

Mission work is our response to God’s grace and is taken seriously by the youth. We serve shelter meals four times during the year and take an annual trip. Once a month during youth group community gatherings on Sunday nights, the junior and senior high youth will serve a local mission site.

During the summer, WPC’s youth go out into the world to serve and learn on mission trips.

Confirmation Class

Members of the Youth Group participate in Confirmation Class as 8th graders or older students. This prepares students for active church membership. Classes are led by church staff and elder mentors during the Church School hour from September through May. Contact us if you’d like to know more about our next class.

Leadership

Westminster’s Youth Ministry has the support of the church and its members in many ways. The group is led by the Youth Council, youth advisors, the Associate Pastor for Youth & Their Families, the staff, and the supportive congregation of WPC.

Youth Council

Youth Council is a diverse group of senior and junior high youth, parents and volunteer advisors. Council sets the calendar, makes decisions about where to go for retreats, and organizes and evaluates the theology and success of programs.

Youth Advisors

Youth advisors are members of congregation and parents who have a calling to work with youth ministries. Some don’t realize they have the calling until they start working with the youth. Being a youth advisor can be as transforming for adults as it is for the youth. Our advisors find that they learn as much from the kids as they teach. Without youth advisors, WPC’s youth program couldn’t exist.

Youth Leadership Team (YLT)

The Youth Leadership Team is a group of youth who are elected from each grade every year to plan and lead class dinners, reach out to youth in their grade, and voice concerns and ideas of youth.

Parent Support

As with everything else, the support of our parents is vital for our members. They taxi us to and from meetings on time, provide meals, and encourage participation.

Financial Support

The youth program is blessed with a supportive congregation and healthy budget. This allows for scholarships for those who need it, as well as multi-child discounts, aided in part by donations to the Associate Pastor’s discretionary fund. The Youth Group also fundraises for building the mission fund and reducing the cost per youth.