CROSSFIRE YOUTH MINISTRY OVERVIEW

     The youth ministry of Cottonwood Community Church involves young people in grades 6-12. We meet once a week during the school year on Wednesday evenings from 6:45-8:00 at our church home, 308 S. 5th Street (unless prior notice is given for special events). We generally follow the schedule of local schools and break for vacations.
     We have parents,  leading out in – especially the dads – to bring wisdom and insight and the application of the Bible to life. The junior and senior high kids meet together  for an ‘icebreaker’ game at the beginning, followed by a short teaching/devotional from the Bible by one of the dads. Then the youth break down for small group discussions on the evening Bible passage/topic. The students are asked to bring their Bibles.
     Our youth ministry is also committed to serving others, so we plan service/outreach projects during the year accordingly. We also have gone on Saturday ski trips during the winter and other such fun events. A youth worship band is also in the works!
     Crossfire also participates with sister churches in weekend youth retreats – usually at a camp in Minnesota. At these, the youth have a chance to grow in their relationships with each other and with other youth from our family of churches, as well as grow deeper in their walks with the Lord as they listen to messages from dynamic youth leaders. Our youth always return blessed and encouraged. Parents  drive and serve as chaperones for these retreats.
     Similarly, every summer our youth have the opportunity to really grow deep in the Lord if they choose to participate in a week-long ‘Leadership Training’ (LT) program in Fort Collins, Colorado. 
     The goals of our youth ministry are:
-->Stimulate the youth to have a growing personal walk with Jesus Christ
-->Facilitate the deepening of their friendships
-->Encourage them to reach out to their classmates and friends in order to win them to Jesus Christ
-->Help them to stand apart from the unsavory influences prevalent in our society
-->Remind them to honor and obey their parents (and other authorities)

     One of the key aspects of our youth ministry, as alluded to above, is that we involve the dads in the teaching of the youth. This reinforces God’s plan that the fathers lead out spiritually in the home and in the church. Too often, youth ministry is carried out in the absence of fathers, and we believe one of the best things we can do is involve dads in the instruction. The Cottonwood Youth Ministry only supplements, it doesn’t take the place of, devoted parents leading their families in the Lord. This is summed up in a verse from the Bible:
And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers. Malachi 4:6
     We would be pleased to have your youth involved with the Cottonwood Youth Ministry! You as a parent will also be included as a discussion group leader or possible even to give a short teaching.