Our philosophy… for Teen ministry!

The teenage years can be some of the most exciting times of life as well as some of the most difficult. In our world today, youth is viewed as a great opportunity. In sports, youth is seen as having great potential and strength. In business, companies are always looking for youth to grow and encourage their businesses. Many people sink thousands of dollars into their looks so that they can keep their youthfulness. Many times in churches though, the youth are seen as a necessary department in order to provide a way to keep teens out of trouble. Desert Foothills does not want to miss the opportunity that is apparent in the lives of teens and we want to encourage parents not to miss it as well. We strive to aid parents in guiding young individuals into a growing, vibrant relationship with God through reaching, teaching, and training.

We believe that scripture has given to us a threefold responsibility in both our lives and through the ministry of the local church in Matthew 28. This threefold responsibility includes (1) Reaching, (2) Teaching, and (3) Training.

Reaching others is the goal of knowing God. If teens know God, they will be able to have a relationship with Him. This is a crucial step in a teenager’s walk with God. Without knowing God, turning from sin, and accepting His forgiveness through the blood He shed on the cross, the result is an eternity in Hell without Christ.

Teaching is the goal of learning to love God. Each teen after they begin the relationship with God begins to grow in their love for Him. Our prayer is that each of the teens would love God more each day. DFBC seeks to take the Word of God and apply it to the lives of the teens so that their love for God will grow.

Training is the goal of serving God. As each teen grows in their knowledge and love of God, we are convinced that it will show itself in acts of service. James refers to this as works and relates it to us that “faith without works is dead.”

We provide teenagers with several opportunities to be reached, taught, and trained, as well as participate in reaching, teaching, and training others. There are three regular times that teens have the opportunity to grow, which are, Sunday School, Teen Knights, and Monthly Activities.

Sunday School is a time where teens can get together and grow deep in their walk with God. The studies dive deep into what God is all about. We want to work at knowing the meat of the Word and not just the milk.

Teen Knights happen Sunday nights where the teens can have a time of fun and games together. This time is geared toward working together on relationships both peer to peer and with God. The topics deal with real issues and relevant lessons from God’s word right where teens are in their lives.

Monthly Activities are times to invite friends to get to know the church and have the chance to see what it is all about. These times are focused more on introducing what a relationship with Christ is all about as well as having a good time together as a youth group.

Through these three opportunities, and others as the occasion permits, we want to accomplish reaching, teaching, and training guided by several principles of Scriptures.

  • The Bible
    • The Bible is our authority and the answers to man’s problems and decisions. II Timothy 3:16-17 states, “16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” We believe that scripture is the only source needed to guide and direct anyone in life or Godliness. Peter wrote that, “3 His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” God has furnished us with everything needed in life both physically and spiritually.
  • Parental Involvement
    • In Deuteronomy 5:30-6:9 God provides Moses with instructions as to how He wanted the Israelites to live. After instructing the Israelites that “The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” God continues by instructing them that ” 6 these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Parents are the key to Youth Ministry and our goal is to aid parents in training teens. We are not the primary teachers, but simply an aid to help in that training.
  • Being doer not just hearers
    • Hearing is one thing and we hope to be instructors of the Word, but doing is something different. James 1:22-24 states, “22 but be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” We do not just want teenagers to hear the truth but to be doers of the truth.
  • The Local Church
    • Christ stated in Matthew 16 that he would build His church and that not even the “gates of Hell would prevail against it.” The New Testament is filled with God’s work through local church ministries and thus we believe that the local church is God’s institution for ministry in this dispensation.
  • Sanctification
    • Sanctification is the process of growth in a believers life where God works in us to “complete the work” he has begun. He has provided the church with “11 apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:(Ephesians 4:11-12).” God has provided the church and the leadership of the church for not only adults but also young men and women in order that they could grow in sanctification.
  • Personal Testimony
    • Christ said in Matthew 5 that we, “14 are the light of the world.” He does not want us to hide our light under anything that would block the difference it shows. Christ went on to say to, “16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” It is our goal not only to influence teens through the teaching of the Word of God, but also through the change, it makes in the lives of those working with the teens.

Youthfulness is something God allows every person to go through. At Desert Foothills, we do not want parents or the church to miss that time of life. We are committed to reaching, teaching, and training young people for the glory of God.