Reverend Olivier Bala, Senior Pastor • Nicole McGhee, Youth Director

Primary Youth Group              
Grades: Kindergarten – 4            
Time: Wednesdays 3:30-4:30pm    
Teachers: Nicole McGhee

Junior Youth Group
Grades: 5 – 8
Time: Wednesdays 5:30 - 6:30pm
Teachers: Marcus Mitchell & Lynette Lopes Mitchell

Senior Youth Group
Grades: 9 – 12
Time: Wednesdays 6:30 - 8:00pm
Teachers: Arquisha Moreno & Brian Hodge

Theme

Developing Relevant Prophets for Our Time

Scripture Reference:
Esther 4:14, If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?
Amos 3:7, Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.

Goals

Students will be encouraged to:

• Strengthen their relationship with God.
• Develop an understanding of the Bible as a whole.
• Develop a regular personal devotion time by praying, reading the Bible and journaling.
• Learn how to be spiritual leaders.
• Exercise spiritual leadership by guiding their peers.
• Develop an understanding of their purpose in life and realize they are in this world to make a difference.

General Program Guidelines

Note: These guidelines are in the developmental stage. They are subject to change. If there are changes/updates made, you will be notified.

Please understand this program is primarily to foster your child’s spiritual growth. The family is primarily responsible for setting and building upon your child’s spiritual foundation. The Church’s responsibility is to support the family through prayer, teaching, encouraging, counseling, and discipline. The support system functions best when the family attends weekly church services on a regular basis, and when the child regularly attends youth group.

Attendance
It is very important for your child to regularly attend youth group for the following reasons:

• It builds spiritual consistency.
• It builds relationships.
• The curriculum is cumulative.
• The students will gain wisdom and understanding through learning Christian Doctrine.

We understand that even though this is an important aspect of your child’s life, there are other opportunities for growth based on your child’s interests. Exceptions are made for children that are involved in other enrichment activities for the duration of that season. (Example: sports teams)
If your child is unable to attend youth group for any reason, please inform the Youth Director as soon as possible. Otherwise, we expect your child to attend.

Offering
A weekly offering will be taken for all youth groups. The money collected will be applied to the budget funds.

Behavior
The Fruit of the Spirit as outlined in Galatians 5: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control is a good guideline for appropriate behavior of the staff and students involved with the Youth Program. We expect the behavior of your child to be respectful of each other, themselves, and the teachers. Should discipline problems occur, they will first be addressed by the primary teacher. If the problem continues it will be addressed by the Youth Director with the student and parents. If the situation is not resolved, it will be brought to the attention of the Senior Pastor.

Snack
Snack is provided for each youth group. We will also accept donations of a light snack and drink for Primary Youth Group and Junior Youth Group. Senior Youth Group receives a meal every Wednesday night after class. We are asking the students to serve one another by signing up for either cooking a meal for their peers or serving and cleaning up after the meal. This is a service the students will provide. Please talk to your child about ways your family will best serve.

Trips/Activities
The youth groups will each participate in a special trip or activity once a season: fall, winter, spring, summer. These activities will have a cost relative to the activity.  We will ask families to pay either a portion of the cost or the full amount. Families will be given ample notice. Also families that are unable to pay for the activity can talk with the Youth Director about other possibilities.
Please see the attached general permission form. This form is to give consent for planned and spontaneous trips.

Transportation
Transportation is provided for students living in the Providence, Pawtucket, and Central Falls area, to church and back home for the purpose of attending Youth Group and related activities. Please keep the Youth Director and teachers updated with pick up and drop-off locations/times.

Weekly Communication
Your child will receive a weekly assignment, article, Bible passage to read, or family devotion. Some communications will be for your family to do at your leisure, and some will need to be returned the following week. The expectation will be made clear. The articles and family devotions are to encourage you as parents in fostering your family’s spiritual growth.