High School Pastor Dusty Jones’ eyes were twinkling. “You have to hear what is happening in our High School Small Groups! It’s amazing. It’s amazing. God is moving.”

A couple of youth small group leaders shared their amazement at how God is working in the new Small Groups.

"We are shocked … we think we’re doing a pretty good job of covering up how shocked we are in front of the students.”

"God is already moving powerfully in just the first few weeks of New Covenant’s new High School Ministry. One group, which began as three students, has already become five."

“Because of their faith, these students are willing to step out of their comfort zone and put themselves out there and invite their friends,” said one leader.

But it’s not just that, it’s what is happening when they get together.

“Nothing is off-limits with these groups, and the way that they come alongside one another is amazing. It’s incredible how transparent these young people are willing to be.”

"They are living out 2 Corinthians 3:17, 'Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.'"

In one group, a young man shared something so deep and so vulnerable that it was stunning to the leaders, who have experienced years of people - especially Christians - holding their cards close to their chests.

“If that man didn’t feel safe, he would not have confessed what he did. So the Spirit is in these small group meetings, bringing about freedom and boldness. His desire to have that relationship has been impacting me,” said one leader. “I’ve been sharing pieces of his testimony in a way that makes him anonymous with businessmen in my business meetings – if students can do this, then adults have no excuses.”

Young people in our nation are struggling and they’re seeking - they’re hungry. Often, High School Youth Group is modeled more like Children’s Ministry. At New Covenant, Pastor Dusty has made a pivot to more of an Adult Ministry model.

“The materials are more like an adult Bible study, and these students are more than capable of handling this material,” said a leader. “I’d say half of them are more capable than adult men that I meet with, because the students are more willing to honestly share their real struggles, and older guys have a hard time doing that.”

The other leader added, “They appreciate being treated like older adults … it was clear to me as soon as we started the training for this that it was going to be real, raw, not fluffy. It’s refreshing to treat them like adults, young men, and young women. The world is not PG and we don’t need to cloud things up.”

“Agreed. It’s where the Holy Spirit is guiding our church. The future looks good when young people are being taught early how to guide their families later.”

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

James 5:16

“I saw a young man who chose to be vulnerable, and a group of men who came around him in love, and it was just … nothing but love.”

“A powerful, open confession was made, and one of the things he talked about was healing. That night, this man’s healing started. It’s the power of the Holy Spirit working through people to let them know that it’s safe. And it was. Talk about food for the soul.”

So what could adults learn from what the students are doing?

“It’s OK to make yourself vulnerable. There’s no condemnation in Christ Jesus. And that’s what we see. The way that this group circles around each other … they’re asking who needs a ride next week so they can all be there together. It’s not an individual effort. They really care about each other.”

“How many people really experience freedom?  Man, the way that God worked that night to bring this young man into freedom – give me more of that.”