Imagine how different a high school might be if one school in Cedar Rapids had students actively caring for their peers and sharing the Gospel. Imagine a group of caring adults from a broad spectrum of life and circumstance training and equipping those students to be Spirit-led and God-dependent; a generation equipping and sending the next generation out to grow in their spiritual gifts - by using them - within their spheres of influence!
Imagine if this training were to happen in New Covenant members' homes in addition to our church building. Imagine adults walking alongside a group of students for four years, discipling them as God works in their lives.
Now imagine that group is multiplied to two, three, or four times around our city. Student groups focused on building the kingdom of God, seeing Him known and glorified in their schools! Imagine that this type of community existed in not just one school, but every school. This is not just a dream, but our coming reality. As we transition our approach to high school ministry, we're preparing students to live for Jesus in their schools through small groups.
Whereas high school student meetings have previously looked more like NCBC Kids & Middle School, we are now modeling how adult fellowship works through missional small group communities. This fall, we begin “punching holes in the darkness” with the Gospel of Jesus through students. We want to train students within our groups to become apprentices of Jesus who are established in Scripture with a Kingdom mission in mind. This mission will begin with 10 student leaders who have said yes to the call. This will begin with moving our focus to group learning, care, service, and accountability. God hasn’t just called our students to be watchers but participants in the mission of Jesus.
We will still hold normal youth group, but it will be student-led with the help of caring, Christ-like adults. We are tweaking this environment to launch people into a small group based in the place where they live. While Wednesday will be a place to have social interaction, corporate worship, spiritual teaching, and games, it will be a soft landing for our students to do ministry and invite others to be a part of Christian community. Individual care, service and the bulk of spiritual growth will take place in the small group environment.
I'm so excited for our High School ministry to take this bold and brave step in our community.
- Dusty Jones
New Covenant High School / College Pastor