A Biblical View of "Teenagers"

Teenagers (we would prefer to call them young adults) are a vital part of the life of our church. Therefore, instead of isolating them to a youth ministry, we prefer to surround them with men and women of all ages who can support their families in teaching and modeling authentic faith.  We believe these young people bring unique gifts and zeal to the whole church body.

• The Bible speaks of a person’s development in terms of childhood and adulthood. The modern understanding of a period of “adolescence” is contrary to a biblical view of maturity and growth.
• The childhood phase (birth to age 12) is to be a time of preparation for adulthood. The young adulthood phase (age 12 to age 30) is to be a time of nurturing their faith, refining their character and identity, and providing relationships with spiritually mature adults. 

Click here for an excellent resource on this topic by Dr. David Black.

GRBC is Committed to Honor God’s Plan for the growing up of our little boys and girls into mature, godly men and women.
1. This means that we gather together as families during the worship and preaching time rather than separate the children and young people.
2. This means that we will not view our teenagers as “grown up” children lingering in childishness, but rather as emerging adults learning how to live responsibly and godly in the world around them. Our teens are welcome to participate in every part of our church life. You will find them helping in children’s classes, handling audio/visuals on Sunday mornings, participating in the worship team, etc.
3. This means that we will provide various means of helping parents, particularly fathers, learn how to teach and train their teens according to the Scriptures. Therefore, instead of a systematic youth ministry, we offer various activities and studies throughout the year that provide an atmosphere where these things can happen between parent and teen, other adults and teens, and among a teen's own peer group. 
4. This means that our people must live together as a spiritual family that provides "spiritual fathers" to the fatherless and "spiritual husbands" to the widows and singles among us.

What does your Teen Ministry consist of?
Monthly parent/teen meetings that include biblical teaching and discussions on topics relate to the home or the lives of young adults.
Special events such as our annual Parent/Teen Banquet which celebrates the passage into young adulthood of our young men and women as they reach their twelfth birthday.
Regular planned activities that involve the whole family and is geared toward promoting healthy parent/teen and peer/peer relationships.
Community groups that are integrated (this means that the children and teens participate in the group with their parents and other adults) for the purpose of discipleship, mentoring and biblical hospitality.

Do you have a youth pastor?
We believe that fathers are our best youth pastors!  We do have a Family Life pastor who helps assist families in teaching and training up their children during the teen years along with mature men and women who volunteer their time and energies to minister to our teens through small groups and during our planned trips and activities.  We also have a church family full of people who can provide godly wisdom and encouragement in the life of our young people.