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Mission Statement

When youth graduate from high school we want them to have an experiential knowledge of Christianity and a relationship with God. The youth group experience should be one of depth in pursuit of spiritual growth, relationships and character development through times of physical and emotional challenge. Even in the 21st century, Church remains unique among social organizations and continues to offer profound opportunities for youth development and discipleship in addition to school, sports, and life at home.

At West Side youth group programming falls into these four primary categories: fellowship, spiritual growth, missions and ξενία (xenia). In every activity, event, or trip we want to incorporate elements of fun, depth, interaction with the Bible, relating to God, learning about each other and better understanding our world.

Fellowship events are designed to nurture friendships on all levels. By making new friends barriers are broken down and the world expands as each person’s perspective broadens the world previously known. Spending time together, engaging in new experiences, sharing our gifts and personalities; all these things deepen our understanding of our own character and how we relate with others

Spiritual growth in the Christian faith is the strength of the church. Learning about the Bible, developing a deeper relationship with God and worshiping together are critical components to establishing spiritual strength for the work of Christ. As we progress in our faith journey we also want our youth to develop an appreciation for other faiths while being defined by Christ’s transforming love

Mission opportunities abound at West Side given our commitment to social justice locally and globally. This is where we put faith into action to do the work of Christ. By working on projects at sites near and far from home, we are stretched and challenged in new ways, growing as individuals and relying more on support from others in the group.

ξενία (Xenia) is the concept of guest-friendship and consists of extending an invitation to those outside of our church family to experience God’s love in its many forms. This is where we invite youth in to include them in everything we do. The neighborhood picnic, Virtual City and summer programs are just the beginning of the connections we can make with friends who don’t normally attend West Side.

Revised 4/15/08