ACCESS: Student Ministry

Purpose:

ACCESS exists to exalt the gospel of Jesus Christ by seeing students mature in their relationship with Christ, develop in their relationship with their parents, deepen in their relationship with each other, and grow in their confidence to share the gospel with the lost.  The ministry is designed to come alongside believing parents in their role of evangelism and discipleship in the home.

Sunday morning:

From 9am-10:15 students meet for a time of worship through music and teaching.  This time serves to exalt the gospel of Jesus Christ  through music and the word, inviting both unbelieving and believing students to cherish Christ.  This fall, the senior high will be studying the book of Hosea.

Sunday night:

On periodic Sundays throughout the fall students will meet from 4:00 - 5:30 PM in various homes to study topics that relate to specific issues teens face.  These are designed top be student-led evangelistic Bible-studies.  The Wheaton cell group will meet at the Ester's house; the Naperville cell group will meet at the Berdelle's and Herbert's house.    

Wednesday nights:

The central purpose of our Wednesday night meetings is to have time to discuss, encourage, exhort, rebuke, and hold each other accountable in the context of small groups.  Small groups are led by our volunteer staff.  These staff members will seek to disciple their small group students (and evangelize their unbelieving friends) through one-on-one interaction and through small group activities outside Wednesday night meetings.

Discipleship:

While the family is the primary center whereby discipleship takes place (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) the goal of our youth ministry is to provide an environment where teens can mature in their walk with Christ (Colossians 1:28).  Christ called people to Himself so they could be equipped to reach a lost world.  The method Christ used focused on relationship building.  We desire to be a relational student ministry with a purpose.  Our desire is to personally disciple each student who desires to grow closer to Christ. 

Retreats

This winter, ACCESS will host our annual Winter Camp, returning for a second year to Dickson Valley, January 22-24!  We will be discussing the topic of dating, marriage, and purity at camp this year.  We look forward to spending time together as a student ministry, being impacted by God's Word, and seeking greater satisfaction in Jesus.  Students are encouraged to invite their unbelieving friends to Winter Camp. 

Mission:

It is our great desire that the Lord will raise up workers for his harvest from the students involved in ACCESS (Luke 10:2).  In light of the fact that a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language will one day worship Christ (Revelation 7:9), we want to participate in the completion of this world-wide mission.  Therefore, the call of students will be to lay down their lives in hard places for the sake of the gospel, so that others may live.  Various opportunities are provided through ACCESS for students to carry out this call.

Genesis (Middle School Ministry)

Sunday Morning:

From 9:00 - 10:15 AM students meet for a time of worship through music and teaching.  This time serves to exalt the gospel of Jesus Christ through music and word, inviting both unbelieving and believing students to cherish Christ. 

Wednesday Nights:

Genesis comes together every Wednesday night for a time of worship through song, group activities, and interactive small groups.  Small groups are led by our volunteer staff.  These staff members will seek to disciple their small group students (and evangelize their unbelieving friends) through one-on-one interaction and through small group activities outside Wednesday night meetings.

Retreats:

This winter, the middle school students will have the opportunity to get away for a weekend and pursue the glory of God in creation.  Our middle school winter camp is built around biblical teaching and a lot of time for fellowship.  Students are encouraged to invite their unbelieving friends to winter camp.