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YOUTH FAITH FORMATION
Sundays, Shiflet Center for Ministry & Education (various room locations)

 

 

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Contact:

Georgi Funderburk

Minister of Faith & Practice for Children & Youth

gfunderburk@stjohnsec.org

The Journey to Adulthood curriculum is a national ministry of spiritual formation for young people. It balances Bible study and prayer with serious and playful activities to nurture the whole person during the passage from childhood to adulthood. 

 

Faith is not “learned about,” but experienced through the worshiping, learning, and serving practices of a community in which the youth are nurtured. We use our weekly Scripture readings, fellowships, rites of passage, and outreach ministries to live and teach life lessons with an eye toward the young people growing into the responsibilities and ownership of an adult life of mature faith.

 

There are three 2-year segments of the youth program: Rite-13, J2A, and YAC (Young Adults in Church). Youth spend six years paired with another grade, moving with the same youth all the way through. We have seven years of youth, but because our curriculum is only six years, each year we have one group that stands on its own; either the 6th grade or the 12th grade. For the 2024-2025 school year, our seniors will stand alone — “Seniors With An Awesome God.” (In alternate years, we have "Breakfast Club" for 6th graders.) See below for more details.

We ask all youth who register for our youth program to also complete a medical release. Please follow the green button link to the Medical Release form. Registration link(s) for the particular youth group that pertains to your child(ren) are below.

Breakfast Club 

This program is held every other year to prepare 6th graders for Rite-13. One of the primary program goals is to build community.  (This program is not held in the 2024-2025 program year.)

Breakfast Club
Rite-13

Rite-13 (6th & 7th graders)

The goal of these two years is to create a bond that will help the youth move through their seven years together and help them begin to explore their faith. 

J2A

Journey to Adulthood/J2A (8th & 9th graders)

The goal of this group is to begin to handle one’s faith as an adult in the church and to claim one’s faith as their own. After these two years, the youth may take a pilgrimage. 

YAC

Youth Adults in Church/YAC (10th &11th graders)

Many of these youth have been confirmed. They now seek to serve in the world and in the St. John’s community.

Seniors with an Awesome God/SWAAG (12th graders)

We have seven years of youth, but our curriculum is only six years. Therefore, every year, we have one group that stands on its own; either the 6th grade or the 12th grade. This year our seniors will stand alone — “Seniors With An Awesome God.” Our goal is to make sure they are prepared to fly after they graduate, wherever their path takes them. At the end of the year, we hope they will present a faith statement to the congregation. (In alternate years, we have "Breakfast Club" for 6th graders.)

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SWAAG

College Connections

College students remain connected to St. John’s with regular care packages from church and communications from a “guardian angel” (parishioner), as well as get-togethers during breaks. College Connections Registration

College Connections
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