Belong. Believe. Become.

At Christ Fellowship Church

Have you ever felt lost or broken in this world of sin? Walking in faith is never meant to be a solo journey. In a youth group, people stand by one another, and you never go through anything alone. A youth group is an environment to feel safe and noticed. Therefore, our leaders are dedicated to pouring into students, helping them learn about Jesus.

My life wasn’t completely changed until church camp. I have always been insecure about my looks and tried to be perfect so that people wouldn’t judge me. Several people shared their testimonies about how they had always felt insecure and thought so many people were judging them. In our youth group, they found peace because they all loved one another and were focused on the same thing.

I have been at the same church, Christ Fellowship, my whole life, and never really felt like I belonged. As a kid, I was very shy, and so I had a hard time going up to people and making friends, but so many of the leaders helped me come out of my shell, and now I try to help people do the same. The people there make you feel welcomed, and many of them definitely helped me grow in my own faith. I realized they don’t judge me about anything. Whether it is how I look or if I am myself. Ultimately, we all have the same goals growing in our relationship with Jesus, helping people come to Christ, and not being the light but reflecting it.

Just ask some of my friends from church:

“It has definitely helped me with my social skills. I can hang out with people more and not be weird at all. Before, I was just an awkward kid who always tried to impress everyone. My faith definitely grew, I don’t think that it would be anywhere near what it is right now if I weren’t in the youth group. My life is a lot better now that I joined a youth group. I never really had a good church, so I think that this church has the best youth group that I could possibly ever have.” -Valin Harris

“Before, I felt like I couldn’t trust anyone with anything, and then after I met everyone, I knew that it was a safe space. The youth group has upgraded my life tremendously because it has given me a place where I can worship without judging eyes.” -Josie Barnard

Christ Fellowship youth minister Ryan Rives says:

 “The whole purpose of our youth group is to help students know and follow Jesus. That’s it. Everything we do—games, worship, teaching, small groups—is built around helping students see Jesus as better than what the world is offering. We’re not here to entertain; we’re here to equip and unleash a generation that actually walks with God.

We also believe discipleship doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens alongside parents and within the church. Our goal isn’t to replace a parent’s role in shaping their student’s faith, but to come alongside it. We want to be partners in the same mission, reinforcing in youth group what’s being modeled and taught at home.

And we’re not a ministry that operates off to the side; we’re an arm of the church. What happens in student ministry is directly tied to the heartbeat of our whole church family. We’re raising up students who don’t just attend a youth service, but who serve, worship, and grow as part of the larger body of Christ.” 

What advice would you give to someone nervous about joining youth group for the first time?

“What do you have to lose? What if you find your best friends and the truth that changes your life? What if you’ve been missing something?” -Ryan Rives

Go for it! Like Ryan said, you might find your best friends. Before my best friend Josie and I met, we were really nervous about coming to youth group. We were mainly nervous because we didn’t know many people. For me, it was just the fear of the unknown. As soon as Josie and I met, we instantly became best friends and still are to this day. Yes, putting yourself out there takes guts, but in the long run, you could find the exact blessing that God is giving you.

What do you enjoy most about working with students?

“Honestly, this is one of the most exciting generations to lead in a long time. You can feel it and SEE it—God is doing something unique in Gen Z right now. All over the country, students are waking up to the reality that church isn’t just a Sunday thing. They’re craving what’s real. They’re done with fake, done with shallow religion, and hungry for the presence of God. Data everywhere is showing this in 13-25-year-olds.

We’re seeing it right here in our own ministry, too—students showing up, inviting friends, reading their Bibles, asking deep questions, teenagers leading their friends to Jesus, and a growing desire to know Jesus deeply. That’s not normal.

I love working with students because they still believe God can change the world—and they’re right. They’re stepping into leadership, they’re serving our church, they’re sharing the gospel at school, and they’re not content with a halfway faith. The next generation isn’t the church of tomorrow… they’re the movement God’s using right now. It’s wild to think that in the middle of so much cultural confusion, God is raising up a generation with conviction, courage, and compassion. Being part of that—getting to pastor and disciple this move of God in real time—is honestly one of the greatest privileges of my life.” – Ryan Rives

I absolutely love my youth group! It is filled with friends who quickly became family to me. If you don’t have a youth group, ours would make a wonderful place to belong, believe, and become. 

 “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.”  Galatians: 6:2