Youth Ministries
Welcome to Youth Ministries!
All youth ages 6th through 12th grade are welcome to PUMC's Youth Ministry programs. The Mission of our Youth Ministry is to be a supportive community for all youth, equipping them to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, growing beyond themselves carrying the love of Christ into the world, serving others now and in the future.
We believe in the importance of growing as disciples of Christ through engaging discussions, activities, worship, service, and interpreting scripture, and we have fun while living the disciple’s life. We strive for an open and safe environment that is welcoming to all and appreciate that we all come from diverse backgrounds.
The youth at Plainfield UMC are a family in Christ. Youth and adults strive to hold each other accountable and grow together as followers of Jesus. If you have questions or would like more information about the PUMC Youth Ministries or activities, please contact Pastor Sherry Steele at sherry.steele@plainfieldumc.com or by calling 815-436-9651.
Things We Want Every Youth to Know
-
This is a safe zone. All are welcomed, all are loved without regard for: LGBTQ identity, physical or mental ability, ethnic heritage, immigration status or socio-economic standing.
-
There is always room for you.
-
Come as often as your schedule allows.
-
There are no requirements of faith.
-
We are here to support you, comfort you, challenge you and accompany you on your life journey.
-
This is a judgement free zone – JUST BE YOU!
You're Invited!
Youth Group
September through May, all youth are invited to Youth Group usually held on the 2nd & 4th Sunday of the month at 6:30PM to 8PM. A typical Sunday night’s Youth Gathering includes food, fun, and fellowship. Each Sunday night provides youth light-hearted occasions to laugh, learn, and grow. Youth play games, hang out, ask questions, have a prayer circle, and enjoy a short Bible study. Junior High Youth (grades 6 to 8) and Senior High Youth (grades 9 to 12) meet together for about 15 minutes for a brief mixer/message and then they separate for fellowship time. In addition to Youth Group, we have an additional fun outing or service project each month. Check out the weekly enews or the church calendar for the most up-to-date information.
Senior High Coffee House
All Senior High Youth (grades 9 to 12) are invited to Coffee house usually held on the first Sunday of the month at 6PM to 8PM in Friendship Hall! Stop in for coffee, hot cocoa, tea, snacks, games, music, and more!
Service Opportunities
All youth are invited for monthly service opportunities to help the community. Service hours are available and students can use this opportunity to build their resume. Check out the weekly enews or the church calendar for the most up-to-date information.
Retreats
We have a retreat each year for all Senior High Youth in February and for all Junior High Youth and Confirmands in the fall at Dickson Valley Camp and Retreat Center in Newark, IL. Stay tuned for details of our next retreat!
Youth Mission Trip 2024
COVERED BRIDGE MINISTRIES
JULY 21 to JULY 27 to JEFFERSON, OH
All youth entering 7th grade in the fall of 2024 through graduating seniors are invited to join our 2024 Youth Mission Trip! We will travel to Jefferson, OH to Covered Bridge Ministries.
Covered Bridge Ministries is sponsored by the Jefferson United Methodist Church and H2O Missions in Jefferson, Ohio in beautiful Ashtabula County along Lake Erie. About 42.5% of the people in this county live below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. They welcome mission teams throughout the summer for home repairs and mission work. They offer great accommodations including air conditioning, showers, and internet access. We are excited to support this ministry!
The total cost of the Mission Trip will be about $400 per youth. PUMC Youth Ministry fundraising will pay part of this cost, so the cost for each person is just $200! Additional siblings will only pay $100 each. We ask that all youth attending the Mission Trip actively participate in Youth Ministry fundraisers. PUMC has a financial policy of “No Youth Left Behind.” If the cost of this outing presents an economic burden for your family, please contact MickeySue Traver or Pastor Sherry Steele, and we will arrange confidential financial assistance for your family.
Contact Rev. Sherry Steele at sherry.steele@plainfieldumc.com or MickeySue Traver at Mickeysue.t@hotmail.com to with questions.
Youth Mission Trip 2023
In July 2023, 30 youth and chaperones travelled to Beverly, KY to Red Bird Mission. They worked on some roofing, painting, and light repair projects including floors, shelving, and building dog houses.
Youth Mission Trip 2022
In July 2022, we travelled to JOSHUA in Steubenville, OH to help the residents with rehab work on the homes of those who cannot afford to pay for it themselves. We also served at the community kitchen, food pantry, and community garden. Thank you to all those who supported our trip with their donations, gifts, and prayers!
Testimonies from the Youth Mission Trip
“The best things I liked about this trip were the ability to help others, create meaningful connections and enjoy new experiences.”
“The best things I like about this trip were inside jokes, singing songs, ripping out floor tiles, being with kind people.”
“I loved being able to help with my best friends and establish new relationships. It was gratifying to watch the progress we made on the houses. I enjoyed breakfast crew and the talent show was really cool.”
“There was a lot of love seen on the trip – joy from everyone around”
“Time to hang out with people I don’t see a lot. The work was fulfilling and I learned stuff doing it; cooking breakfast early in the morning was cool.”
What did you learn/discover about yourself on this trip?
Helping people is fun.
I discovered a newfound love for puzzles and put myself out there.
It’s good to do things that terrify you, it makes you stronger.
I love helping people.
I am less patient than I thought.
That I can talk without being judged.
I’m a control freak.
That I can make friends being myself.
I like to help people.
I learned I REALLY love painting.
Putting yourself out there will always have some sort of positive outcome.
We have great kids in our church.
How useful I am.
I don’t have to be someone that is not myself.
Youth Ministries Values Statement
Relate
-
Time – We commit to building relationships with our youth by spending both quality and quantity time with them.
-
Love – We commit to relating to our youth by loving them unconditionally, cheerfully, and faithfully, and expressing that love in appropriate ways.
-
Prayer – We commit to faithfully praying for and with our youth and their families.
-
Mentoring – We commit to investing in our youth by mentoring them through their questions of faith and daily experiences in “one-on-one” or small group settings.
Equip
-
Equipping – We commit to equipping our youth to help them grow spiritually and to lead healthy, wise and meaningful lives.
-
Modeling – We commit that in order to inspire our youth, we must be passionate followers of Jesus Christ and consistently live healthy, wise, and meaningful lives.
-
Challenging – We commit that in order to inspire our youth, we must challenge them to live for Christ with all of their hearts and to join us in taking “faith-filled risks” for Christ.
Serve
-
Mobilizing – We create opportunities for them to participate in worship, serve the Church, and express their faith in specific, tangible acts of service, particularly to those in need.
-
Launching – We commit that in order to ignite our youth and properly “launch” them into their future, we must prepare them for service to God, life’s challenges, for healthy relationships, and for leadership.
-
Service – We help our youth discover their gifts and talents, exploring how they can apply them in service to others.