Youth

Uptown Youth Mission Trip

Vision

Uptown is a church that seeks to know the full life found in Jesus Christ and to share that life with those in Charlotte and around the world. Each of our ministries at Uptown are called to reflect this vision. In the context of Youth Ministry, we view the covenant family as central to the life of each student. At Uptown we have four distinctives of a family based youth ministry:

Distinctives

Distinctive 1 is to affirm and assist the family role in the life of each student. The youth ministry will reinforce the healthy Christian values found at home; serve the parents by equipping them through training and teaching; create opportunities for families to grow together through fellowship, service and teaching opportunities.
 
Distinctive 2 is to create a community among youth age students; peer relationships aimed at strengthening and encouraging each other towards Christian maturity. Due to the nature of teenagers and their unique development stage, it is important for them to develop relationships with each other and form an identity as a group.
 
Distinctive 3 is to integrate youth into the extended church. It is important for students to not only develop relationships with each other but also be included as a part of the whole church body. Therefore students will be encouraged to develop relationships with the whole church by using their gifts and abilities to assist the church in its worship and work.
 
Distinctive 4 is to engage non-Christian youth and their families. The youth ministry will equip students and families to engage non-Christian students and families by proclaiming to them the good news of Jesus Christ. As students and families share their faith with others, the youth ministry will serve as an entry point into the church. Ultimately as we reach out to non-Christians we want to reach the family not just the student, encouraging parents to engage parents as youth engage youth. 

Current Events

Sunday School
Throughout the year the youth Sunday School will be a blend of the following 8 week blocks:
-Youth Sunday School – In order to assimilate new students and build community with in the group their will be some blocks of classes consisting of youth and youth workers.
-Adult Sunday School – In order to facilitate integration into the larger church body their will be blocks that students will join the adult ed. Classes.
-Parent/Student Sunday School – In order to affirm and assist parents their will be blocks where students and their parents will attend a class together focused on the family.

Midweek Study
Every third Thursday of the month we meet for a time of fellowship and to study God's Word together. This fall we are working through the parables of Jesus.

Special Events for 2011-2012:
Camping Trip – Oct 22-23
Bonfire - Nov 12
Christmas Party - Dec 9
Men's Shelter Game Day - Feb 25
Great Wolf Lodge Overnighter - Mar 23-24
Youth Family Low Country Boil - April 20
Service Month - throughout May
Family Picnic - Aug 25

Trips in 2012
Winter Ski Retreat - January 20-22
Youth Family Mission Project (local) - June 24-30
Summer Retreat - July 23-27