The youth ministry at Grace Gathering aims to guide and coach students in their relationships with Christ while empowering their personal faith growth. They work with parents to spiritually guide their children and provide resources to help them discuss tough issues with their teens. The ministry also supports teen-led youth communities at church for mutual learning and relationship building with adult mentors. These communities experiment with different discussion topics and formats. The ministry additionally partners with other local youth programs to engage the many teens involved in activities outside of Grace.

1. Our youth approach at Grace is to
come alongside students, guiding twenty9words
and coaching them in their
relationships with Christ. We believe
Contact Information The teen-focused ministry of Grace Gathering.
the nuclear family is the strongest Brian Smeltzer - teen ministry coach
influence on a studentʼs faith.
www.twenty9words.com
email: bsmeltzer@gracegathering.com
Accordingly, we work with parents Brian Smeltzer - teen ministry coach
cell: 260.241.3944
to spiritually guide and coach their office: 260.749.5165
youth. This year we have already website: www.gracegathering.com
website: www.twenty9words.com
outlined the topics and questions
weʼre studying so parents know Grace Gathering
what we are talking about as well as 3157 Minnich Road
questions to help parents have more
New Haven, IN 46774
1 Thessalonians 1:3
intentional conversations with their
teens.
With so many students involved in We continually remember
so many things, we empower youth
before our God and Father
to grow in their faith personally,
rather than through another
your work produced by
program. We utilize adult mentors to
build relationships with teens to aid
faith, your labor prompted
this process, which is why we are
working with youth house churches by love, and your
at the high school level.
endurance inspired by hope

2. First Second Third
Expression Expression Expression
Parents and Family Youth Communities Larger Gatherings
guidance and coaching experiment and experience success and failure bigger than Grace, community partnerships
Bi-monthly parent forum Teen led/adult mentored communities Grace-sponsored gatherings and partnerships
We know that parenting is difficult in its own right which is We began working with youth churches a year ago. We With so many teens involved with ministries outside
why we want to provide a bi-monthly opportunity to (teens and adults) have seen our fair share of success Grace we are partnering and promoting these ministries
facilitate conversations to help you along the way. and failure. Weʼve had some very productive discussions instead of duplicating them.
Whether we talk about how to have better discussions about how to better do these groups and are excited to Middle school youth meet here at Grace on
with your teens or how to coach them in their faith, we continue giving teens ownership in their spiritual walks. Wednesdays from 6:30-8. We have set these as youth
want to assure you have the resources to be confident in On Sunday mornings during the middle hour house churches, but with a little more guidance. Knowing
guiding your children on their faith journey. We may also (10:15-11:05, second door on the left across from Kidstuf) many of these youth are able of leading - given a little
talk about issues that teens deal with such as social high school students meet to have straight-forward direction from capable adults - we have adults who
networking (Facebook, Twitter, Myspace), drinking, peer conversations about life. This year, we will work our way provide more structure and framework than the high
pressure and self-hurt to name a few. through 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. Middle school school groups, but less than they had in elementary.
students meet in the next room over... still across from During this first trimester our middle school teens will
Kidstuf. focus on Neighborlink as their OUT.
Here are the dates we will meet during the 2009-2010
Adult youth church mentors as of the beginning of this 2nd Sunday - On the second Sunday of each month, all
school year. We will meet in the den at Grace.
school year include: high school students will come together for a time of
September 12th, 9:00-10:00am
Trish Lake and Kim Schoenle (girls) - pregnant teens- teaching, worship and prayer. Itʼs open to all high school
November 14th, 9:00-10:00am Wednesday Evenings from 6:30-8 students, regardless of school.
January 9th, 9:00-10:00am Dan Lake and Jeff Schoenle (guys) - Wednesday 13 days later - On the night before the 4th Sunday, high
Evenings from 6:30-8
March 13th, 9:00-10:00am school students are getting together for a night of
Susan May - NeighborLink - Saturday from 7-9 relaxing, hanging out and fun.
May 8th, 9:00-10:00am
Brian Smeltzer - MS Youth, Wednesdays from 5-8
4th Sunday - On the fourth Sunday of each month, all
John and Barb Wallace middle school students are coming together for a time of
Rodney and Tina Kraner teaching, worship and prayer. Itʼs open to all middle
school students, regardless of school.
Go to www.twenty9words.com for more details.
Steve and Alison Orth Josh Von Gunten
NH Campus Life www.younglife.org
www.fwayfc.org younglifeinfo@yahoo.com