Student Ministry
Upcoming Events in Student Ministry
- November 18-25 – Volunteer Opportunities During OCC National Collection Week
- November 27 – No Reach (Week of Thanksgiving)
- December 1 – All-Family Worship Sunday (no student classes)
- December 4 – Parent Meeting & Equipping Time (6:30-8:00 p.m.)*
- December 11 – Student Christmas Parties (last Reach of 2024)
- December 29 – All-Family Worship Sunday (no student classes)
- January 15 – Silent Disco (Semester Kick-off)
- January 17-19 – Catalyst Weekend
Did you know each year Fellowship is a Waco-area drop-off center for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes? This year’s OCC National Collection Week is Nov. 18-25, and our OCC team would love to have students volunteer in shifts again this year. Students must be at least 13 years old and will help collect, count, and fill cartons with the donated shoeboxes. A supervisor will sign off on volunteer hours earned for school community service requirements! Parents or students, please e-mail Kay Strauss to sign up or for more information. Shifts currently available are below – first come, first served!
*PARENT MEETING! We hope parents and guardians will join us Wednesday, Dec. 4, 6:30-8:00 p.m., for a parent meeting while students are in Reach programming. We’ll update families on the status of Student Ministry and leadership, give important information for 2025 events, and answer any questions you may have. After this brief time, we’ll have a parent equipping hour led by Drs. Leighton and Jenny Carl, our own student ministry volunteers at Fellowship. This will be a practical time to learn how we can have fruitful conversations with our teens about God’s design for sex, and navigating cultural challenges like pornography, technology, dating, and more.
Questions? Email students@fellowshipwaco.org
Sunday Classes for Junior High & High School
Our One:Three classes on Sundays take place during the second service, 10:45 a.m.-Noon. Currently, we're in a series in both classes called “Faith Foundations.” Over the course of the next 10 weeks we’re diving into 10 essential Christian truths and exploring the why and how of living out our faith in Christ. We are made on purpose for a purpose, so we want to examine what that is. We hope to see you there!
Wednesday Nights
Our Reach program meets from 6:30-8:00 p.m. on Wednesday nights. Students in 7th-12th grades, please join us for fun, worship, separate teaching for High School and Jr. High, and small groups! We look forward to seeing you there!
Join us for open gym time at 6:15 p.m. and after Reach until 8:30 p.m.
Student Worship Team
To learn more about helping lead Fellowship students in worship, please contact Cori Taylor, Student Ministry Worship Associate, at cori.taylor@fellowshipwaco.org or (254) 242-6138. The worship team is open to 7th-12th grades.
Rooted Discipleship Groups
Rooted is our main discipleship program for high schoolers that meets off campus on different days of the week. Students who want to participate meet in small groups of their peers of the same gender where they “grow deep” with one another and are mentored by an older believer of their choosing. Rooted participants experience vulnerability as they discuss their lives and walk in accountability with one another, pray with one another, and discuss a topic such as Christian living, apologetics, identity, or cultural issues of the day. If you have any questions about this vital part of our ministry, please contact our Rooted coordinator, Rachael Younger, at the.china.lady@gmail.com.
Our Vision
Our desire is to see every student experience and live out the LIFE they have in Christ! We aim for our students to have an intimate relationship with our creator, a consistent investment in one another's lives, a desire to practically live out the principles of God's word, and to play an active role in creating disciples. The ministry is grounded on 5 pillars: Discipleship, Evangelism, Service, Community, and Unity with the Church body. Students will find a welcoming atmosphere, relevant Biblical teaching, authentic small group environments, and a whole lot of fun! Come check us out!
Core Programs
Reach
This program aims to serve as an introduction into our ministry as we encourage our students to "Reach Out" to the greater Waco community. Reach is our main Wednesday night program that begins at 6:30 pm. Our students will experience worship, relevant biblically-based teaching, small groups separated by grade, and Christ-centered community and fellowship. Our hope is for students to be engaged with God's Word and to actively practice their faith by inviting their friends to come alongside them.
One:Three
This Sunday morning program is named after Psalm 1:3. This student bible study meets during the second service at 10:45 am and aims to focus on our students' Christian education. Students will increase in their biblical literacy as they begin to explore different books of the Bible in a more in-depth manner. Students will participate in a discussion-based curriculum that requires them to dig into the text in a way that involves critical thinking of underlying implications while applying it to their everyday personal lives. Students are divided by age group.
Rooted
Rooted is our main student discipleship program that meets off campus on different days of the week. High School students who choose to participate meet in small groups of their peers of the same gender where they "Grow Deep" with one another and are mentored by an older believer of their choosing. Students will experience vulnerability as they discuss their lives and walk in accountability with one another, pray with one another, and discuss a topic such as Christian living, apologetics, identity, or cultural issues of the day.
Student Ministry Questions? Email Brian & Erin Davis at students@fellowshipwaco.org.
