First Presbyterian’s Youth Ministry seeks to intentionally and creatively involve our young people (primarily grades 6-12, and also college age) in all aspects of our church’s ministry through service, study, prayer, worship, and fellowship. By attempting to do this type of work, First Church recognizes that "youth ministry" is not simply done "to" or "for" youth on Sunday mornings or evenings, but rather youth ministry happens whenever and wherever young people are engaged as partners in the ministry of the Church.
While our ministry concentrates on the young people themselves, we recognize that all "youth" ministry is done in the context of families. Thus, our ministry gives attention to the education, support, and nurture of parents of teens in an increasingly complex world. Our ministry seeks to connect our young people to the larger church family, offering them a chance to develop significant relationships with people older and younger than themselves.
First Presbyterian’s Youth Ministry also strives to reflect the philosophy and goals of our denomination’s design for youth ministry, the Presbyterian Youth Connection (PYC). Based on our Reformed theological roots, the five intentions of the Presbyterian Youth Connection are:
1. To call young people to be disciples of Jesus Christ
2. To respond to the needs and interests of young people
3. To work together, youth and adults, in partnership
4. To be connected to the whole church, community, and world
5. To include all young people, reaching out and inviting them to belong to the community of faith