Youth

The Youth Ministry at Central United Methodist Church exists to create disciples of Jesus who are empowered to Love God and Neighbor, in a safe and welcoming environment. We seek to equip Youth with knowledge of scripture, and challenge them with deep reflection, as they grow in faith on their personal walk with Jesus.

Important Information & Documents

Director of Youth Ministries

We are very excited to welcome Julie as the new Director of Youth Discipleship here at Central. She and her family are long-time, very active members of Central. In addition to working with children and volunteering with our youth, Julie has two wonderful grown children of her own, Mary Hodges and Alexander. Please join us in officially welcoming Julie to the staff part-time right now, and full-time this summer. If you would like to participate in supporting the Youth ministries at Central, becoming a mentor or Sunday school teacher, helping out as an advisor on Sunday nights or chaperoning, or providing a meal for the group, please contact Julie using the button below.

Confirmation

Confirmation refers to the decision a person makes to respond to God’s grace with intentional commitment, publicly reaffirming his/her baptismal vows before the congregation. Confirmation is not required for church membership. People join the church at their baptism and become a professing member at confirmation. Confirmation does not have to happen at a certain age, but Jr. High and older youth are encouraged to go through the Confirmation Preparation Process (CPP) prior to making their first public profession of faith. Confirmation is not a one-time occurrence, but the first time is a milestone in a person’s life. Youth do not learn everything they need to know about the Bible, the church, their faith, and how to be a “good” Christian during the Confirmation Preparation Process. Confirmation is part of a life-long journey of faith and understanding. 

Learn more about the United Methodist Church’s beliefs about confirmation here.

Sunday School

Sunday School class for youth in grades 6-12, takes place in the Youth Wing, in Room 206 each Sunday at 10:00 AM. Classes are designed to help youth study the Bible and talk about their faith in ways that are real and relevant to them.  Sunday School  is taught by a rotating team of volunteers, the hope is that each youth will feel seen and known by a  number of adults here at Central. We use a curriculum designed for  Middle and High School youth called “Fathom” that “takes a deep dive into the story of God that we find in the Bible.”

Materials will be provided for all participants. Youth are encouraged to bring their Bibles to class, but are not required. Please come and join a class for fellowship, fun, and discussion. Friends are always welcome!

Sunday Night United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF)

UMYF meets Sunday nights from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM during the school year. Middle School (Grades 6-8) will gather for a lesson and small group discussion from 5:30 PM -6:30 PM.  Then High Schoolers (Grades 9-12) will gather for their lesson and small group discussion from 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM.  Everyone ( Middle and High School)  will eat dinner together from 6:30 PM - 7:00 PM.

 There will be a few  Sundays when UMYF will not meet as well as a few special events; please visit the Central Youth Ministry website often for up-to-date and accurate information pertaining to these events. As always, parents are welcome to participate and/or observe.

Youth on Wednesdays! (YOW!)

Central’s Wednesday Night program, from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM,  includes dinner and age specific ministry opportunities for the whole family! A low-cost dinner begins at 5:30 PM and programming begins at 6:00 PM. Youth will gather in the Youth Wing upstairs for fellowship and a Bible study or devotional. Youth wishing to participate in the Youth Choir will be dismissed at 6:30 PM to attend practice which ends 7:15 PM, and those who wish to stay in the Youth Wing to hang out, and play games in the game room are welcome to do so.  There are a few Wednesday nights that YOW! will not meet, so the youth and adult volunteers can participate in or attend congregational events such as the Talent Show or Ash Wednesday service.

Youth Choir

Central's Youth Choir is comprised of 6th through 12th grade singers. The ensemble leads worship at the 9:00 AM sanctuary service approximately once a month throughout the academic year. Singers explore various music styles, learn about elements of worship through first-hand experience, and acquire knowledge of the basic rudiments of music. The choir members also have the opportunity to participate in events such as the South Carolina United Methodist Youth Choir Festival. Rehearsals are held Wednesday evenings from 6:30 PM - 7:15 PM.

Outreach

Central's youth are involved in many outreach projects including Santahatchie Youth Mission Project, Salkehatchie Youth Summer Mission, Trick-or-Treat for Canned Goods, Costa Rica Mission Project, and more. For more details on these projects, click the "Learn More" button below.