The Youth Ministry of First Baptist Tanner

We want all of our youth to know Jesus Christ and to find their ultimate joy and satisfaction in Him. We have designed our youth ministry to deepen understanding of the greatness of our God, and to give encouragement in the pursuit of godliness. Check out our events page to see any upcoming events for the youth of First Baptist Tanner.

YOUTH MINISTRY Overview

At FBC Tanner we take our responsibility seriously to help students understand that their identity is directly connected to their purpose. When they understand who they are, then they can understand what they were created to do. Often students allow their experiences, mistakes, hang-ups and struggles to define them. Their identity becomes defined by their weakness. Students can become slaves to the things that hold them hostage. They need  to understand that even though they may go through a trial or struggle,  it doesn't have to define them.

ROOTED IN CHRIST

Identity directly affects their value and worth. When students find their identity in their successes, they value themselves by how good or bad they perform. When identity is wrapped up in a relationship, students value themselves based on the success or failure of that relationship. A student can feel good about himself, but just as easily feel like no one loves him, or everyone hates him, or he was a mistake. Our ultimate goal at FBC Tanner is to ensure that each student understands that their identity is ROOTED in Christ. Our vision for youth ministry comes from Colossians chapter 2:6-7:

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

A LIFE WITH PURPOSE

The creation account reminds us that God values each person so much that He created us in His image. Out of all the things He created in this world, He formed only human beings in His image. We want students to understand that their hardships and hang-ups change nothing about them being made in the image of God. 

In Ephesians 2:10 the Bible declares that we are God's masterpiece. He created us anew in Christ, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. It's not because they have purpose that they should put their identity in Him; rather, it's because He has created them with purpose that should give them reason to place their identity in Him. That is why it's so important that students understand how much they are valued by God. They need to know their identity is in Him based on how He sees and feels about us because that never changes.

A LIFE WITH VALUE

In Psalm 136:1 the Bible declares that the Lord is good, and His love never fails. Romans 8:38-39 shows that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. God's love doesn't change and neither does it fail. The great love chapter of the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13, gives a great depiction of the way God loves us. We want our students to know that God's love does not and will not fail, nor does it change towards them. 

We want them to understand that God genuinely cares about the details of their lives. In 1 Peter 5:7 the Bible instructs us to cast all of our cares on Him because He  cares for us. In fact, He cares about every single detail of your  students' lives. He cares about their relationships, their bad days, their good days, the things that make them mad, sad or happy. He cares  about them completely. Students should be reminded of Luke 12:7, to know  that God cares even about the little things in their lives. They must  know that God values them so much that His care goes beyond their  ability to care even for themselves.  

In Ephesians 3:11-13 Paul tells the Ephesians that confidence and boldness is theirs because of the work of Christ on the cross. He didn't just do it for those who already had believed in Him. He died for those who had no idea how He feels about them or even who He is. We want our students to be bold and confident, knowing that their identity is in Christ who knows them and died for them. Our goal is to ensure that they are completely grounded in the One who created them, loves them and gives them purpose.