Students
Space for More LIFE in Student Ministry
providing space for Student and College Ministries to continue their growth
Over the last several years, our Student and College Ministries have grown significantly. They have done so even in spaces that don’t provide the room and flexibility needed to sustain long term growth. These ministries have a strong outreach orientation, providing warm, welcoming environments where students are intentionally accepted. We have many stories of students inviting their friends and then helping them make decisions to follow Christ! Almost half of the students that attend on Sunday evening are from the surrounding community, not children of First Free families.
On Sunday morning, ou
r senior high students have outgrown room 300—we’re excited by the growth they’re experiencing! It’s amazing to have so many students that want to learn God’s Word and worship together, but they no longer have the space to effectively reach students on Sunday morning. The fact that Sunday morning is a vibrant time where students are learning from God’s Word is a rare and unique aspect of our Student Ministries and we want to do all we can to provide a space where that can continue and expand.
Our college group has grown quickly as well, with about 80 attendees during the summer. They haven’t had a space that works well for them, either. Junior high meets in the Activity Center during the 9:00 a.m. hour, which makes it impossible for Quest to launch a service during that time.
The main solution for the space issues for Student and College Ministries is to transform an unfinished space on the first floor of the west side of the building into a place for senior high to use on Sunday morning and College Ministry to use on Monday nights. This space would include a medium-sized meeting room, classrooms for Bible study, and an outdoor patio.
This new space would allow the junior high to move to room 300 (currently used by senior high). The cost of these changes will be $515,000.
Click here to see images of this proposed new space.
You can also view the animation of the architect’s rendering of the new space.
Here is the detailed fact sheet that outlines the proposed changes for the new space in more detail.
And, here is the fact sheet for the changes in room 300 for junior high.
As we see the lives that are being changed by Student Ministries, we feel compelled to give them the space they need to continue to grow. These Next Steps will provide the space and flexibility we need for more people to experience more of the LIFE of Christ through these ministries.