The mission of the Youth Ministry of First Pres exists to challenge, encourage, and engage our youth and their families to grow in Jesus Christ and serve others with love.
Motivated by Jesus’ passionate love for God and for all people, and motivated by our wonderful team of adult leaders, our hope for our youth is for them to participate in what God is doing in their lives today. We will do this through our weekly small groups, bible studies, worship, service projects, recreation, building our community and more.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. ”
Jeremiah 29:11
core values
Text messages are also sent out via Remind for quick reminders. For more information on how to subscribe to this service contact Kari (karim@fpcandersonsc.com).
sunday youth fellowship
Our Sunday night youth fellowship program is run by our youth advisors and staff in the Family Life Center. When you look at the full calendar you will see that we are not always on campus but below is our schedule when we are at First Pres. We will publicize the dates and times of all of our off campus events for you through first events, email, text, Instagram & Facebook.
Schedule:
5:00 PM Open Gym: The Youth come to play in the gym, do crafts, help set-up, hang out, and play in the game room. This is a time to catch-up, relax and play together.
5:30 PM Dinner: Each week when we are at First Pres for youth fellowship we will ask the families to share in hosting our dinner for the night in the Canteen and McDougald Room of the Family Life Center. The youth will make their plates and then the middle school & high school groups will separate out to eat their dinner.
6:00 PM Program: This is also done as separate groups in various rooms in the Family Life Center. This is our time to dig into our theme for each Sunday night. We will spend this time singing songs, bible study, with guest speakers, recreation, mission projects (including off-campus) and more.
sunday morning small groups
Scripture, media, activities and games are incorporated to learn about important Old & New Testament Bible characters.
Meets at 9:30 AM on the 3rd floor (“Heaven”) starting back August 29, 2021.
Confirmation is a journey that provides youth with intentional opportunities to walk alongside peers and adults, to explore and discover together what it means to belong to God and to live a life of discipleship within our church community and the world. Typically, Confirmation occurs in a student’s eighth grade year, although those who are above eighth grade who have not previously participated are welcome.
This group will meet on Sunday mornings during the Sunday School hour starting in September and going through April. The class will participate in lessons, service projects, retreats and conversations.
At the end of the year, the confirmands are invited to make a public profession of faith and declare their intention to continue their faith journey as a full, active member of First Presbyterian Church. It is an essential ministry and milestone in this congregation and in the lives of the families who participate.
Meets at 9:30 AM on the 3rd floor (“Heaven”) starting in September 2021.
Coffee & Conversations
Our prayer is that Sunday School will be a time of developing a faith that digs deep and asks questions. Our High School youth participate in a topic-based study that is centered on living out our faith, current events, and more!
Meets at 9:30 AM in the McDougald Room of the Family Life Center, starting back August 29, 2021.
wednesday night live offerings
Runs September through November and January through March
Wednesday evenings are an opportunity to come alongside the Middle School-aged youth to check-in on them, pray with them, and dig into a scripture focus for the week, do activities that help us apply the text and work in small groups to discuss how our faith and life as a middle school today connect.
Schedule:
3:25 PM Pickup: Southwood Academy of the Arts, Glenview & McCants Middle Schools, includes a run to QT (gas station) for snacks, so bring funds.
4:00 PM Open Gym: Upon arrival at First Pres this is time for homework, hanging out or relaxing among friends.
5:30 PM Bible Study: We will gather in the McDougald Room of the Family Life Center.
6:15 PM Guardian Pick-Up or Dinner: Guardians may pick up now or students may join the rest of Wednesday Night Live for dinner in the Kirk.
Wednesday Night Live is a great place for our high school students to step up and lead. We would love any interested who are willing to help with middle school bible study or Children’s classes to contact Kari Morgan.
Time commitment: 5:15 – 6:15 PM
monthly offerings
Meets once-a-month for dinner and bible study. Dates and venues change depending on youth schedules. Details announced a few weeks ahead of time.
Meets once-a-month for dinner and bible study. Dates and venues change depending on youth schedules. Details announced a few weeks ahead of time.
First Sundays at First is our youth initiated community dinner that we host the first Sunday night of each month in the Kirk. Our youth and a fantastic team of adults publicize, plan, cook, set up, serve and clean up. We invite anyone in the community to come and join us for the meal. Preparing the meal is only one part of this mission project. It is also about engaging members in our community with conversation and fellowship.
summer opportunities
Our summers are filled with small group gatherings, service projects, weekly meet-ups, mission trips, conferences, volunteer opportunities with our children’s ministry programs and more.
Our VBS program could not run without all of our youth volunteers. They will help with everything from grade level guides, crafts, recreation, snack, bible study, and music to help make the week a wonderful opportunity for kids to experience faith and God in new ways.
August 2-6, 2021
Rising 9th to completed 12th Graders will spend the week experiencing God in new ways. This is a transforming week for the youth who participate. This conference is a unique gathering of young people from all over the country for a week of study, worship, and recreation. It provides a safe space for youth to be heard by modeling a loving, nurturing and supportive community as the body of the Christ where all feel affirmed and included. Activities include morning energizers, music, keynote, small group gatherings, giant recreation activities, worship and more…
We will be staying in a rental house together where we will live, play, relax, cook & eat meals, worship, pray and discover together our individual relationship with God and our call as a group – All in the beautiful mountains of NC!
retreats and conferences
Presbyterian Youth from all over the Upstate of South Carolina spend two nights at Bonclarken Camp and Conference Center in October. Students stay in cabin or hotel style rooms engaging in small groups, music, energizers, worship, recreation, exploring Bonclarken, high adventure course, games, and lots more!
We will be headed to the mountains of NC for a wonderful weekend in March singing, worshiping, praying, playing, making new friends and growing together! This retreat is planned fully by our Presbytery Youth Council which is made up of high school youth from all over the Upstate of South Carolina, meaning it is made for-youth, by-youth!
Each year our middle and high school groups rotate between ski retreats, snow tubing trips, mystery trips, and mission weekends. Check the first events page for more information.
Sports
The Anderson Church basketball league is available for students 5K – 12th grade. Sign-ups begin in September/October with games running from mid-November through the first week in February. Teams form in churches all over Anderson County. Practices will be held at First Pres and games will be played at a variety of churches around town.
This is a great way to build your basketball skills, build teamwork, connect with faith-centered coaches and leaders and have a great season of competitive fun.
REGISTRATION FOR THE 2021-2022 SEASON IS NOW OPEN THROUGH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2021.
Kari Morgan
Director of Youth & Family Ministries
karim@fpcandersonsc.com
Kari Morgan was called as our Director of Youth and Family Ministries in February 2014. She actually grew up at FPC Anderson and while participating in the youth program she first began to hear her call to youth ministry. She graduated from Presbyterian College with a degree in Christian Education and Psychology. Since 2004, Kari has served in full-time church ministry in multiple areas with children all the way up through college students.
She believes it is a joy and privilege to accompany our youth and their families through the joys and turbulent waters of adolescence. She loves helping youth to cultivate a heart for mission and service, engage in scripture, play, build lasting relationships and deepen their faith as they all walk through life together.
Kari and her husband, Andrew, love spending time together with their two young children, Lanning and Lochlyn, going on adventures, having family movie nights, playing games, and enjoying creation.
As members of First Presbyterian Church of Anderson, we are called to create a community of faith that seeks the welfare of its members and visitors. Therefore, we are committed to the protection of all children, youth, and other persons participating in the activities and programs of First Presbyterian Church. The Safe Church Policy has evolved from a shared concern that the church must be a safe and secure place for our children, youth and adults.
Please read the Safe Church Policy and Procedures Manual if you are approved to serve in an area of ministry, then fill out the Statement of Compliance and Permission for Background Check Forms. These may be submitted digitally, or you may also print, complete and deliver to the Church office.