Forest Hill Student Ministry

Every Sunday night, the South Park campus is populated with middle school and high school students from around the Charlotte area. They’re all here for the same reasons: worship God and grow in faith.

This is Advance, Forest Hill’s Student Ministry. The purpose – “Advance your faith, Advance the kingdom.” Advance was launched in September 2009 with the ambition to reach and disciple as many students as possible by focusing on the Bible in a challenging and relevant environment.

Student Ministry Pastor, Ryan Carson, explains what students are facing every day in school and among their peers: “The culture is teaching students about taboo subjects whether we like it or not. At Advance, we’re tackling these issues head on with a Biblical perspective because, we believe, it’s better for students to talk about these issues at church.”

The concept seems to be working. Just about every weekend students are confessing addictions and sinful lifestyles, and learning what it means to be Christ follower.

Hebrews 12:1-2 acts as the model for students in Advance trying to grow into faithful believers:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”(NLT)

The strategy behind reaching students evolved from becoming familiar with what grabs their attention, how they communicate, what music they listen to and what they talk about with friends. “We are called to be in the world but not of it,” explains Ryan. “This means reaching students in their world and realizing that the world of the Internet and texting can be redeemed to glorify God.”

What has developed from this study in teenage interests, are Sunday nights filled with music, lights, fellowship and a relevant message tackling issues teenagers have been talking about with their friends but not necessarily at church. Until now.

Advance LifeGroup Coordinator, Todd Lesher, explains what happens after the music, lights and message come to an end. “We break into LifeGroups of about twelve per group, specific to grade and gender, where the students practice accountability with each other.”

Todd explains that Hebrews 10:24 is the overriding theme behind these LifeGroups: “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.”(NLT)

Students discuss the challenge of the message they have just heard and they focus on five specific areas of growth: pray, learn, share, confess and hold each other accountable. The idea is to motivate students to grow in faith together, not as individuals, but with others on this journey of adolescence.

There is solid evidence that growth is occurring among the students at Forest Hill and in Advance. Ryan and Todd shared two quotes from students recently impacted by Advance:

“…I got so much out of your message, and music and EVERYTHING! Then, when we went to LifeGroup, I was stunned. I could feel God in the room! The next day, I talked to a friend on the phone for a while and I confessed a lot of stuff to them and I felt....free. I felt like a huge wall of protection came tumbling down around my heart. I felt like a brand new Christian. It was AMAZING! I don’t think I have ever felt so connected to God than I have this week. Phillipians 1:3: "I thank God everytime I think of you."

“Saved!!! After fighting God for so long, tonight I finally hit rock bottom and gave my life to Jesus. I DARE you to let Jesus take the wheel of your life!!! He loves us in ways that we do not understand and can show you a life with purpose and satisfaction. All you who read this are witnesses and I hope you will hold me accountable!”

God is certainly moving among the students of Forest Hill! To find out more, click here, and to visit Ryan Carson's blog, click here.