ValleyPoint Students

OUR STUDENTS ARE SIGNIFICANT!

We love and highly value our bright, funny, and enthusiastic 6th-12th grade ValleyPoint Students! We strive to live out the vision of ValleyPoint – pointing people (students in our case) to real relationships and real significance. We want students to know that they can have a personal and genuine friendship with Jesus as well as with their peers and leaders.

Students find themselves in a pivotal season of life inundated with change, opportunities and decisions. We strive to be a steady, safe, and inviting place for students to be known, encouraged, and equipped to live out lives of significance and joy. As a church, we’re committed to helping the next generation dream big and leave significant legacies in every grade, every school, and every season of life. We believe in you. More importantly, God believes in you!

Questions about The Uprising or to get on our email lists, contact our Student Pastor, Mike McConnell at mike@valleypointchurch.com.

STEPS TO ENGAGE AND CONNECT…

STEP #1: Join our church for one of our Sunday gatherings

We invite our students in 6th-12th grade to join us for our main gatherings, where we learn what it means to follow Jesus and live with real significance. We are a vibrant, multi-generational church dedicated to spiritual formation that empowers us to be a godly and joyful presence wherever we live, work, and play.
STEP #2: Join us each Wednesday from 6:00-8:30 pm for our student gathering

Our student gatherings begin with a time from 6:00-6:30 where each student can come to hang out and enjoy the activities that we offer in our student center. We have video game consoles, board games, a student lounge to talk or work on homework, or hop into a pick up sports game. It is open for all students to enjoy.

At 6:30 we host an organized game or activity that all students are encouraged to participate. These activities vary and aim to engage a broad range of student interests. We then have live worship music from our student worship team (School of Worship), and talk from one of our leaders.

Our last portion of the evening, from 8:00-8:30, is when our students break out into small groups based on their age and gender. Our group leaders discuss the lesson for the evening, engage the students with conversation and group discussion, and spend time praying with the students.
STEP #3: Join us for our periodic student trips and activities

STUDENT SPIRITUAL FORMATION PLAN…

Download Spiritual Formation Plan

These are the foundational teachings from the Bible that we see as especially impactful for students to know, helping them navigate life with faith, purpose, and confidence. We want these to serve as long-term truths that help them launch successfully as they venture out beyond their youth group years.

GROWING IN GOD
+ God’s Unconditional Love

Key Verse: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Why it matters: Students should know that they are deeply loved by God, regardless of their mistakes or struggles. This foundation builds self-worth and a sense of belonging.

Application:

Start each day with a reminder: “I am loved by God.” Write this on a sticky note for your mirror or phone.

When you feel discouraged, read passages like Psalm 139 to remind yourself of how intimately God knows and loves you.

Share God’s love by being kind to someone who seems lonely or overlooked.

+ Forgiveness and Grace

Key Verse: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Why it matters: Understanding forgiveness—both from God and for others—teaches students to let go of guilt and grudges, fostering healthier relationships and emotional healing.

Application:

Practice forgiving others by letting go of grudges. Start small: If someone upsets you, say a brief prayer, such as, “Lord, help me forgive as You forgive me.”

If you’ve wronged someone, apologize quickly and honestly. Accepting responsibility demonstrates maturity and reflects God’s grace.

Reflect on God’s forgiveness daily by reading 1 John 1:9 or Psalm 103:10–12. It can help you let go of shame and trust in His mercy.

+ Spiritual Practices (Bible, Prayer, Sabbath, Fasting, Solitude, Generosity, Community, Service, and Witness)

Key Verse: “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42)

Why it matters: Spiritual disciplines are vital for Christians because they help deepen their relationship with God, align their lives with His will, and foster
spiritual growth. Here are several reasons why spiritual disciplines matter.

Application:

Set aside 5–10 minutes daily for prayer and reading Scripture. Start by thanking God, sharing your worries, and asking for guidance.

Keep a journal. Record your prayers and note when they are answered—it builds faith.

Begin implementing additional spiritual practices into your daily life.
GROWING IN MY IDENTITY
+ Identity in Christ

Key Verse: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Why it matters: Understanding that their value comes from being a child of God—not societal pressures or achievements—helps students combat insecurities and peer pressure.

Application:

When your identity is secure in Christ, you don’t have to be driven by guilt, shame, or the need to earn others’ approval. This fosters confidence in God’s forgiveness and leads to extending grace to others rather than judgment.

Your past no longer defines you. You can pursue holiness, break sinful patterns, and grow spiritually with hope, knowing God is actively renewing your heart, desires, and actions.

When you place your faith in Christ, you are free to live with security rather than fear and with purpose rather than confusion. Repeat, “I am loved and accepted by God” to yourself daily.

If you are struggling to understand your identity, talk to your parents or a trusted spiritual mentor. Isolation is a tool of the enemy.

+ Purpose and Calling

Key Verse: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Why it matters: Students need to know their lives have meaning and purpose. God has a unique plan for them, and they can make a difference in the world.

Application:

Discover your gifts: Volunteer at church or in your community to explore areas you’re passionate about, such as music, helping others, or leadership.

Set small goals aligned with your talents and ask God to guide you. For example, if you love writing, start a blog or journal to encourage others.

Seek God’s will when deciding about college, friends, romantic relationships, or extracurricular activities.

+ Lifestyle (Dating, Purity, and Guarding Against Temptation)

Key Verse: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3)

Why it matters: These align with biblical principles that guide us to honor God in our relationships, protect our hearts, live a life of holiness, and experience relationships in their most fulfilling expressions.

Application:

Consider the values and beliefs of those you choose to date. Their spiritual direction should bring you closer to God, not further away.

When dating, be open to feedback from your parents and godly friends. Those closest to us can often detect warning signs before we do.

Commit to a lifestyle that aligns with the biblical view of sexual ethics, which promotes and encourages sexual expression in the context of marriage, described as a lifelong one-flesh covenant union between two sexually different persons (male and female). This vision of Christian marriage, expressed in whole life covenant union between a man and a woman, includes avoiding pornography and inappropriate relationships.
GROWING IN SERVING
+ Serving God, Serving Others, Serving Community

Key Verse: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

Why it matters: Growing in serving God, others, and your community matters because it aligns your heart with the purpose Jesus gave His followers—to love God fully and love people sacrificially. When you serve this way, your life becomes a reflection of Jesus that brings healing, hope, and the presence of God everywhere you go.

Application:

Engage with the entire church body by joining a Sunday-morning service team.

Participate in our monthly Love Day efforts.

Participate in one of our Compassion Trips.

ValleyPoint Students

OUR STUDENTS ARE SIGNIFICANT!

STEPS TO ENGAGE AND CONNECT…

STUDENT SPIRITUAL FORMATION PLAN…

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