Student Ministry

Hello Student Ministry Families!

Thank you for your support, love, prayers, and partnership. From the early stages of Student Ministry, you have been our greatest cheerleaders and we are so grateful for the ways you show up and model what it means to follow Jesus and to live on mission. 

Can you believe we are approaching our 3rd year anniversary of launching our Student Ministry at New Life East?! Prior to having a designated space for our Middle and High Schoolers, our Students were given opportunities to serve and they served with so much joy. We loved seeing them grow, develop into leaders, and nurture friendships built on sincerity, curiosity, and deep appreciation for each other and the experiences they share. 

Last year, we celebrated our first High School graduation! And within the last 2 years, we have witnessed 6 NextGen Kids and Students make a commitment to follow Jesus and get baptized! What a joy to hear their stories of faith and see their spiritual journey take root. We are excited for the many more stories we will get to hear in the coming years.

Just as our larger East community has pivoted from a "launch phase" to now focusing on building and digging deeper, our Student Ministry is also pivoting to create more space for deeper growth and connection - not just with and to each other but also to the larger New Life Community. We are also adjusting to some transitions within leadership and the volunteer team - all good things. 

Sini Varghese has been instrumental in helping launch Student Ministry, alongside Sherri Thomas and Phil Chew. It is because of their "yes" and their hearts that we have been able to get a glimpse of the amazing work God is doing within our Students! For almost 3 years, Sini has served and led faithfully within the context of NextGen, particularly in Student Ministry. She always knew that she was called to start something for our Students and then move on. Her Apostolic gifting birthed in her a "holy discontent" in not having a space for our Students, she took risks, imagined big, and invited others to join her. Coupled with her skills to organize, plan, and execute - the work before this trio was manageable and joy-filled! And it is with hearts filled with gratitude that we bless her as she transitions off Student Ministry and NextGen. Her last day is March 31st. She plans on sharing the story of how Student Ministry came about in the next few weeks with the students and we will have a special celebration for her during Sunday Programming. Don't worry - she is not going anywhere, she will still be part of our East community and will still be a familiar, loving presence to our Students. She is just transitioning out of her NextGen leadership role as Admin for Student Ministry. I encourage you to share some words of encouragement and thanks when you see Sini in the coming weeks. 

For the time being, responsibilities will fall back on me as we build our team (adding more volunteers) and, eventually, hiring another staff member to join NextGen (as we make plans for our move). Would you continue to pray for our team in the midst of these changes?

Along the lines of new rhythms, our hope is that we bridge our High Schoolers to the larger New Life Community. They have built relationships with each other, learned together, and served in various capacities. We want to provide them more opportunities to connect with other New Life congregants - in preparation for when they graduate and become a college student/ young adult. Lifelong discipleship continues (and is solidified) post high school when they become the primary decision makers for many important paths in life. It is during the college years that many students' faith journeys are challenged and strengthened. We want to be able to walk alongside them now during High School to help navigate and model what it means to live a faith that is deeper and practical - anchoring them in the love of Jesus for them, for those around them, and for the world. 

That being said, HIGH SCHOOLERS will follow this cadence starting in April.

1st Sundays: Small Group (in the Fellowship Hall)

2nd Sundays: Student Ministry Story Sunday (in the Fellowship Hall)

3rd Sundays: Service Sunday (they will join the main service; there will be reserved seating for them in the Sanctuary and a Student Ministry Volunteer will be around to check in with them)

4th Sundays: Ministry Sunday (they can serve in other ministries or join the main service)

5th Sundays, when applicable: Connect Sunday (Game/ Activity in the Fellowship Hall)

*Our Summer Months (July & August) may follow a different rhythm.

MIDDLE SCHOOLERS will continue to meet every week, their schedule is as follows:

1st Sundays: Small Group (in the Fellowship Hall)

2nd Sundays: Student Ministry Story Sunday (in the Fellowship Hall)

3rd Sundays: Small Group (in the Fellowship Hall)

4th Sundays: Small Group (in the Fellowship Hall)

5th Sundays, when applicable: Connect Sunday (Game/Activity in the Fellowship Hall)

*Our Summer Months (July & August) may follow a different rhythm.

We have paused our Student Ministry Meetups for the time being until we can find a better and more sustainable flow. We will keep you posted on other events/hangouts - churchwide and NextGen specific. 

Week in and week out, we have dedicated Student Ministry Volunteers who love our Students and create a welcoming space for them to ask their questions, engage in reflection, and process together. We are grateful for them!

Indya Ford

Dylan Jodah

Shonda Murphy

Sherri Thomas

Jonathan Walton

We are in the process of interviewing/ onboarding a few more folks to serve our Students. If you have people who are interested, please send them my way. We are definitely in need of mentors who can walk alongside 1-2 Students (one-on-one or in pairs) more intentionally. We currently have at least 10 Students who come consistently. Thank you for helping us build out our team in this area!

Lastly, I want to share a few event updates:

• Life Conference for HIGH SCHOOLERS ONLY is taking place from July 4th-9th in Indiana. If your High Schooler is interested, please have them REGISTER ASAP.

• Student Ministry Retreat for current 6th graders to 8th graders (2024-25 School Year) will take place from October 17th-19th in Pennsylvania. Please make note of this date change (it was moved from May). More details to follow.

We have started our Fundraising efforts to help with both events. I will share more information on the envelope fundraising opportunity, as well as, our very first NextGen Showcase scheduled for April. We are so excited to showcase all our talents, skills, and gifts within NextGen and the larger East Community. 

Thank you, all, for taking the time to update yourself with all things Student Ministry. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions, concerns, or suggestions. You can email me (jainnie.hackman@newlife.nyc) and we can schedule a time to chat.

I am deeply humbled that you would entrust your wonderful preteens, teenagers, and young adults to us - we don't take for granted that they have allowed us into their sacred spaces. They are so loved. 

Many blessings,

Jainnie Hackman