God’s Purpose in Teens’ Everyday Lives

Discipleship doesn’t end at youth group;
it continues in the classroom, at home, and online.

Joe Foister, Pastoral Resident
Surrey Hills, Oklahoma, US

Today’s teens are searching for meaning — asking who they are, where they belong, and how to live faithfully in a noisy, digital world. At GC Surrey Hills, our youth ministry exists to walk alongside them in that journey — to help them see that Jesus isn’t distant or abstract but present and personal, alive in every part of life.

Discipleship is not a class or a checklist — it’s a lifelong relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In Jesus, we see what God’s love looks like in human form. The Spirit continues his work in and through us today, shaping us into people who live, love, and serve as he did.

Jesus didn’t just lecture his followers; he lived with them, shared meals, told stories, invited questions, and sent them out to serve. That’s the rhythm we want to model: an incarnational way of life, where faith shows up in friendship, service, and everyday choices.

Discipleship happens through relationships: walking with others, asking honest questions, and learning to notice Christ’s presence in daily life. Jesus modeled this incarnational way of discipling — teaching by example, inviting participation, and sending his followers to serve. We aim to do the same: create spaces where young people experience belonging, discover their identity in Christ, and live out his purpose beyond the church walls.

Practices That Form Disciples

Here are key rhythms that shape our youth ministry and nurture lifelong discipleship:

1. 1. Mentoring that Mirrors Jesus’ Way

• • Pair teens with mature believers who listen, encourage, and walk beside them.
  • Help them see how God is already present in their friendships, choices, and struggles.
  • Build intergenerational bonds that reflect the relational love of the Trinity — Father, Son, and Spirit working together.

1. 2. Scripture that Transforms, Not Just Informs

• • Teach that the Bible isn’t a rulebook but a living conversation with God.
  • Explore diverse ways of reading and applying Scripture — storytelling, journaling, art, or group reflection.
  • Give weekly challenges that connect God’s Word to real-life questions and moments.

1. 3. Prayer that Draws Us into God’s Life

• • Begin gatherings with prayer — often led by the teens.
  • Encourage prayer that is honest, conversational, and grounded in God’s presence.
  • Remind them that discipleship is about being with Jesus, not just doing things for him.

1. 4. Community that Invites Questions

• • Create a culture of openness where teens can wrestle with doubts and wonder out loud.
  • Model grace and humility rather than easy answers.
  • Show that faith grows best in authentic relationships — just as Father, Son, and Spirit exist in eternal community.

1. 5. Service that Reflects God’s Heart

• • Involve youth in service projects, outreach, and participation in the Hope, Love, and Faith Avenues.
  • Help them see serving others not as an activity but as a way of joining Jesus in his ongoing mission of love.
  • Teach that when we serve, we embody the Incarnation — God’s love made visible in the world.

Walking with Christ Every Day

Discipleship doesn’t end at youth group — it continues in the classroom, at home, and online. Our calling is to form a community that helps young people live out Christ’s truth daily, trusting his promise:

I am with you always. Matthew 28:20 ESV

We walk this journey together — with Jesus leading, the Spirit empowering, and the Father welcoming us home at every step.