Making disciples of youth who love Jesus, love others as they love themselves, and serve the world around them.
You belong here!
Lake Forest Youth is a place for real connection and real growth, because following Jesus as a teenager is an adventure worth pursuing. At youth, middle and high schoolers are welcomed by passionate, trusted leaders who create a space where they can be themselves, ask big questions, build strong friendships, and grow in their faith.
Our goal is to partner with parents and mentors to support students as they discover who God created them to be and how they can live out their role in His story.
Faith
When faith takes root, it becomes a lifelong foundation in Jesus.
Fun
When teenagers feel safe and have fun, faith begins to grow. (Phil 4:13)
Friendship
When teenagers feel they belong, they learn to love, serve, and follow Jesus together.
Family
When we partner with families, faith thrives beyond Sunday and into everyday life.
Faith
When faith takes root, it becomes a lifelong foundation in Jesus.
Fun
When teenagers feel safe and have fun, faith begins to grow. (Phil 4:13)
Friendship
When teenagers feel they belong, they learn to love, serve, and follow Jesus together.
Family
When we partner with families, faith thrives beyond Sunday and into everyday life.
Sunday Nights
Each Sunday Night, Youth holds programming for all youth (6th-12th grade). Our time together typically includes a combination of hang out time, worship, teaching, small groups, and games.
Your kids will always be welcomed by dedicated volunteers and staff who are background checked for their safety, and they’ll be led by small group leader(s) who move up with them each year through their time in middle or high school and help them grow in their faith.
Sunday nights are a great time to bring a friend!
Wednesday Night Bible Study
On Wednesday nights, we have bible study for students 8th - 12th grade. This is a time to dig deeper into Scripture and support teenagers in their ability to study the Bible and learn how it applies to their life.
Events
During the year, we host a collection of events for our youth that give them a break from usual programming to have fun and celebrate together.
Examples: Friendsgiving, Christmas Party, Movie Nights, Out-of-School CookoutThese often occur during typical Sunday Night Youth, but may occur off-site. These will always be communicated through our calendar (updated each semester, available below or in person at our youth table in the lobby at church) and our youth email newsletter (sign up below).
Retreats & Camp
Throughout the year, we offer retreats and camps that give students a chance to step away from their daily routines and experience God in a fresh way. Whether it’s a weekend retreat or a week-long camp, these experiences create space for deep connection with God, meaningful friendships, and unforgettable memories. Sometimes a change of scenery is exactly what God uses to get our attention and move in powerful ways.
All off-site trips will be communicated via all youth and church-wide communications with ample notice (often months ahead) for families to plan.
Next Gen Trail Guide
We’ve created the NextGen Trail Guide, a six-step journey, to assist parents in raising kids who have a faith in God that they will take with them into adulthood. Along the trail are Mile Markers—or special events—where parents and kids learn together and commemorate these key moments. We will also provide resources for the seasons between Mile Markers to inform you of the faith skills that your kids are learning in Kidventure and Youth and equip you with tools for home.
We can’t wait to meet you!
When you join us for regular programming on Sunday or Wednesday nights, just hop out of the car and head inside. No check-in from parents is needed, but you’re welcome to give us a heads up that you’re coming through the form below.
Our trained and background-checked leaders are ready to welcome them, get to know them, and create a space where they can connect, have fun, and grow in their faith.
Follow us online
The best way to stay up to date with what’s going on in youth is by subscribing to our parent email! You can also follow us on instagram and refer to the calendar on our website for events.
And of course, if you have any questions, you can contact our staff team below.
Join our team
If you have a desire to see God at work in the next generation or a passion for creating spaces where teenagers know they belong, we’d love to welcome you to the team! In addition to serving as a small group or bible study leader (weekly), we welcome volunteers who wish to serve seasonally, provide admin or tech support, or lead in other creative ways. (PS - we have a ton of fun.)
Have a question? We’d love to help!
Our Youth staff team is always available to help you and your family with any questions you might have about our church, your middle or high schooler’s spiritual journey, or what it’s like to serve in youth.
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