Making disciples of youth who love Jesus, love others as themselves, and serve the world around them.
You belong here!
Lake Forest Youth is a place for real connection and growth, because following Jesus as a teenager is an adventure worth pursuing. At Youth, teens will be welcomed by 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 teenagers 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.
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.
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 from 6 - 8 pm, 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
As a part of Community Night this Fall (2026), we will host middle school and high school bible study from 6 - 8 pm. These groups will follow along with the Sunday morning sermon, diving deeper into the scripture and message to see how it applies to our lives.
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.
Fall Retreat 2026: October 16-18
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 on Sunday or Wednesday nights, just hop out of the car and head inside. No check-in from a parent or guardian is needed, but you’re welcome to give us a heads up that you’re coming by completing the form below.
Our leaders are trained, background-checked, and create spaces for you to connect, have fun, and grow in your faith.
Follow us online
Stay in the loop with what’s happening in youth and subscribe to our parent emails! You can also follow us on instagram and check out our events calendar.
Have questions? Reach out to our staff below—we’re happy to help!
Join our team
Want to see God work in the next generation and be a part of that? If you’re passionate about creating spaces where teenagers feel seen, valued, and belonging, we’d love to have you on our team!
Serve weekly as a small group Bible study leader, or join us seasonally through admin, tech, events, or other creative opportunities. And yes—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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All Rights Reserved.