7TH & 8TH GRADE MINISTRY (JR HIGH)
H2H Schedule of Events So what is H2H?  Head to the Heart is our Junior High Youth Ministry name and one facet of that is our Confirmation training. Below is an overview of our confirmation process. We have a ‘new look’ for our Junior High Youth Ministry that includes family training nights for Confirmation material. This year the look is new and reflecting more of a vibrant Junior High Youth Ministry. In the outline of events, ( Please see the schedule) one can see a mix of teen worship, hot topics, crazy nights, and a required time for parents and teens to come and learn together about Luther’s catechism. The great thing is that it is all tied in with our youth mission that involves evangelism, discipleship, fellowship, ministry, and worship. So you ask where do I, as a parent, fit into this process? This process is using you, as the parent, as a partner. We want to help all parents become active parents in the faith development of your own children. We need parents to fit into different roles in this process. Have you thought about where you will fit into this part of your child’s life? We are aware, statistically, when both parents are involved in raising their children in faith, 75% of the children remain active in the church into adulthood, compared to only 15% when just mothers are active or 56% when just fathers or only 6% when neither parent is involved. With our Family theme nights that are scattered throughout the year, we need parents to step forward to lead small group discussions. This could look one of 2 ways. Leading small group discussions with other parents or leading Junior High students. The discussions will only be about 25 minutes in length and handouts are provided. We need at least 8 parents to take on this role for 8 times during the year. We also need parents to lead the youth group nights. It might be leading a discussion or devotion or driving teens to an activity like our Spot light Scavenger hunt. The point is that I need at least 6 parents to step forward and take on this role. If that many parents come forward, you would only need to lead 1 time a month, at the most 2 times in a month. Regardless, at least one parent in the household needs to be present on family theme nights because the information will be shared and taught in a springboard manner so that you can take the important teaching home and begin to grow as a family in those areas. So, if you are already here…. Why not lend a hand on those nights? Or how about lending a hand on youth group nights? There is also another dynamic opportunity for you to consider. We need parents to step forward, and lead Sunday mornings for the 7th and 8th grade class. Group Publishing material will be used, which means it is all planned out for the adult in this role. Think of who you could team teach with and give that person a call. You will be fully supported with material & support through out the year. One of the biggest tasks the church has, besides upholding the public ministry, is supporting the families in their task of raising children in the life of Jesus. The Pastoral staff at Cross are ready to assist you, once again, this year. If you have any questions please contact me and I will be glad to answer any questions. I hope and pray we can join together so that your family will grow together with Christ at the center!!! WHAT IF MY CHILD IS ALREADY CONFIRMED OR DOES NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE BIBLE? If they are confirmed already; AWESOME! Being confirmed is the not the end to learning. They are still in their prime years of learning. Remember we want information to be moving from the HEAD TO THE HEART. In addition, this is an awesome experience to bond with small groups, adult mentors and carry this over into the High School Ministry. If your child does not know a whole lot, this is prime years for absorbing God’s word in a style teens learn best. Through this Head to Heart process, when your child would like to be confirmed or celebrate their faith in Christ, they may set up an appointment with one of the Pastor’s and begin heading in that direction. So if that takes place during the 2 year process ( 7th & 8th grade year’s), we still want them to be part of the Head to Heart Ministry; remember, we are after that transferring information from the head to the heart. As Rich Melheim said, “We just don’t want to fill in blanks in workbooks. We want to fill in the blanks in lives.” WHAT IF MY CHILD is pre/ post 7th/ 8th grade? We have a strong youth ministry program for 5th & 6th grader’s that cover’s Communion and nurtures Christian growth at this level. The same is true at the HS level. As a staff, we will look at each case as it presents itself. RITE OF CONFIRMATION  At Cross, we do not confirm groups at the end of May. We believe that many are not ready. Therefore, we leave that decision up to the family to follow through. Here is how that works. Anytime during one’s confirmation training or soon afterwards, when a student is ready to declare their faith before family, friends, and the congregation, the student may make an appointment with one of the Pastors. The end result is an individual confirmation. If one is confirmed midway through training that does not exempt them from further training however.
Click here for more Confirmation info. | 
