Youth Group

The greatest focus of this spiritual maturing journey is the words of our Savior Jesus Christ, as we explore what it means to be God’s salt and light on this earth, and how any level of disobedience to God’s principles constitutes sin needing forgiveness and restoration of relationship with God to live a joyous Christian life.  As a part of this journey, we frequently compare how different denominations interpret various verses of the Bible to understand the foundations of the Baptist doctrine.  We believe that knowledge of the Bible and God’s principles is essential to equipping young Christians to stand as the next generation of leaders to carry the Gospel to a lost world. 

While Biblical knowledge and personal growth is our primary function, our secondary function is fellowship.  Too often today enemies of Christianity attempt to cause young believers to assume that they are alone in carrying the cross.  However, similar to what God told Elijah in the Old Testament, the truth is that there are many, many Christians across this country and around this world.  Fellowship is important to build Christian friendships among young believers because we stand strongest when we stand together.  For those familiar with God’s Word, the concept is precisely stated when the Bible says “a cord of three is not easily broken.”  Fellowship is demonstrated through time spent and friendships built together through social and service events designed to challenge youth to work together and have fun together. These range from Escape Room Challenges, Ropes Course Challenges, Church All Night Lock-Ins, Summer Youth Camp in the mountains of North Carolina, Corn Maze Challenges, Excursions to the Mall, Christian Concerts, Christian Based Movies, Working at the Nashville Rescue Mission, Working at Joseph’s Storehouse Food Distribution Center, and many, many others.  As one example, in 2022 we held the Youth Group Christmas Party in a stretch limousine which transported the group around Nashville to see Christmas lights while the youth opened their gifts inside the limo—giving these youth an experience that some may only enjoy on this singular occasion during their lifetime.  It is this innovative approach that helps the youth to build relationships through shared experiences that translates into lifelong Christian friendships that provide support and comradery far beyond the days spent together in youth group.

At Hickory Hills, our youth group membership begins upon entrance into middle school, typically around ages 11 or 12, and continues through high school graduation.  While much of the activities of the youth are sponsored by fundraisers put on by the youth themselves, the investment by the church body is ever-present as the members attend and contribute to youth projects.  As a result, our youth are expected to give back and contribute their time and talents to the other ministries and projects of the church so that all members of our congregation know our youth on a personal level and feel invested in helping each other grow in Christ and in helping our church fulfill its overall mission of service to the community.  In our youth, we stress that God alone controls the ‘when and where’ that our lives are set, and that He has planted each of us in our current situation for a specific purpose of carrying out His divine plan.  As such, He expects us to grow where we are planted, and be the Christian that shows God’s love to the people placed in our individual lives.