Offices: 1111 N. Wells St. Suite 500
Chicago, IL 60610 - 312.573.8800
connecting at lasalle > youth mission statement
To help make disciples:
Christians are made, not born. Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ is a process. This process does not happen naturally and requires considerable mentoring, love and practice. At the most fundamental level, discipleship is saying yes to God and aligning our lives and relationships with God’s work and passion. And aligning ourselves with God involves learning and living the Biblical story and engaging in service, prayer and worship. Also at the root of discipleship is love. We want our young people to fall in love with God. We want them to fall in love with God’s intentions for the world. As our young people learn to love God with heart, soul and mind, we desire that they feel and accept God’s love in return. We also recognize that we do not make disciples by our own power. God is at work, wooing creation back to the source of all life. Scripture is also clear that we play a crucial role in keeping ourselves open to God through intentional practices of prayer, reflection and worship and service. Therefore, we must help each other in becoming more mature disciples of Jesus.
Of Jesus:
Jesus is at the center of everything we do and believe. Jesus gives us “A Way” to follow and Jesus, throughout time, has told his followers to “Come, Follow Me.” This call includes young people and our role is to help our young discern the voice of God and develop the courage to follow Jesus.
Worshipping
God desires our worship. We are tempted to worship many other objects and people. Therefore, worship helps us re-align ourselves back to our Creator. We gratefully teach our young people habits of worship they can use throughout their lives.
Authentically Walking:
Young people, perhaps more than anyone, long for authentic love. Authentic love and faith flow not from rules and a sense of obligation, but from an inner, deep desire to walk with God. It’s not just about knowing God in our heads, but walking with, responding to and pursuing God in all we do. In other words, belief in God matters, but even more important is to teach and inspire young people to believe that God matters.
Within context of an intimate Christian community
We are not isolated individuals seeking God on our own. We are called not only to God but to each other. We teach our youth that to belong to God also means to belong to Christ’s Body—the church. In turn, we as a wider church are called to provide young people a place—an intimate place, an intimate sense of belonging, within this Body.
†Coach youth in clarifying, articulating and summarizing what they believe about God and the Church (provide youth a faith template)
† Aid youth in grasping the Biblical/Salvation story
†Empower youth to see themselves as participants in the mission of God. Help them identify their God-given gifts.
†Assist youth in discovering a life of faith, not just learning a lesson. Teach and model consequential faith—faith that has far-reaching, significant consequences for everyday life and choices, faith that involves living in and through the radical love and passion of Jesus.
†Encourage youth to ask honest, real questions
†Support them in feeling safe and loved.
†Encourage youth to get involved in the wider church. Affirm that they have a place in the church and help them to see that place!
†Give youth equipment and tools to worship and follow Jesus. Engage them in soul-shaping rituals and practices.
†Teach and model servanthood through regular service projects.
†Help create authentic community.
