The Youth Ministry of First Presbyterian exists to glorify God by demonstrating the transforming power of the Gospel as we make disciples of our covenant youth and their friends.

While the task of discipling children is primarily the duty of Christian parents, the individual family is not called to bear this responsibility alone. The Body of Christ is called to come alongside and assist Christian parents in their calling. We have vowed that we "as a congregation undertake the responsibility of assisting the parents in the Christian nurture of this child" (BCO 56-6). We are grateful that God has called the youth ministry of First Presbyterian Church to play a vital role in this process.

In addition to reaching our covenant youth, God has also called us to be on the front lines and in the trenches fighting to advance His kingdom in the hearts and minds of the youth of our city. We are not content to sit back and watch the culture rule our kids. We desire to be an unavoidable presence in the schools of Augusta and bring light into darkness. We long to see many won to Christ and to see the entire culture of schools become one that is honoring to Christ.

Our Youth Ministry is divided into two groups, Upward Bound for grades 6 through 8 and High Life for grades 9 through 12.

Summer Mission Trips

This summer, students who have completed the seventh and eighth grades will have the opportunity to minister to children at the Palmer Home for Children in Hernando, Mississippi.  We will continue to build relationships that were formed last summer with the children there and seek to minister to the house parents and children through work projects.  For more information on the Hernando Campus, visit www.palmerhome.org.  The trip will be led by Tyler Griffin, Cassie Dankovich, and Dr. and Mrs. Ned Pruitt.

High school students will travel to Acapulco where we will serve Casa Hogar, a children's home supported by Jesus of Nazareth Church in Acapulco and Mission to the World.  We will minister to the 60 children who live at Casa Hogar through work projects on the grounds in the mornings and VBS-type activities in the afternoons. Visit www.casahogaracapulco.org for more information. The trip will be led by Jay Miller, Cassie Dankovich, Jen Paulos, Dr. and Mrs. Allen Blalock, and Les Harper. 

Sundays

Both groups participate in educational communities on Sunday mornings, discipleship groups (D-Groups) on Sunday afternoons at 5:00 p.m., and special gatherings for nurture and outreach. In the educational communities, the youth gather for fellowship and to learn and grow through in-depth teaching of the Bible. D-groups are small groups of youth meeting under the leadership of caring adults who provide individual attention, accountability and spiritual direction in all areas of life.

Weeknights

Each group also has a special weekly outreach gathering. High Life meets downtown on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in Telfair Hall. Upward Bound meets similarly on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. at Westminster Schools of Augusta. These are high energy meetings full of worship, fellowship and fun where FPC youth and their friends can hear the simple truth of the gospel.

Tuesday Mornings

Students gather to pray for one another, the youth ministry, the church, and their schools every Tuesday morning at 6:00 a.m.  Many call it the highlight of their week.  We meet at the Hawkins' home (2721 Kipling Drive).  It is open to all 6th through 12th grade students who long to see the Lord transform all of life through the power of prayer.