Catalyst Youth Ministries: About

About:

Catalyst's mission is to bring youth to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and to nurture them in their daily Christian walk.

The following information is taken from the 2007-2008 Brochure:

Sunday Discipleship Classes:
Sunday discipleship studies meet from 9:45-10:45am in the youth wing, located on the top floor of the church.
7-8th Grades
Year 1– Life and Teachings of Jesus
Year 2– Life and Teachings of the Apostles
9-10th Grades
Faith Basics (Heidelberg Catechism)
Upon completion of 10th grade, participating youth have the opportunity to attend a short membership class in order to become members of the church.
11th-12th Grades
Year 1– Sharing Your Faith (Evangelism Training)
Year 2– Defending Your Faith (Apologetics)

Catalyst (7th-12th Grades):
Catalyst meets each Wednesday evening from 6:30-8:00 pm in the youth wing. A Catalyst is an agent in a chemical reaction that transforms something else without itself being transformed. Christ is that Catalyst in the lives of His children. Christ calls His children to go into the world and be catalysts in bringing others to Jesus Christ. The first Wednesday of each month is focused on community-building. The Catalyst Café is open from 6:30-8:00pm for youth to hang out, do homework, play ping-pong, foosball, and other games, enjoy cappuccinos, lattes, Italian sodas, and other treats. The second Wednesday is spent loving and adoring Christ through worship in its many forms. The third and fourth Wednesdays will be spent learning God’s Truth through His Word.

Catalyst Youth Choir:
The youth choir meets the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Wednesdays from 6:00-6:30 pm. Youth have the opportunity to be involved with many different facets of music ministry here at First United Presbyterian. On a monthly rotating basis, the youth focus on bells, puppets, instruments, and choruses. One Sunday of each month they will be involved in the Sunday morning worship services, sharing their gifts with the entire church. Youth are encouraged to participate in areas of personal interest. Once a year a “special program” is performed for the entire church to fellowship and bring those needing to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ!

The Following (7th-12th Grades):
The Following is a youth Bible study, meeting each Thursday evening for an hour beginning at 7:00pm at Isaac Terwilleger’s house (2366 30th Street, Moline). The Bible study is for youth with a serious interest in the deeper study of God’s Word. By using the inductive Bible study approach, the youth read the Bible and learn firsthand Biblical Truth. During youth and adult-led discussion, youth are challenged to incorporate Christ into every area of their lives. The youth are currently studying the book of Nehemiah inductively.

Fellowship Events and Service Events (7th-12th Grades):
Regular fellowship and service events are scheduled for Catalyst. These events are for community-building, worship, service, outreach, and fun. Some events include youth rallies, youth worship services, retreats, concerts, 30-Hour Famine, ski trips, movie nights, Comedy Sportz, and other fun and life-changing opportunities.

High School Mission Trip:
Each summer the high school youth have the opportunity to participate in a short-term missions trip. Most years the youth serve in Pittsburgh, PA, at The Pittsburgh Project.

Catalyst wouldn't be possible without our adult leaders:

Director of Youth Ministries:
Isaac Terwilleger has been the “youth guy” at First United Presbyterian Church since June 2001. A 2000 graduate of Bethel University in Minnesota, with degrees in Youth Ministries and Bible/Theology, Isaac is passionate about Christ and deeply desires to be a part of what God is doing in the lives of today’s youth. He oversees and directs the Wednesday night youth meetings, leads The Following, leads the high school mission trip, and attends the weekend fellowship events. He and his wife Kathee were married in July 1999 and live in Moline.

Adult Youth Sponsors:
Catalyst has adult youth sponsors that help lead the Wednesday evening meetings. These adults are “on-firefor-Christ” and desperately want to be used by God to further the proclamation of the Gospel to all youth attending Catalyst Youth Ministries. Through building relationships and sharing the love of Christ, lives are being changed forever. FUPC Adult Youth Sponsors are disciples of Christ, desiring to live lives which are worthy of Christ’s calling. The staff are a diverse group, with a wide age range and life experiences that help in fulfilling the purpose of Catalyst Youth Ministries. All are committed members of the church, have had criminal background checks, and exemplify Christian servant hood. Sponsors use the Word of God to direct their own lives, while modeling Christian living to the youth.