Who We Are
FirstCovGR Student Ministry is a community of teens being transformed. We want them to know God and become fully committed followers of Jesus Christ to bring glory and honor with their lives. We hope and expect to raise up spiritual leaders to impact the world for Jesus Christ.
We are a community of students from 6th grade - 12th grade. It’s a place for fun! It’s a place for students to connect in small groups with peers and leaders. It’s a place to explore the story of God and to find a place within it. It’s a place to experience the life-changing power of Jesus through acts of service. It’s a place to express real faith in the real world. It’s an experience not to be missed.
Blaze - Middle school
(6th - 8th grade)
OUR MISSION:
We are a community of teens being transformed by Christ - our faith becoming like a blazing fire.
OUR VISION:
Belonging (to a community of believers). Believing (in the Lord). Becoming (disciples who make disciples).
SUNDAY MORNINGS:
- ABIDE 67: 6th & 7th graders are invited to join us at 9a on Sunday mornings for snacks, games, and scripture. Our main focus will be to build community, practice spiritual devotion, and learn what it means to abide in the presence of God. We will meet in room 112 from 9-10:15a.
- CONFIRMATION: 8th graders are invited to join Confirmation on Sunday mornings from 9-10:15am in room 109! This kicks off on Sunday, September 15, 2024. Students will be confirmed on Sunday, May 18, 2025.
- Confirmation is a presentation and study of the Bible and church beliefs while offering all students the opportunity to make or strengthen their personal commitment to follow Christ. All students will be discipled by an adult mentor from the congregation. Contact Lauren Abrell at OR Michelle Ludge at for more information.
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS:
- YOUTH GROUP: Twice a month we gather on a Wednesday night as a large group for snacks, games, biblical teachings, and discussion in Life Groups. These are nights you will not want to miss! Bring your Bible and a journal!
- SERVE: We believe that small acts of kindness done with great love (from God), lead to a Kingdom Difference. As Christian people, we are called to be Servants of God, Kingdom Workers, and Embodied Beings. We are not only to believe and know the Word of God but also to live it out through our actions. Come hang out with us as we serve the greater congregation and Grand Rapids Community! We aim to serve together once a month.
- LIFE GROUPS: On Life Group Bible Study Nights we split by grade and gender for snacks, team building, and Scripture. These nights are awesome for building community, asking good questions, and talking about hard things. We aim to do these nights once a month, but we gather together in Life Groups for smaller amounts of time during Youth Group nights as well.
- FUN: We aim to offer fun connection events throughout the semester. These events will vary in purpose depending on the time of year. Some may be small group oriented, middle school only, or combined with high school. These may occur on a Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday night.
RETREATS & SUMMER TRIP:
- FALL RETREAT: BLAZE attends the Junior High Fall Retreat at Portage Lake Bible Camp. It is a great way to experience real faith, real fun, and real friendship! It is Nov. 8-10, 2024. More details to come. Contact Lauren Abrell at to sign up or with any questions.
- SUMMER SERVE 2025: Incoming 6th-8th graders for the 2025-26 school year are invited to join us as we serve the greater Grand Rapids community for 4 days this summer! Stay tuned for dates, cost, and details!
STAY CONNECTED
- FACEBOOK GROUP: FirstCovGR Youth Group
- INSTAGRAM: @firstcovgr_ms
- LINKTREE: https://linktr.ee/firstcovgr_ms
RADIATE - HIGH SCHOOL
(9TH - 12TH GRADE)
OUR MISSION:
We aim to equip high school students to radiate their faith for Christ as they prepare for graduation.
OUR VISION:
Belonging (to a community of believers). Believing (in the Lord). Becoming (disciples who make disciples).
SUNDAY MORNINGS
- LIFE IN 4-D: High school students are invited to join us at 9a on Sunday mornings for the 4-Ds (donuts, delve, discuss, and die). Beginning on September 15, from 9-10:15a, we will study and discuss Skye Jethani's book What if Jesus was Serious about Heaven? Come talk about a biblical heaven with Patty in Room 224!
SUNDAY NIGHTS
- YOUTH GROUP: We gather to seek God and to be changed by him. Twice a month, we are together for a meal, games, biblical teachings, and discussion in Life Groups. Bring your Bible and a journal! We look forward to seeing you!
- SERVE: We believe that small acts of kindness done with great love (from God), lead to a Kingdom Difference. As Christian people, we are called to be Servants of God, Kingdom Workers, and Embodied Beings. We are not only to believe and know the Word of God but also to live it out through our actions. Come hang out with us as we serve the greater congregation and Grand Rapids Community! We aim to serve together once a month.
- LIFE GROUPS: On Life Group Bible Study Nights we split by grade and gender for a meal, team building, and Scripture. These nights are awesome for building community, asking good questions, and talking about hard things. We aim to do these nights once a month, but we gather together in Life Groups for smaller amounts of time during Youth Group nights as well.
- FUN: We aim to offer fun connection events throughout the semester. These events will vary in purpose depending on the time of year. Some may be small group oriented, high school only, or combined with middle school. These may occur on a Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday night.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS
- PRAISE BAND: High schoolers who are musically, and technologically, gifted are invited to join our praise band! Practices will be held from 4:30-5:30p on Youth Group nights (1st and 3rd Sundays) in the youth room. Connect with Josh Hinken for more details.
- SLT: What is it? Our Student Leadership Team is a great place for students to explore their spiritual gifts, leadership skills, and to lean into a posture of service. We will focus on encouraging their peers through prayer and mentorship. Students will even have opportunities to plan and lead youth group nights as well as other fun events! Contact Josh Hinken or Lauren Abrell for more details. We meet at the Droski's House on the second Sunday of the month from 4:30-5:45 (text Lauren for the addy).
- LEVEL UP - SENIORS: This is a place for high school seniors to explore what the future looks like for them after graduation. We will talk about what it looks like for them to make their faith their own, options for the future (college, career, gap year, etc.), and ways to prepare for the transition ahead. We will gather on the 4th Sunday of each month. Contact Josh Hinken or Lauren Abrell for more details.
RETREATS & SUMMER TRIP
- WINTER RETREAT: RADIATE attends the Senior High Winter Retreat at Portage Lake Bible Camp. It is a great way to experience real faith, real fun, and real friendship! Specific dates in February to come. Contact Josh Hinken at jhinken to sign up or with any questions.
- PASSION CONFERENCE: High School Seniors are invited to join our young adults group in ATL, GA! This conference is Jan. 2-4, 2025. COST is TBD. Contact Josh Hinken or Tammie George with any questions.
- SUMMER SERVE 2025: Incoming 9th graders-outgoing 12th graders for the 2025-26 school year are invited to join us as we travel to VA to serve at Covenant Mountain Mission Bible Camp. We will also do a weekend debrief in the wilderness afterward. Specific dates in July to come. COST is TBD. Stay posted for more details regarding registration and fundraising. Contact Josh Hinken or Lauren Abrell with any questions.
ADULT LEADERS
- SUNDAY HUDDLE: High School Adult Leaders should join Josh & Lauren for a recap of RADIATE from the previous week, a walk through of the night’s schedule, as well as various leader trainings. The meeting will end with a prayer for the night and our students. We will meet on Youth Group Sundays from 5:30-5:50p in the youth room.
STAY CONNECTED
- FACEBOOK GROUP: FirstCovGR Youth Group
- INSTAGRAM: @firstcovgr_sh
- LINKTREE: https://linktr.ee/firstcovgr_hs
- DINNER SIGN UP:
Staff
FirstCov Students
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are interested in being a middle school or high school leaders, please fill out the youth leader application.
Our youth leaders are active participants in the life of FirstCovGR. Some were born and raised at FirstCov, some have students in the ministry, and some are local college students and young adults.
We do background checks on all of our leaders and continually train and equip them for serving in their roles.