Why 3:58? A message from Bill, Youth Minister

Why name a church youth group 3:58? It’s really quite simple. When I arrived in Greensburg in August of 2005, I noticed a couple of things that I felt needed attention:

• 1st Thing - the youth group met 2 times per month on Sunday.
• 2nd Thing - nobody was sure what time or what day.

I needed a time that people would remember, hence 3:58. I needed a reason for 3:58...Youth group is too important to put off until 4:00. It then occurred to me that 3:58 could be communicated as 2 till 4, and since we met for 2 hours (2 til 4 for 2), the 242 theme fit Acts 2:42 which is the basic ministry plan for this Youth Group.

We meet every Sunday (regularly), we study the Apostles teachings, we engage in fellowship, and we eat together (break bread). We do small event ministry. We hang out, listen to music, watch movies, meet at the bowling alley, go to ball games, and take short trips as a group. We do things together and build a sense of community that will keep us involved in each others' lives outside of church functions.

We also hope to equip, enable and empower members of 3:58 to get involved in the church now in order to prevent the usual exodus from church after Confirmation. Our hope is that by encouraging adult members of the congregation to get involved in youth ministry, we will demonstrate to our youth that they can get involved in church ministry at whatever level they feel called.

We live in a segregated society that tells us that Jr. High kids should only be with Jr. High kids, Sr High with Sr. High, Young adults with Young adults etc...the church has bought into this paradigm and it is failing to utilize the it’s greatest strength: diversity in age, status, color, and class are not an issue in the BODY. We are all One IN CHRIST.

If you are looking to be entertained here...you may or may not be.

If you come to sit and be told what to think...you won’t be.

If you come hungry...you might get fed.

If you come to learn about and be with Jesus...you will!

Hey, I gotta go... it’s time for 3:58!!