Calvary Church Annual Report AnnualReport-201617-web | Page 12

students
Over the last year we have strived to workly more closely as a students team, creating consistency in ministry
objectives from Calvary Kids through College Ministry. What we desire as a team is to see young people come
to know Jesus and to live fully for Him. Our common objective is not just to impart biblical teaching on them,
but that they would know they are loved and cared for. Calvary is their church and it is our hope that they will
be connected to the church (and ultimately to Jesus) throughout their life.
The story that Lee Bergakker shares below highlights how we’ve seen this type of ministry take place through
the development of our 5th/6th Ministry. As we have taken steps of faith as a church to follow God, we’ve seen
the fruit of this obedience. Like Lee shares below, sometimes the fruit is apparent right away and other times
it takes years to develop. Know that it is worth it to follow Him, and pray that Calvary’s youth would believe
this as well.
Jim Stortz, Us Sector Leader
Eight years ago Calvary Church created a new pro-
gram in student ministries. As they saw what was go-
ing on in the lives of our children and students our
staff could see that fifth grade and sixth grade stu-
dents weren’t being properly ministered to. Starting a
new program for 5th & 6th grade would be difficult.
It meant hiring a new staff member during a budget
crisis and finding another meeting room when space
was already scarce. In faith, the church leadership
decided to go ahead with 5th & 6th Ministry.
Fast forward eight years and the very first class of
5th graders are recent HS graduates and new college
freshman. Eight years seems like a long enough time
to evaluate the merits of a program and as we look at
the students that our student ministries program has
produced in that time we believe that God has been
very faithful. Here are some of the great things we’ve
seen happen in the past eight years.
• We have seen greater year to year retention
throughout Middle School Ministries as students
receive age tailored ministry.
• We have seen deeper community among mid-
dle school students forged from time spent in
small groups beginning in 5th grade.
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• High School Ministry is graduating students who
are passionate followers of Christ
• Four students from that original 5th grade class
begin their freshman year of college this fall
planning on going into vocational ministry.
• This past summer, 39 5th & 6th grade students
served God and others during the Grand Rap-
ids summer missions trip. Nearly 300 5th & 6th
graders total have participated in this trip over
the past eight years. Prior to that fifth graders
didn’t have a missions opportunity and very few
sixth grade students participated in the Middle
School trip.
God is always calling our ministry to learn, grow and
improve and He continually leads us in new direc-
tions. Reflecting on the venture He called us to eight
years ago we can enthusiastically say that God has
been faithful.
Lee Bergakker, Pastoral Staff, Middle School