A Place Your Students are Invited to Grow in Their Faith.

We’re empowering our young followers of Jesus to become more fully alive in God, providing opportunities for them to serve, gather, and grow.

Where You can Expect Intentional Connection

At Open Door we are radically committed to the spiritual formation of our students (6th-12th grade) for the sake of others. It starts with providing a safe place where students are invited to get to know and follow Jesus. They are also surrounded by peers and leaders who listen to them, share life, and help them practice & grow deeper in their faith. We provide students with the opportunity to connect with God by encouraging them to participate in worship, study scripture, serve others, and engage in various spiritual practices.

In today’s world, consistent, steady, trust-filled relationships are hard to find. Young people often experience a connection with God when they are surrounded by other followers of Jesus. This is pivotal to the spiritual formation of students as they work out their faith alongside a community. Therefore, students are placed into “teams” led by adult volunteers who are pursuing their own relationship with Jesus. These leaders often share life with students over multiple years, being with them in their highs and lows, and joining together in the struggle of being fully alive in Jesus. Their leaders show up for them on Wednesday nights, service nights, retreats, and in many cases, outside church activities.

Our typical Wednesday gatherings begin at 7 PM and conclude at 8:45 PM, with many students staying to hang with the community until 9 PM or shortly after.

New families should reach out to students@thedoor.com to begin receiving communication about our various events. You can also find information about events on the monthly event guides available throughout the church, and further down this page. Our staff also sends monthly email updates to keep families informed about events and other important information.

The flow of Wednesday night youth group varies from week to week. We have “Worship Nights,” where students can express their worship through music. We have “Split Nights,” where middle and high school students separate to receive age-appropriate biblical and life-applicable content. On “Choice Nights,” students choose to participate in various experiences with Jesus such as spiritual practices like lectio divina, nature prayer walks, prayer through art, and more. Finally, on “Service Nights,” students have the opportunity to serve at our partner organizations and help meet the needs within our local community.

Yes, we’d love for your student to be a part of the ministry, which is why we’d like to work together to make a plan that best accommodates their needs. Our desire is to support all of our students and provide them with opportunities to grow and flourish. When you register your student, please provide us with information about their needs and one of our staff members will contact you to start a conversation about how we can best support your student.

Meet the Student Ministry Leaders

Amanda Svensk

Pastor of Kids & Students

Tom Keefe

Students Associate

Allison Anderson

Kids & Students Coordinator

Kristine Niznik

Kids & Students Assistant

With Multiple Opportunities to Get Involved

See what’s happening in our Student Ministry and join us as we learn and serve together.

Students are Integrated Into the Life of the Church

At Open Door, we believe in involving students in the life of the broader church family, beyond Wednesday nights. Our students are actively involved in various areas of the church. We encourage them to attend the Sunday worship gatherings with family or friends, so that they can practice their faith together with all ages. Additionally, we also invite them to serve in different areas of the church, as we know that they love to use their gifts for the sake of others! You will see students leading worship during the Sunday Gathering, helping with tech, serving coffee, greeting, serving in Kids ministry, and more! Our students are an integral part of Open Door!

How Student Ministry Aligns With the Mission of Open Door

  • Discovering the life of God in them, their unique gifts and creating space where they can encounter God, know Jesus personally and experience the power of the Holy Spirit.
  • Creating a community of intergenerational mentorships and peer friendships who will walk alongside them as they grow.
  • Worshiping God as they engage with scripture, singing, spiritual practices, reflection, and learning to identify and settle into God’s presence.
  • Serve in environments and experiences that open their eyes to the needs in the world around them and invite them to respond in the love of Jesus for the sake of others.

Get Connected with Student Ministry Today

If you’re interested in learning more about our Student Ministry, or wish to volunteer, we would be delighted to have you on board. We are constantly on the lookout for support volunteers, team leaders, drivers, and more. Please fill out the form below, and one of our Student Ministry leaders will get in touch with you soon.

Name(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.