"A Love Movement Youth Ministry" at First UMC Gulfport is made up of committed students who serve Christ in many different ways.

Youth gather on Sunday nights from 5 - 6:30.  We eat together, sing, play games, and learn what it means to follow Jesus.

What do we stand for? The 3 things we stand for and what we want our youth to learn when they graduate from the youth ministry.

Love God:  This is our Sunday night program (UMYF). Through the 6 years you are in the youth ministry you will learn how to love God. What does it mean to love God, how does that look? The youth will experience this through many different ways on Sunday nights. This is also the best place to invite friends to come.

Love Others: This is our Wednesday night Bible Study. It also includes fellowship times with other youth, (ex: 5th Sunday night outings, bowling, etc...). These times are designed for youth to get to know other youth on a deeper level. This also includes loving others at school and those we don't want to love. God commands us to do this. But, what does that look like? Who really is our neighbor?

Serve Others: This happens throughout the year. We participate in service projects in the area, we go on mission trips, both domestic and international. I also encourage the youth to become more active in Sunday morning worship by serving as ushers or doing announcements about upcoming youth events in church. There are many different ways to serve others! What does serving others mean? What does it really look like? It is more than writing a check, ir is more about serving through being there and working hand in hand with those that need it.

It is our desire to see students finish their youth ministry experience strong in their faith. We are all affirmed when graduationg seniors have strong convictions about their faith, a lifestyle that reflects their convictions, and plans to serve God through ministry.

Upcoming Dates:

June 1-4th:  Youth Activities Week: June 1st: (Sunday): Bring your swimsuit to church and be ready to go to the Water Park after church and spend all day there! Pick up at 6pm. June 2nd: Meet at Island Strikz where we will bowl from 6-8 pm.  June 3rd: Meet at Cinemark Movie Theater a little before 7pm. You have your choice of movies to watch (No Rated R movies). June 4th: Meet at Los Tres Amigos on Pass Rd. at 6pm. We will eat and then go back to the church for games! Pick up at 9pm.   This is the week that we welcome our new youth group members! 

June 8-13th:  Vacation Bible School. June 8th: VBS kick-off at Nickey and Rachel Raines' house. We will be helping run the games/slides for the children. We will have our chance to play on the inflatable games also, so wear your swim suit. June 9-13th: VBS. It starts at 9am and goes till noon everyday. We need your help in this! So, if you can be here please let Chris know!

June 15th:   Father's Day - No UMYF

June 22nd:   Ice Cream social in fellowship hall. Starts at 5pm. This is a church wide event!

June 26-29th:   Gulf Shores Beach Retreat. Theme: ACTION HEROES! June 26 (Thursday): We will leave at 6pm from the church. So, you will need to be here by 5:45 pm so we can load your luggage. June 29 (sunday): We will be back at the church around noon. No UMYF that night.

July 6th:   No UMYF: Enjoy the 4th of July weekend

July 9-13th: River of Life Mission Trip (Dallas, GA): July 9th: You will need to be at the church by 9am. We will leave no later than 9:30 am. July 13th (sunday) we will be back at the church around 9 pm. 

July 20th:  We WILL have UMYF on this night!

July 27th:  "Christmas in July" dinner theater. Performed by the children's ministry.

August 3rd:  Back to School Beach Blast! Times: TBA.

Youth ministry at First UMC is led by a great team.

Chris Ray is the Youth Minister.  Contact him at:  chris@fumc-gulfport.org   or  228.863.0047.

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