We have a comprehensive youth ministry program at Good Shepherd that reaches across all ages and strives to incorporate our children and youth into the broader ministry of the church. For us, youth ministry means ministry for our youth, by our youth, and with our youth. Our goal is to help our youth develop a stronger faith by surrounding them with people and opportunities to learn and experience what it means to be a Christian in the world today, with all its challenges and joys, and to know that they are unconditionally accepted in this family of faith.

Our youth ministry program currently consisted of three different youth programs: Young Family Ministries (YFM), God's Young Followers (GYF), and Junior & Senior Youth of Good Shepherd (YOGS). In 2011, the youth committee also adopted the acronym F.L.O.W., which stands for Fellowship, Learning, Outreach, and Worship, and tried to incorporate those aspects in the plannaing of all youth activities.

Young Family Ministry (Children aged 3 years to 2nd grade)

The Young Family Ministry (YFM) group shares many of the fellowship activities of the Splash! group. In addition, they enjoy participating in our Advent Family Night, Easter Celebration, Vacation Bible School, and Halloween Carnival. Our 3- to 5-year-olds participate in a beginning music ministry at the start of the Sunday School hour, and 1st and 2nd graders begin singing with the children's choir.

We encourage activie parent involvement in the YFM activities as we strive to equip parents with the tools they need to pass on their faith to their children. As with all our programs, our goal is to surround these young children with the love and support of the entire congregation.

God's Young Followers (3rd to 6th grade)

By the time children reach the God's Young Followers (GYF) group, they have begun to take a more active role in discovering and expressing their own faith. They are active in Sunday School, sing in the children's choir, assist with worship leadership on special Sundays, participate in organized activities and outings, and attend a yearly youth conference designed specifically for children their same age. Most children begin their first communion instruction while in the GYF group and also have the option of attending summer camp at Lutheridge or Lutherock.

The focus of our GYF program is to help young children explore their faith through Bible study, singing, retreats, service projects, and other types of group activities that are both fun and formational. We encourage parents of this age group to take turns leading and chaperoning events.

Youth Of Good Shepherd (YOGS)

Jr. YOGS (Junior High School, 7th and 8th grade)

This is the age when most youth begin our two-year confirmation program. Our confirmands attend a weeklong confirmation camp at Camp Lutherock in the summer as well as several daylong confirmation-related retreats. The Jr. YOGS is very active in community service through regular participate in events such as the Souper Bowl of Caring, CROP Walk, Thanksgiving in September, Operation Inasmuch, and making and delivering holiday baskets to our homebound members. Jr. YOGS may also attend graded Lutheran Church Youth winter retreats as well as the annual Lutheran Church Youth convention at Newberry College. These youth also begin taking a regular leadership role in worship by serving as acolytes and even lectors.

Together with our senior high youth, our Jr. YOGS comprise our youth choir and lead our annual Youth Sunday worship service. This group meets twice a month on Sunday evenings in addition to any special activities that are planned.

Sr. YOGS (9th to 12th grade)

By the time our youth reach senior high, they have been nurtured by a congregation which has walked beside them on their journey of faith for their entire life. The Sr. YOGS meet twice a month, most often together with the Jr. YOGS, although they do have several unique opportunities available to them such as the senior high Lutheran Church Youth retreats. In addition, every three years, our Sr. YOGS are invited to attend the ELCA National Youth Gathering, taking place this year in New Orleans. Sr. YOGS continue to be very involved in community service as well as participate in fellowship events with other area youth, such as the annual Lutheran Reformation Party, started right here at Good Shepherd more than 10 years ago.

Since most of our Sr. YOGS have been confirmed as members, much of our focus is on helping them to better understand what baptismal living as a Christian young adult is all about, what it means to be active in the life of the church, and how to integrate their faith as they prepare for the next stage of their life.