Youth & Family Ministry
Parents, we want to partner with you to create a loving village where you can raise your kids alongside other families.
Students, we want to help you experience Jesus and find friends to do it with. Check us out on Instagram @northriver.teens
Come to a Youth & Family Midweek. It’s the easiest way to see what we’re about.
2nd and 4th Wednesdays, 7:00pm, in our "Lighthouse" building at the top of the hill.
Students get their own time for teaching and small group discussions. Parents get theirs too, with teaching, conversation, and a chance to meet other families.
What We’re About
Parents are the most important spiritual influence in their kids’ lives. We’re here to equip and support you, never to replace you. That means including parents in student Bible studies, having parents teach lessons, and giving you the tools to build your own faith and teach your kids.
Students need more than a youth group. We build a village of mentors, aunts, and uncles who love them, know them, and point them toward Jesus, and we worship and learn alongside adults, not apart from them. You don’t have to build that village alone.
Students aren’t junior disciples. They’re full members of the church, invited to serve, lead, and create now. That looks like serving in worship, leading small groups, teaching Bible studies, and discussing the Bible at their schools.
We want your son or daughter to actually know Jesus: to trust Him, experience Him, and make Him their hero. We’re after transformation, not just information, so we walk alongside students at their own pace and never rush them toward a decision.
For a more thorough view of our pillars watch this video from May 2026.
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Midweeks, Wednesdays at 7:00pm
- 1st: All-church midweek in the Auditorium
- 2nd & 4th: Youth & Family Midweek in the Lighthouse. Students have their own teaching and small groups, and parents gather for teaching, discussion, and connection.
- 3rd: Midweek with your Family Group (no Y&F Midweek)
Sundays in the Lighthouse
- 1st, 10:00am, Youth Service: just middle and high schoolers, split for teaching, to sing, pray, play, and talk about topics that matter to them.
- 3rd, 10:00am, Youth & Family Service: parents and students worship and connect together, with teaching and discussion for this life stage.
- 2nd & 4th, Middle School Sunday Class
Fun weekend events about twice a month.
Camp Swamp a few times a year: retreats, summer camp, family camps, and more. campswamp.com
Leadership
We have an amazing team of staff, elders, and volunteers.
Youth & Family Ministers (Youth Ministry) - Reach out to Nick at nickshoff@nrcoc.com.
Elders & Shepherds
We have a wonderful group of elders, shepherds, and volunteers that make themselves available to encourage our families, staff, and volunteers:
Matt & Enid Tchir, Jeff & Ashley Reese, Harold & Jerri Channer, John & Pam Durkota, Michael & Sarah Kodinsky, Crystal & Kevin Payne, our volunteer "Youth Leaders"
