Helping students know Jesus, live like Jesus, and make disciples.
The middle and high school years are some of the most formative years of a person’s life. At Grace Gathering, we want students to encounter Jesus, discover who they are in Him, and learn what it looks like to faithfully follow Him in every part of life.
Through GG Middle and GG High, we create environments where students can build meaningful relationships, study God’s Word, pray, worship, and learn to live on mission for Jesus.
OUR MISSION
Embrace the Gospel
We want every student to understand and embrace the good news of Jesus Christ—His life, death, and resurrection—and to place their trust in Him.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
— Ephesians 2:8–9
The gospel isn’t simply the starting point of the Christian life. It is the foundation for everything we do.
We want students to understand who Jesus is, what He has done for them, and what it means to follow Him.
Embody the Great Commandment
We want students to love God wholeheartedly and show the love of Jesus to the people around them.
Jesus said:
“And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
— Matthew 22:37–39
Following Jesus changes the way we live.
We want students to grow in their love for God and demonstrate that love through the way they treat their friends, families, teammates, classmates, and neighbors.
Engage in the Great Commission
We want students to see their everyday lives as opportunities to live on mission for Jesus.
Jesus gave His followers this command:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
— Matthew 28:19–20
We don’t want students to simply attend church. We want them to be the church wherever God has placed them.
That means learning to share the gospel, make disciples, encourage others to follow Jesus, and help people grow in their faith.
The handbook describes this as a commitment to training every student and leader to share the gospel and disciple others toward maturity.
GG MIDDLE
6th–8th Grade
A place to belong. A place to grow. A place to follow Jesus.
Middle school is a unique season of life. Students are beginning to discover who they are, what they believe, and where they belong.
GG Middle is a place where students can build meaningful relationships, ask honest questions, encounter God’s Word, and learn what it looks like to follow Jesus in everyday life.
A Typical Night
FUN + CONNECTION
We start by creating space for students to laugh, play, and build relationships.
FOOD + FELLOWSHIP
We share a meal together and create space for students to connect with one another.
GOD’S WORD
We open Scripture together and explore what it means for our lives.
SMALL GROUPS
Students have an opportunity to talk, ask questions, and apply what they’re learning alongside trusted leaders.
This reflects the handbook’s description of the typical Sunday night rhythm: large-group activity, a shared meal, large-group teaching, and small-group discussion focused on connecting students to God’s Word and applying their faith to real life.
Sundays | 5:30–7:00 PM
GG HIGH
9th–12th Grade
A community where students learn to own their faith and live it out.
High school students are preparing to step into adulthood, and we want to help them develop a faith that doesn’t depend on their parents, their youth pastor, or a weekly program.
We want students to know what they believe, know why they believe it, and have the confidence to live for Jesus wherever God sends them.
Through community, Scripture, worship, discipleship, and opportunities to serve and live on mission, we want to see students become lifelong followers of Jesus.
Mondays | 7:30–9:00 PM
In partnership with Campus Life New Haven.
FAQS for Parents
How are volunteers trained and supervised?
At Grace Gathering, we place high value on leadership integrity and accountability. As such, there are many intentional layers of accountability and supervision for our youth ministry volunteers which include background checks, written policies and guidelines, and ongoing training and support for volunteers. We know that your child’s safety is a priority for parents and caregivers, so we make it a priority among our ministries.
Are there trips or other special events?
At least twice a year, in the winter and the summer, we take students on extended times away from the regular rhythms of their life to encounter Jesus, deepen friendships, and grow spiritually. These trips usually come with a cost, and there is financial assistance available. Additionally, there are special events—some at the site your student attends, some that gather all of our sites together—that engage students in service, worship, or fun.
How can I stay in the loop with what's happening in youth ministries?
We view ourselves as partners with parents. We strive to keep parents and caregivers in the loop, through weekly communication (i.e., email) and the occasional parents’ meeting before a trip or a parents’ night at the youth ministry. Contact your site’s youth ministry leader, and they will get you into the communication stream for your site!
