Students

What We Want Every Student to Know by the End of 8th Grade

Middle school is a season when students begin asking bigger questions about God, themselves, and the world around them. At Rivers Church, we don't want students simply borrowing the faith of their parents or church leaders. We want to help them begin to own their faith for themselves.

By the time a student finishes 8th grade, our desire is that they understand:

My faith is my own.
Students should understand the Gospel and be able to personally explain what they believe about Jesus and why they have chosen to follow Him.

God's Word is the foundation for my life.
We want students to know how to read and understand the Bible for themselves and begin allowing Scripture to shape their beliefs and decisions.

I can have a real relationship with God.
Students can pray honestly, worship personally, ask difficult questions, and trust God even when they don't understand everything.

My identity is found in Christ.
In a world constantly telling teenagers who they should be, we want them to understand who God says they are and learn to see themselves through the truth of Scripture.

Following Jesus affects my choices.
Faith isn't limited to church. Following Jesus should influence friendships, dating, technology, sexuality, integrity, attitudes, and how students treat others.

I need Christian community.
We want students to understand the importance of worship, small groups, Christian friendships, trusted adult leaders, and belonging to a local church.

I can make a difference now.
Students don't have to wait until they're adults to serve God. We want them discovering their gifts, serving others, sharing their faith, and participating in God's mission.

Our goal is that students enter high school with more than information about Christianity. We want them developing a faith of their own—a growing relationship with Jesus that can withstand questions, pressure, and change.

Before they leave 8th grade, we want every Rivers Student to be able to say:

I know what I believe. I know why I believe it. My identity is in Jesus. God's Word guides me. And I am choosing to follow Him.

What We Want Every Student to Know by High School Graduation

Graduation isn't the finish line of a student's faith journey—it's the beginning of following Jesus into adulthood.

At Rivers Church, our desire is to send students into college, the military, the workplace, and adulthood prepared to live their faith wherever God takes them.

By the time a student graduates from high school, our desire is that they understand:

Jesus is the center of my life.
We want students to have a personal relationship with Jesus that isn't dependent on their parents, pastor, youth leader, or church environment.

I know what I believe and why I believe it.
Students should understand the foundations of the Christian faith, know how to wrestle with difficult questions, and be prepared to explain what they believe with both confidence and grace.

I know how to feed myself spiritually.
Graduates should know how to read and study Scripture, pray, worship, seek God's wisdom, and continue growing spiritually without needing someone else to constantly provide the next lesson.

God's Word guides my decisions.
We want students to develop a biblical worldview that influences relationships, sexuality, finances, career choices, technology, integrity, and how they engage the culture around them.

I need the local church.
Graduation shouldn't mean graduating from church. We want students to understand the importance of finding a healthy local church, worshiping with other believers, serving, giving, and living in Christian community wherever they go.

God has given me gifts to serve others.
Students should begin discovering how God has uniquely gifted them and understand that their abilities, careers, resources, and opportunities can all be used for His Kingdom.

I can share my faith.
We want graduates to be comfortable telling their story, explaining the Gospel, inviting others to follow Jesus, and living in a way that points people toward Him.

God is sending me somewhere.
Every graduate is entering a mission field. Whether God leads them across the street or around the world, we want students to recognize that wherever they go, they represent Jesus.

Our goal isn't simply to graduate students who attended church. We want to send out young adults who know Jesus, love His Word, belong to His Church, serve others, and live on mission.

When a Rivers Student graduates, we want them to be able to say:

Jesus is my Savior and Lord. God's Word is my foundation. The Church is my family. My life has a purpose. And wherever God sends me, I will follow Him.