Equipping Minister
Derek Luptak
Derek Luptak is the Youth
Pastor of Grace Church. He and his wife Amanda
also oversee the Family Ministry. Derek has been
on staff at Grace for four years and counts this
church as his family. He is currently attending
The Master's Institute Seminary. Here is what
Derek has to say about the Youth ministries of
Grace:
"We are living in a day and age when young people are being exposed to more and more through television, internet and other various new media. They literally have the world at their fingertips, yet there is an increase in social disfunction, depression and despair as they find no ultimate meaning in these things. My calling is not to pound more information into them nor is it to send them into college with full heads and empty hearts. It is my prayer that the youth we minister to will experience the living Christ in a life-changing way, and move from a 'taught-faith' to a 'caught-faith.' We might also have a LOT of fun while doing this. I make no apologies for FUN. FUN has a spiritual component to it. Youth need a safe place to have fun without having to face peer pressure to partake in destructive behavior. They also need to know that God is joyful and loves them, and not associate God with mind-numbing religious boredom. Along with the fun, there will be plenty of spiritual engagement for the mind and heart! If you would like to have your Jr. or Sr. High School student involved at Grace, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me."
"We are living in a day and age when young people are being exposed to more and more through television, internet and other various new media. They literally have the world at their fingertips, yet there is an increase in social disfunction, depression and despair as they find no ultimate meaning in these things. My calling is not to pound more information into them nor is it to send them into college with full heads and empty hearts. It is my prayer that the youth we minister to will experience the living Christ in a life-changing way, and move from a 'taught-faith' to a 'caught-faith.' We might also have a LOT of fun while doing this. I make no apologies for FUN. FUN has a spiritual component to it. Youth need a safe place to have fun without having to face peer pressure to partake in destructive behavior. They also need to know that God is joyful and loves them, and not associate God with mind-numbing religious boredom. Along with the fun, there will be plenty of spiritual engagement for the mind and heart! If you would like to have your Jr. or Sr. High School student involved at Grace, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me."