The Pullen Youth Ministry exists to help youth and their families navigate the transition from childhood to young adulthood by introducing youth to a broad spectrum of issues and ideas that will help them to emerge as well-equipped young adults, grounded in faith.

We embrace each individual as a unique and beloved child of God. We accept people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationships with God, their community, and themselves.

The youth ministry supports youth as they discover and nurture their spirituality. In true Baptist tradition, each youth is given the freedom to shape his or her own relationship with God as their faith journey grows and matures.

We welcome any young people in grades 6 - 12 to get involved!

Get Involved

Sunday Morning Groups: Sundays at 9:30 am in Room 130-H

Join us Sunday Mornings from 9:30 - 10:30 am to talk about faith and spiritual practices. We ease into our time together with games and hanging out before engaging in conversations and activities.

Wednesday Night Live: Wednesdays at 6:30 pm in Room 130-H

On Wednesday nights from 6:00-7:30 pm, students are invited to gather to explore our faith in the context of our everyday lives and what’s happening in the world around us. Another presidential election is upon us, and while voting is a central civic duty, citizen power has never been limited to the ballot box. Wednesday nights this winter/spring, our youth will explore what it means "to citizen." According to author Eric Liu, this action-oriented understanding of democratic citizenship has nothing to do with documentation or legal status. In Liu's formula, a citizen is anyone who combines "power + character" in responsible ways. 2024 will be an important milestone in this fragile experiment in multiracial democracy we call the United States of America. How can our youngest leaders embrace their power, build moral character, and make our community stronger? Using Liu's formula at the heart of the Citizen Redefined curriculum (developed by his organization, Citizen University), our youth will define together what citizenship means and how they hope to use their civic power for the common good. This months-long program will culminate in a "Civic Confirmation" ceremony in which our youth will share their civic hopes, dreams, and commitments with our larger community as we look to this year's elections and beyond.

Contact: Ian McPherson

 

Youth Choir: Wednesdays at 6:00 pm in Room 128-B

All 6th-12th Graders are invited to participate in the Pullen Youth Choir in the Rehearsal Hall (next to the Youth Space) from 6:00-6:30 pm. (Youth in choir are welcome to the front of the line for Wednesday night meals.) Youth Group immediately follows choir at 6:30 pm.

Annual Events

Fall Retreat -Fall Retreat is the first trip of our program year. During this important time together we try to capitalize on this time together by intentionally mixing up the group and giving youth opportunities to get to know others in the group they may not know so well. Fun, fellowship, and reflection are all part of Fall Retreat.

Baptist Youth Camp- Baptist Youth Camp (BYC) is arguably the most beloved event of the program year among Pullen youth! In fact, it has been heard that the youth admitted if they could only do one activity they would want it to be BYC.

Pullen is one of the charter congregations that gave birth to BYC almost twenty years ago. It is now a group of covenant congregations that meet together at Laurel Ridge (a camp and conference center of the Moravian Church) each summer for the week that includes July 4. Camp includes creative and relevant bible study, active and thoughtful special interest groups, inspiring and reverent worship, and new and treasured relationships.

Music Opportunities

Youth Choir

Youth in grades 6-12 learn a variety of choral music to offer in worship and other events at Pullen as they participate in Youth Choir. This group rehearses on Sunday afternoons from 1:15-2:00PM in the Rehearsal Hall (Room 128-B). Meets January-May.

Pullen Orchestra

Youth and adults who have played wind, string, or percussion instruments for at least one year combine to form the Pullen Orchestra. This group offers instrumental music and accompaniments for worship, and rehearses on Sunday mornings from 8:45-9:45AM in the Rehearsal Hall (Room 128-B). The orchestra also plays each year for Pullen’s Sunday in the Park, Cameron Village’s Holiday Open House and travels annually to play for worship at other area churches.

Festival by the Sea

The choir also joins other regional youth choirs for the annual Festival by the Sea at Springmaid Beach Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC. This weekend includes enjoyable rehearsals with the nation’s finest conductors, beach fun, area attractions, and concludes with worship led by the large festival choir.

Rituals and Traditions

  • Rite-13 Ritual

    This is an annual ceremony held during worship for youth who have already turned 13. In this ritual, the young people are charged with the responsibility to use wisely the creative power unleashed within them at puberty. It is procreative power as well as energy

    useful in all aspects of life. This is followed by a commitment by the rest of the youth group and the congregation to provide support. The youth then receive a private blessing from their parents.

  • Christmas Eve Late Night Service

    Our youth create and lead Pullen’s late night Christmas Eve service at 11:00 PM. This is a highly creative, meaningful worship experience. A gathering after the service for refreshments and fellowship has also become a favorite tradition, especially for young adults returning home for the holidays.

  • Lenten Discipleship Classes

    Beginning on Ash Wednesday and continuing through Easter, discipleship classes are offered each Wednesday night to explore various faith topics in more detail. Those who participate in the class that explores baptism will have an overnight retreat and will be paired with an adult mentor from our congregation.

  • Easter Baptism

    The Easter Morning Baptism Service in Finlator Hall is a Pullen tradition following that of the early church. Those who have completed the discipleship class and have determined to be ready to symbolize their faith in the ritual of baptism join in this service. Each person being baptized is asked to write a statement of faith, which is shared with the congregation.

  • Youth Sunday

    Usually held in May, this is a youth-led worship service that celebrates youth and honors our graduating high school seniors.