From birth to college, Olivet's Children & Student Ministries has something for everyone. Our halls are often filled with kids of all ages as they attend one of our many activities throughout the week. We are proud to be a part of their faith journey.
Confirmation
Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m.
Olivet's confirmation program is a four-year process, with students being confirmed in the fall of their 10th-grade year. Students meet Wednesday evenings during the school year. Confirmation Ministry includes large and small group components, a mentor program, family faith nights, and service nights.
Mentor Nights
Two Wednesdays a year, youth and their Confirmation mentors gather together and have a time of conversation and relationship building. Often these nights begin at church and then youth and their mentors go somewhere else (ice cream, coffee shop, park, a service project that they choose beforehand) to continue the conversation.
family faith nights
A few Wednesdays each year youth and their families come together in the Sanctuary for a speaker, musician, or something inspirational that follows the theme of the youth ministry for the year.
Confirmation Service Nights
Typically, we hold one service night for all Confirmation youth in the fall and one in the spring each year.
Hang Time
Wednesdays, 8:15-9 p.m.
Hang Time is regularly scheduled after confirmation to give our students time to decompress after a long day and relax in our youth room space. Hang Time is often spent playing games, hanging out with church friends, and connecting with their faith in a no-pressure, safe environment.
youth Sunday
Each winter, the youth of Olivet lead Sunday worship services. Youth and families of ALL AGES serve in all capacities of the worship service (ushers, greeters, readers, preaching, singing, prayers, communion servers, etc.). This service is typically the same Sunday as the Super Bowl.
Volunteer Opportunities
We have several opportunities for our high school and college students to get involved at Olivet. We love our students to help out as Sunday and Wednesday School leaders, Vacation Bible School leaders, confirmation leaders, and/or mentors. Our younger students look up to you and you are an important part of their faith life.
Fundraising Opportunities
Throughout the year Olivet youth are given opportunities to fundraise for their individual youth accounts. Previous fundraising events have included; serving Lenten dinners, stock sales, and holiday wreath sales. Connect with our Youth Director to find out more.
Summer Single-day Activities
During the summer the youth ministry staff plan several single-day activities for youth to be involved in. These range from service projects in the church or around the F/M community, to movie nights, special dinners, and more. Youth staff always take suggestions from youth, families, and congregations members for these events!
Summer Trips
If you love to travel, make new friends and give back to the community through service projects, then you'll love our summer trips. Each year is something different, from service projects out of state, to the Boundary Waters, to the ELCA National Youth Convention. You won't want to miss our annual Mystery Trip - where you are guaranteed two days filled with fun without any other details.
Eastern ND Fall Youth Retreat
Each fall we join 6-10 grade students from numerous eastern North Dakota congregations for a weekend retreat at Castaway Club. Castaway Club is located in the heart of Minnesota lakes country on Pelican Lake. Our weekend includes worship, music, and time spent enjoying game rooms, a climbing wall, soccer field, basketball courts, tennis & volleyball, great food & a coffee shop.
ELCA Youth Gatherings
Every three years, 30,000 high school youth and their adult leaders from across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America gather for a week of faith formation known as the ELCA Youth Gathering. Through days spent in interactive learning, worship, Bible study, service and fellowship, young people grow in faith and are challenged and inspired to live out their faith in their daily lives.
The 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering and Young Adult Gathering will be held July 16-20, 2024 in New Orleans, LA.