WHO WE ARE
The youth ministry of Winona Gospel Church is called Truth Central (6th-12th grade). We are devoted to preaching/teaching the Word of God. We believe that Scripture is authoritative and sufficient for all of life and growth in godliness (2 Pet 1:3). We depend upon the Holy Spirit to transform lives and desire for the youth to have a genuine faith that bears fruit in keeping with repentance (Matt 3:8). We seek to equip the minds with the Word of God in order to prepare them to make wise, God-glorifying decisions as they transition into high school, college, young adulthood, etc.
Young people today will encounter many paths in this life, but here at Truth Central, we present Jesus Christ as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the only hope for sinful humanity to be made right with God and have eternal life. At Truth Central we emphasize God’s Word in a way that provides a fun and safe atmosphere to learn more about God and what it means to know Him personally and live for Him worshipfully. It’s through a ministry like this that we seek to glorify God through evangelism, edification, and equipping of young people through the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. It is our hope that they be saved, sanctified, and serving.
By God’s grace, it is our joy to minister to the students and our desire that they would know and love God.
WORD TO PARENTS
At Truth Central, we believe that discipleship is the primary responsibility of the parents. Gospel truth is to be instructed and modelled in the home. We believe it is the responsibility of this staff to come alongside of you as parents to help guide your child in the way that he/she should go. We know that students have a lot to think through and deal with, and we want to be here to point them towards Christ and give them strong Christian leaders to lean on. We seek to be a resource and an encouragement to you as well. If there is anything we can do for you, please do not hesitate to ask.
At Truth Central, we consider High School students to be young adults, and Jr. High students to be in transition to adulthood. We believe that diligent parents will begin to train and equip their child for adulthood from birth, rather than allowing them to prolong the teenage years into adulthood (Kid-dults). The youth ministry supports the parental goal of equipping their children and desires to partner in setting the expectation for adult behaviour even while they are still in significant transition between early teen and young adult years. We share the high expectations that you (parents) have for your students and seek to provide a healthy spiritual environment while still having a great time together.
Students are in formidable years in their knowledge, strength, will, and discipline, and as such, they are still under their parents’ authority. Therefore, the youth leaders will act as guides and teachers (older brothers and sisters in the faith) to challenge and encourage them and show them in all areas what it means to live out their pursuit of Christ (Galatians 2:20 and 2 Corinthians 5:17, 18). The Truth Central Leadership at Winona Gospel Church will both teach and model this (Philippians 4:9).
Our goal is cooperation, not competition. Though we will attempt to encourage and motivate the students toward ministry and involvement at WGC, the parent always retains the absolute right and authority to direct their child’s activity.