We have a vibrant and growing youth program at Second Church, overseen by our Associate Minister, Christopher Tate, which is known as the CROSS Program. CROSS stands for “Continually Reaching for Our Spiritual Selves.” More than just a “youth group,” the program aims to help young people in grades six through twleve develop into more balanced, spiritually whole human beings. CROSS offers activities in one or more of four specific “focus areas”: Intellectual, Aesthetic, Mission, and Fellowship.

Fellowship: Activities in this area form the foundation of the program. Spending recreational time with others in a safe, supportive and welcoming environment is critical in helping young people find the desire and discover the ability to learn and grow spiritually.
Mission: Almost universally, young people find their greatest connection to faith and spirituality through mission/service activities. Mission work helps young people develop an appreciation for their blessings and the struggles of others. In contrast to school-sponsored community service, mission activities participated in as part of CROSS encourage reflection on the particularly spiritual dimensions of the work done.
Aesthetic: Activities in this area are designed to nurture the emotional, expressive, and creative sides of a young person’s developing spirituality through artistic and creative means. Just as important as encountering the reality of God through mission work is attempting to discover and explore some of the “intangible” qualities that make faith such a vital part of life.
Intellectual: Activities in this area are designed to help develop one’s ideas on faith and God through exploration, questioning, and also study of various texts including— of course— the Bible.

For more information on the CROSS program, and to see a calendar of current and upcoming events, please visit The CROSS Program Website.

You can also check out and/or print schedules of upcoming events through Google Calendar