By Sarah Opdahl

Sherman Church is excited to have recently launched a youth group for grades 8 through 12, and they would be happy to welcome even more participants. While having fun experiences together  is certainly on the agenda, the church hopes the group will also become a space in which lifelong friendships are formed, faith is strengthened, and kids are assured that there is a community that cares about them.

The youth group, which meets at Sherman Church, 6 Church Road, Sherman, CT 06784, every Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m., is led by church members Colin and Heather Rand. Heather has volunteered for Christian  Education  Committee for the past four years and has attended the church since she was a child. The Rand’s  shared, “As parents ourselves, we saw an opportunity to create a place where high school students could come together, build meaningful friendships, and learn about God. We wanted to provide a welcoming environment where teens feel accepted, encouraged, and have the opportunity to grow in their faith.” They want any interested teens to feel comfortable joining, hospitably saying, “Whether you’ve been coming to church forever or you’re just checking things out, there’s a place for you here.”

Heather said, with the youth group, “Our hope is to build a strong community where kids feel safe, valued, and supported. We want it to be a place where they can ask questions, form lasting friendships, and develop a personal relationship with God.” The first teen group for the Sherman Church, or first in known memory, the Rands “want this to be a fun and engaging experience that kids genuinely look forward to each week. Every Tuesday we’ll share a meal together, spend time hanging out, and learn about Jesus.” She went on, “on the last Tuesday of every month, we’ll head out for a fun activity like mini golf, paintball, the movies, or boating on Candlewood Lake. There are so many possibilities, and we’re excited to create experiences that build friendships while making lasting memories together. We also hope to incorporate service projects and other opportunities for the students to give back to the community.”

With so many kids absorbed in their phones for a large part of each day, one of the biggest priorities will be to encourage kids to put their phones away during youth group. “We believe some of the best conversations and strongest friendships happen face-to-face. In a world that’s increasingly digital, we want to create a space where students can truly connect with one another and be fully present,” Heather said. She and Colin look forward to serving as mentors to the participants, saying, “We feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to invest in these students’ lives. Our hope is to encourage them, walk alongside them, and help them grow in their faith as they discover what it means to have a relationship with Christ.”

For Sherman Church, which is part of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference (CCCC), and dates back to 1744, the youth group serves an important function in terms of engagement and fellowship. Heather says, “Our first goal is simply to create a youth group that students are excited to attend and invite their friends to. We hope that as the youth group grows, it will naturally encourage more families to become involved in the church as well. We believe investing in young people can have a positive impact on the entire church community.”

Heather and Colin encourage any interested kids/families to reach out. They are excited to grow the group and “see what God has in store for this ministry.” Overarchingly, Heather shared, “Our prayer is that every student who walks through the doors feels welcomed, loved, and accepted exactly as they are,” essentially, “Come laugh, connect, and be part of something meaningful.”