A year into what its leaders describe as a period of meaningful growth, Peachtree City United Methodist Church's Student Ministry is pointing to something harder to measure than headcount: a student named Lillie, who has made it her habit to walk up to newcomers, introduce them around, and make sure they feel like they belong.
According to the church, Lillie's effort is one of the most visible signs of what the ministry has been working toward — a community where students take ownership of welcoming others, not just adults. The ministry says those moments can shape how a young person sees the church 'for years to come.'
These small but meaningful moments can leave a lasting impression on a student, shaping how they see our church and their place in it for years to come.— Peachtree City UMC Student Ministry
The ministry gathers students twice weekly: Sunday mornings in a program called Breakfast Club and Sunday evenings in The Foundry. Over the past year, the church says it has watched students build friendships, ask deeper questions about faith, and begin praying with one another — signs, leaders say, of students taking greater ownership of their spiritual lives rather than simply attending.
New students have continued arriving week after week, according to the church — some brought by friends or family, others returning after time away. The ministry says each week brings fresh opportunities to reconnect and build relationships, and that students are now actively inviting their own friends, with families becoming more involved alongside them.
The church credits a core of adult volunteers — teaching lessons, preparing meals, leading small groups, and chaperoning retreats — as essential to making the ministry function. Without them, leaders say, none of the growth would be possible.
Student ministry is about more than filling a calendar or growing a group. It is about helping young people build lasting relationships with God and one another.— Peachtree City UMC Student Ministry
Looking ahead, the ministry says its focus remains on welcoming students whether they are walking through the doors for the first time or returning after a long absence — a posture it says Lillie has already put into practice on the ground level.
Why it matters — For families with teenagers in Peachtree City, this reflects how one local church is trying to make youth ministry feel personal rather than programmatic — and leaning on students themselves to do it.
⚠ Not yet confirmed
- The ministry's growth period is described as spanning 'the past year,' but no specific start date or membership numbers are given
Reported by ptcumc.org, podscan.fm, peachtree.org
Where this comes from
Written by Papalocal's AI from these outlets' reporting. It can miss or misread things; the outlets are the record.