Youth Development - Salvation, Education, Recreation
The youth are a very important part of the General Assembly Churches. A Youth Development Department was formed to assist in producing well-balanced and accomplished young men and women. This is achieved by establishing relationships with parents and their children in the early stages of their lives and providing supplemental educational programs and recreational activities.
The department has two branches, an Education Team and a Recreation Team. The Education Team consist of selected professional educators from elementary school teachers and principals to college professors who volunteer their time to assist the youth. The Recreation Team is guided by a team of selected professionals who have knowledge in various sports and have played, coached or refereed for diverse organizations. Despite all the experience that this team brings, it is their love and dedication to the youth that helps the young people of the General Assembly Churches excel.
A state-of-the-art gymnasium and education center was built at the Church of Vallejo in 1992 and a smaller facility was built at the Church of Union City in 1994. These facilities allow the youth to participate in education and recreation activities in a safe and positive environment. Each facility also has a regulation size football field with bleachers and lighting.
The Education Team has helped youth develop better learning and comprehension skills, study habits and assisted with helping them to improve their curriculum understanding and test scores at school. Some of the programs managed by the Education Team include:
- Arts and Crafts: Offered several times throughout the year for children ages 4-10.
- Learning Academy: The Learning Academy is a program which offers academic assistance to students in grades K-12. All academic curriculum is based on State standards. The format of the Learning Academy is a twelve-week program strategically divided into three separate months throughout the year.
- Read-A-Thon: This is an enrichment program used to spark the interest in our youth to read more books to promote literacy amongst our young people. Children in grades K-College participate for two months in this reading program. This program is also designed to create a closer relationship between parents and students.
- Back-to-School Day: Back-to-School Day takes place once a year at the beginning of each school year. Parents with school-aged children have the opportunity to come together and discuss a variety of issues that exist in our schools, in our state, and in the church. Certified educators facilitate this meeting along with ministers representing each assembly assisting in answering questions that deal directly with ministerial issues. Break out sessions also take place during the day where parents can participate in formal trainings on grade specific topics related to their children’s specific needs. A book and supply giveaway is facilitated by the staff as well as playtime for children not participating in the Back-To-School Day activities. Lastly, all students in 7th grade through college also participate in Life Skills workshops and group discussions that will assist them through their academic endeavors.
- Graduate’s Dinner: The Graduate’s Dinner is a recognition event for all high school, community college, vocational school, college, and graduate school diploma/degree recipients. All students are honored with an evening of dinner, speeches and guest speakers. Students are encouraged to bring their family and friends to join in this occasion.
- Senior Trip: The Senior Trip is for all high school graduates throughout the General Assembly Churches. This is a chaperoned trip in the summer to Disneyland, Six Flags Magic Mountain, California Adventure and Hollywood Studios.
- Awards Ceremony: The Education Team participates in a church-wide recognition event that honors church congregants for their work, burden, and character. This event is held at the end of the year. Students are recognized for their achievements in the previous academic school year, as well as their athletic accomplishments from the previous calendar year.
Recreation Programs
The Recreation Team manages athletic events that promote discipline, character and teamwork. Our goal is to strengthen the overall social, physical and mental health of the youth as well as foster positive behavior at all times. The recreation events are held at the church’s gymnasiums and football fields and participants are provided with uniforms and equipment.
- Basketball: The basketball season takes place during the months of January through May. There are several leagues for boys, girls and adults.
- Football: The football season takes place during the months of July through November. There are two brothers’ leagues that play during this time: 6th grade – 10th grade league and the 11th grade – age 27 league. These seasons are decided in a best of five series format for both leagues – the first team to win three games is crowned the champion.
- Little League: The little league baseball season takes place during the months of July through August. This league is for children in 1st through 5th grade. This season is decided in a best of five series format – though the series may be decided in three games, the children get to play all five of their games.
- Volleyball: The volleyball season is played between the months of August through November. There are two leagues that play during this time.
Playtime is a program for ages 2-11 years old and is held on Sundays after service. The mission of playtime is to foster lifetime friendships and Christian character in a safe, structured and playful environment. This is achieved by providing the young children the opportunity to learn respect for others, teamwork, the value of church activities, and how to make friends at church. We are committed to providing an ideal atmosphere that encourages children to grow and develop into responsible teenagers.
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