YOUTH

Our youth ministry exists to cultivate in young people a love for God, for His word, for His church, and for His world in order that they might be conformed into the image of Christ.

We hope that you will find our youth ministry to be a welcoming place that feeds your soul and encourages you to pursue a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. We can’t wait to meet you!

For more information, contact:
Mandy Drewes Pastor to Youth and Families and High School
Brian Nesbit for Junior High
Andy White for 5th and 6th

STAFF

Our team desires to know, love and pour into our students, leaders and parents from all three groups. We really see ourselves as pastors to our whole ministry. So always feel free to contact either of us with any questions you may have or to get together! That said, we also have some specific areas of emphasis detailed below.

Mandy Drewes – Pastor to Students and Families / High School Ministry

Mandy grew up just down the 101 in Ventura. She received her BA in Liberal Studies and Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Azusa Pacific University. She moved to Seattle, WA in 2014 and quickly fell in love with youth ministry when she began working at Bellevue Presbyterian Church. After 3 years in Washington, she moved here to begin working with the youth ministry at Santa Barbara Community Church. When she’s not hanging out with students, you can most likely find her at a coffee shop or enjoying the outdoors with her dog, Lila.

Email Mandy about High School Ministry or general Youth Ministry questions.

Brian Nesbit – Junior High Associate

Brian serves on the Youth Ministry team focusing on Junior High ministry. Prior to coming to SB Community Church, he served in youth ministry for nine years in Denver, Colorado. Brian says that alongside loving kids, he also really enjoys the show “Friends” and the “Star Wars” movies.

Email Brian with questions about Junior High Ministry.

Andy White – 5th/6th Ministry Associate

Andy White to minister to our 5^th/6^th students. Andy has served as a worship leader at SBCC for the last 20 years and has been an elementary school teacher for the same length of time. His combination of experience and expertise in music, tech, and teaching elementary-aged students makes him uniquely suited to this combined role.

Email Andy with questions about 5th/6th Ministry.

DISTINCTIVES

Our youth ministry exists to cultivate in young people a love for God, for His word, for His church, and for His world in order that they might be conformed into the image of Christ.

We pursue our mission by:

Committing

To the consistent teaching of God’s word in youth group and small groups
To the intentional pursuit of long-term discipleship relationships

Connecting

5th-12th graders to one another through small groups with peers that are led by a mature believer
Young people to God’s church, both local and global

Equipping

Our youth for a life of evangelism and servant leadership
Young people to seek justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God

SMALL GROUPS

Starting in 7th grade, we put together groups of 4-8 kids with a leader who will walk with them through high school. In junior high, small groups meet every other week and then move to meeting weekly in high school. Small groups are the cornerstone of our youth ministry, providing opportunity for long-term discipleship with a leader, fellowship with other students and the experience of pursuing a Christian life in community.

“Small group is one of the best things in my life. It is a space I feel safe and heard, an important touchpoint in my week, not to mention it’s a lot of fun. The relationships I’ve made in small group are important to me and my leader has inspired me to be an intentional, devoted, and God-loving person. I look up to him and to the guys in my group. Meeting weekly is something I look forward to and I am very thankful for it.”

–A sophomore boy reflecting on his small group experience.

For more information about small groups, please contact Mandy Drewes.

CALENDAR

CAMPS & RETREATS

GET CONNECTED

YOUTH GROUP ON SUNDAYS

5th/6th, Junior High and High School youth groups meet on most Sundays at the 11am service during the academic year. Junior High and High School meets on Wednesday nights during the summer. For specifics, contact one of Youth Ministry Team.

5th & 6th

We seek to engage our 5th & 6th students in new and meaningful ways as they transition from Sunday school to youth group. In order to meet our 5th & 6th graders where they’re at, we focus on both concrete teaching as well as beginning to introduce them to more abstract thinking when looking at the Bible. At 11am on Sundays, 5th & 6th meet in the 5th/6th Youth Room in the Education building. Additionally, there is no youth group on the fourth Sunday of every month so that students can worship and learn corporately with the whole church body. For more information regarding our 5th & 6th ministry, please contact Andy White.

JUNIOR HIGH

Asking questions is a big part of junior high adolescence, and we desire to meet them in the midst of that. On both Sunday mornings and in small groups, we aim to create environments where junior highers can seek Christ and unpack Biblical truths together. Our junior high youth group meets on Sundays at 11am in the Junior High Room for games, worship, and teaching. Additionally, there is no youth group on the fourth Sunday of every month so that students can worship and learn corporately with the whole church body. For more information regarding our junior high ministry, please contact Brian Nesbit.

HIGH SCHOOL

In our high school ministry, we aim to build a community where students belong and can be equipped to follow Jesus after they leave high school. Through our time on Sunday mornings, small groups, and our events we hope to help students integrate their faith into every area of their lives. Our high school youth group meets on most Sundays at 11am in High School Room. When not meeting for youth group (usually the 4th Sunday of the month), high school students worship and learn corporately with the whole church body. For more information regarding our high school ministry, please contact Mandy Drewes.

“…speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ”

Ephesians 4:15