Youth Fellowship
An active group open to all youth in grades 6th through to 12th. We focus on a balance of worship, service, recreation and fellowship for young people.
Activities
Sunday Evening
Program
A regular Sunday evening program from 6:00 - 7:30 pm during the school year and 6:00 - 8:00 pm in the summer.
Weekend Spiritual and Fellowship Retreats
Weekend spiritual and fellowship retreats in the Winter and at Spring Break
Service Opportunities
Service opportunities both locally and across the country, doing all kinds of things ranging from Christmas decorating to home repair in the Appalachian Mountains.
Meet Our Team
Youth Ministries Director
Our youth ministries director is Ms. Becky Valenzuela, with a great group of volunteer church members working with the youth each week. You don’t have to be a church member to join the youth group — come and see for yourself!
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
1 Timothy 4:12
The Youth Ministry at Simi Valley United Methodist is a community of youth and adult mentors who gather weekly to explore and grow in faith together. We nurture relationships with God, with each other, and with our neighbors in our community and beyond.
Youth take an active role in the leadership and guidance of this ministry. We believe that being a disciple of Jesus Christ is a lifelong process of growth and development that must be journeyed with others in a safe and welcoming environment. We welcome all youth in our community who would like to join us.
Weekly Youth Ministry
Our Youth Ministry has 3 areas of focus:
Faith
We’ve got lots of opportunities to dig into God’s Word, apply it to your life, ask questions, have lively discussions, and grow in relationship with Jesus Christ and with others. Places we do that include:
Youth Group on Sunday Nights — faith-focused discussions and activities led by our Adult Workers with Youth (AWWY).
Sunday School — lesson and activities connected to the worship themes and Scripture readings.
Winter Retreat — a weekend retreat led by youth for their fellow students.
Confirmation Class — a semester-long class to explore your individual faith and calling from God.
Music Ministries — Youth Bell choir, Youth Praise choir and more.
Worship — youth regular participation in the leadership of worship on Sunday mornings. Once a year, youth plan and lead a worship service themselves.
Fellowship
Everybody likes to make new friends and have a good time, so we also do lots of fun activities:
Game Nights
Escape Rooms
Pool Parties and Beach Days
Messy Game Night
Superbowl and Oscar Parties
Movie Nights
Celebration Banquet (end of the year award celebration)
Serving Others
The Great Commandment tells us to love God and love people [read Matthew 22: 34-40]. There are LOTS of ways to be in mission, ministry, and service to others:
Dinner Church — we serve dinner to those in need every 3rd Saturday here at the church.
Spring Break Work Trip (Sr. High) — a variety of light construction to repair work in Methodist camps and retreat centers or nearby churches and communities.
Appalachia Service Project (every 3 yrs) — a summer trip to help build and repair homes in some of the poorest communities in the South.
Living Nativity — for over 40 years we have portrayed the story of Christ’s birth on the corner of Cochran and Erringer.
Youth Service — our youth participate in a variety of ways in our community events such as Trunk or Treat and Easter Egg Hunt
Faith in Action Project — youth officers create semi-regular opportunities to work together on projects that show God’s love to our community.
Highlighted Youth Events:
Sunday Evening
United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF) Dinner
Sundays
6:00 – 6:30 pm
Witman Hall
If you are willing to help provide a meal on a Sunday night, please reach out to Todd or Mylene Goldman.
Weekly Opportunities
Faith and Fellowship
Program
Thursdays
7:15 – 8:15 pm
Witman Hall
During the summer program hours are extended to 8:00 pm.
Weekly Opportunities
Youth Bell Choir
Thursdays
7:15 – 8:15 pm
Chapel
Please check for up-to-date times and a full list of Youth Events on our Calendar
Explore Ministry Groups
Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Director
Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Director
Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Director
Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Director