High School: Developing Disciples

As high school students prepare to enter the next stage of life, we aim to teach, mentor, and train them to be lifelong followers of Jesus Christ. Our goal is for students to be prepared academically and to understand what it means to know and follow God.

TEACH

All students take a Bible course each year to better understand Christian theology, apologetics, and the Gospel. During weekly chapels, students pray, sing worship songs led by a student-led praise team, and hear about God from their teachers, local pastors, alumni, and peers.

One week each semester, students have chapel or small group discussions and leadership training. One day they go all around Indianapolis to serve at places including Wheeler Missions, Westminster Neighborhood Services, Midwest Food Bank, and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful.

MENTOR

High school teachers are Christ-followers and they make it their mission to share the Gospel with their students, both in and out of the classroom. Teachers challenge their students to read their Bibles, apply its principles, and seek to know Christ.

Some high school students get together with elementary students to mentor them. They play games, talk about how to deal with difficult things, read Bible verses, and learn how to be a good friend. The high school is also equipped with several full-time discipleship staff members who are available to meet with students, walk through difficult times with them, and challenge them in their walks with Christ.

TRAIN

All students are required to complete 20 hours of service annually. Many serve by mentoring in the elementary school, tutoring at Tabernacle Presbyterian, being a student ambassador for school events, and serving in their local church or community.

Students learn and practice servant leadership through involvement in Student Council, National Honor Society, clubs, athletics, and fine arts. Through these extracurricular and co-curricular activities, they learn responsibility, teamwork, and personal integrity.

Students can also participate in the Heritage chapter of Young Life, a non-denominational ministry that aims to help high school students realize their full potential in Christ, recognize their need to be connected to the body of Christ, and develop the desire to share their faith.

SPIRITUAL ENCOURAGEMENT PARTNERS

Discipleship at Heritage doesn’t just have to come from a teacherstudent relationship. Spiritual Encouragement Partners is a high school partnership program for students, by students. Any student who wishes to build deeper relationships with students in other grade levels can sign up and be paired with a small group of people.

These groups, which are no more than five students, can plan together to meet during a free period in school, during lunch, or outside of school. This partnership is meant to help students encourage one another, share struggles and prayer requests, and simply learn to build relationships with others.

“Participating in Spiritual Encouragement Partners has not only given me the opportunity to pour into the lives of my peers, but also influenced my life deeply as I grow alongside other girls,” said HCS senior Sophie Snyder, who leads a small group of girls. “Whether it's through sending daily words of encouragement or going laser tagging, the fellowship that is created among this group is so special and valuable.”