WELCOME NICK BARILLA!
Nick joined our staff on Monday, January 16, 2023!
Nick began his training with Nancy Jo Demolin as well as working with Joe Squires, our Business Manager, to complete his paperwork and gain access to the facility and resources. Nick also met with pastors and staff to complete additional aspects of orientation and begin collaboration.
In addition to essential tasks associated with planning and leading worship, Nick is focusing his initial weeks with us to general orientation, calmly settling into the new space and role, and starting relationship building. Nick will eventually schedule informational and planning meetings with
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The Wild & Wonderful Ways of a Youth Leader
By Pastor Alex IelaseEver wonder what a youth leader actually does? This article may help! Youth leaders are some of the best people I know. Of course I’m biased, but let’s take a closer look at who these people are and what they do.
Student ministry volunteers, led by the Holy Spirit, make a huge commitment to a regular part of a young person’s life. Week by week and month by month, these folks invest in student’s lives in many ways. Regularly participating in our Wednesday night program builds a solid foundation. Here, leaders will learn and remember student’s names, get to know them a little better, play games, eat food, and share time in the Word together. Leaders pray for students, help facilitate their growth groups, and spend time with them.
(Nick Barilla continued) instrumentalists, vocalists, and tech team members. This transition will require our prayers, patience, and flexibility. Please pray for Nick and our worship ministry. Please pray with gratitude for Nancy Jo Demolin. We know that God is with us, for us, and has great plans for us. Thanks for being a part of them!
Student ministry is about more than just Wednesday night though. Every year, we go on a weekend retreat. These are long on fun and fellowship, but short on sleep! These are great opportunities to grow those relationships with students deeper. Relationships built between leaders and students, bathed in prayer, will lead to more and deeper relationships with God. As students grow, they begin to desire serving God in the world. This is where missions comes in.
A youth leader may take part in student mission trips over the summer. They serve for a whole week on a travel trip, or a day or two at Mission to McKeesport. Here, a leader serves side by side for the faith of the Gospel with teens. We are all called to make disciples no matter how young or old we are. We want leaders to model that Great Commission mentality in their lives.
Discover, Deepen & Membership
Our next series of Sunday morning Deepen classes are set for February 5th 12th, &19th!
The purpose of our Deepen classes are to encourage and help you get connected at a deeper level at First Free. We want First Free to feel like home, a place you know and are known. We also want to help you understand and express your unique giftedness for ministry.
Our Discover and Deepen classes are intended to help you get connected at FF and, if interested, get on track for membership.
If you have questions regarding any of our Discover and Deepen classes or membership, please contact Pastor Kevin!
PH - 412-678-6655
Email - klabby@myfefc.org
There’s plenty more that leaders do-other events, occasionally hosting students and other leaders at their homes, showing up to their sporting events, plays, musicals, etc. Why go through all that?! We believe that God will use the efforts of leaders to build relational bridges to Jesus. The ultimate goal of every student ministry leader is to reach students for Christ, that they might then reach others! By God’s grace and for His glory, this work will continue at First Free Church. Thank you for supporting and praying for our ministry!
