Student Ministry

We believe in the power of connection and mentoring for our 6th - 12th grade students as they navigate their teen years and middle and high school. Our DCE Ben provides fellowship and discipleship activities, mission and service, and retreats annually. You can find updates on our Student Ministry events or contact Ben by email at benjamin.swafford@tlcas.org

The name Elevate is based on James 4:10, "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up..."  

As followers of Christ, we don't want to elevate ourselves by worldly standards and can’t elevate ourselves when it comes to being a Christian. We want to strive to put Christ first in all that we do, and give Him all of the praise and glory. To recognize that we are held up and lifted up by Christ, in the joyful and tough times in life. 

For Dates see Church Updates and Event Calendar


Elevate Youth Group

Join us monthly on Sunday evenings for our Elevate Youth Group gatherings from 6:00pm - 7:30 pm. We connect through for games and conversation followed by worship and bible study for all students 6th grade and up.

Upcoming Youth Group Gatherings will be:

December 1

February 2

March 2

Other Youth Group Events in December

High School Christmas Party, December 8th

Middle School Christmas Party, December 18th

 

Foundations Nights

Our Foundations small groups will be meeting monthly on Sunday evenings from 6:00pm - 7:30pm and we have a place for you to belong!

Join fellow students and adult mentors as we dive into life together, offering encouragement and support as we SHARE about our own lives, TALK about questions, and PRAY for each other.

Upcoming Dates for the fall are:

December 15

January 19

February 23

Note: Students in Confirmation will join the Lutheran Foundations group, students who have been confirmed, other students 8th grade and up will join Student Faith Foundations groups.


Confirmation Ministry

The Confirmation process at Trinity is a family-paced faith process for young people (6th-12th grades), who want to dive deeper into understanding their beliefs and why! The Journey is quite flexible, and while the group sessions are paced in a two-year sequence, it can be completed in a year or as long as you need.

This year, confirmation will be a part of our Sunday evening Foundations nights, with students who are on the path toward confirmation joining in monthly Lutheran Foundations groups.

Upcoming Dates for the fall are:

December 15

January 19

February 23

Together, students & a parent/mentor are invited to explore what it looks like to be followers of Jesus while working through Journal lessons, reading Scripture, and using the Catechism.  At the journey's end, students are invited to publicly confirm and claim their identity as disciples who intend to continue to follow Jesus.   


 

LCMS YOUTH Gathering

 Held every 3 years since 1980, the LCMS Youth Gathering provides thousands of youth and adults the opportunity to come together as a community of God’s people to be encouraged in their walk with Jesus Christ and learn about the Christian faith and their Lutheran identity. 

The next LCMS Youth Gathering will be July 19–23, 2025 in New Orleans, LA and we can’t wait to bring a group from Trinity! If you are entering 8th-12th grade, you are eligible to come!

  • Registration is FULL! We have 22 participants signed up! If you want to be added to the wait list, reach out to Ben ASAP.

  • The Next Group Meeting is December 1st, after Elevate Youth Group


 

Meet Ben

I am Ben Swafford, Trinity's DCE. My true passion is Youth Ministry; I enjoy walking along side of the youth during their faith walk, challenging them to think outside of the box, encouraging them to step outside of their comfort zone when it comes to serving others, and growing with them all along the way. A verse that I hold close to my heart is Philippians 2:10, “at the name of Jesus every knee will bow…” In the highlights and low points of life, this verse reminds me that nothing is too big for our Lord and Savior, or those whom He has called.