Olivet-Schwenkfelder United Church of Christ

Children & Youth

Youth Serve is a service-based community outreach ministry using a service-learning model as its main component. Service-learning is a type of experiential learning through which an individual learns by doing. Service-learning begins with the process of serving others, moves to reflection and feeling, and then to growth in faith as the process is internalized.

Youth Serve is open to all young people in grades 4-12 in the Norristown area who want to make a difference in their communities and the world. Its purpose is rooted in the scriptures and consists of three principle parts:
(1) To provide an avenue for “living out” our faith through service to others.
(2) To provide an opportunity to “make a difference” by addressing social/justice issues and needs of the day.
(3) To support the development of positive identity and leadership abilities in young people so that they may grow to be responsible adults, able to respond to others with caring and compassion.

Young people who participate in Youth Serve take part in a variety of mission/service projects ranging from hands-on, face-to-face interactions with people, to fundraising for specific efforts. Projects are coordinated through the youth program of Olivet-Schwenkfelder United Church of Christ and the agencies through which the service is rendered.