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Monday Mania
for Middle School only
Monday, July 29
This will without a doubt be the most epic Monday of the summer for our middle schoolers! We will spend the morning serving in the community and follow our hard work with a whole bunch of fun at Hawaiian Falls. Meet at the MAC at 9:00am wearing closed toe shoes and ready to work! Bring a bag with your swimsuit and lots of sunscreen. We will return to the church at 3:30pm. Cost is $25 and you can sign up here.
Middle School Splash Party
for incoming 6th, 7th & 8th graders
Saturday, August 3
As we ALMOST step into a new school year, we want to welcome our new 6th grade class! All those that will be entering 6th, 7th, and 8th grade, YOU ARE INVITED! Come hang out for the last pool party before school and let our new 6th grade friends know how much fun we have week in and weekout at FWYM. A parent meeting will be held simultaneously in the MAC room A200 for parents new to FWYM. It will be a blast!
Youth Sunday School Promotion
Sunday, August 4
Time to kick off a new year of Sunday Morning Bible Study! On August 4th, our new 6th grade will join the youth ministry and our new 9th grade will move over to high school. On that day all grades will move to their new classes and meet with their teaching leaders. Sunday morning has the most incredible adult leaders! All 6th-8th grades will meet in the MAC room A200 and all 9th-12th grades will meet in The Venue. Both groups will meet at 9:30am. On August 4th we will have donuts, fun and much more!
End of Summer Bash
Sunday, August 4
What better way to wrap up a fantastic summer than with a bash? We invite all incoming 7th-grads to join us at 6:30pm at The Venue for a night of worship, testimonies, and videos as we reflect on the incredible summer we have had together. After our service, we will head out to the Brophy’s residence in McGregor for a fun-filled evening of food, games and fellowship. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
WAC @ The MAC
Wednesday, August 7
Join us for the final WAC (Wednesday After Church) of the summer! We will have food trucks in the MAC parking lot and you will not want to miss it! Bring money and an appetite for food, fun and fellowship as we close out summer 2024.
It’s SUMMER! We have so many fun things planned for our youth this summer! To see what’s on the summer calendar, click here.
Sundays
Sunday Mornings
9:30am
Jr. High in The MAC
High School in The Venue
Sunday Morning Bible Study for youth! We have some great teachers (you can check out who they are on the Youth Staff tab) and a great opportunity to explore the Bible together. Junior Highs (grades 6th, 7th, 8th) meet in The MAC room A200 to start the hour. Then break out into smaller groups (rooms listed below). High Schoolers (grades 9th, 10th, 11th) meet in The Venue main room. Seniors meet in The Venue back room. Sunday School promotion Sunday will take place on August 4th. That’s when we will see all the new 6th graders.
Junior High Sunday School break out rooms:
6th Grade Boys – room A125
6th Grade Girls – room A203/youth
7th Grade Boys – room A124
7th Grade Girls – room A211
8th Grade Boys – room A128/party room
8th Grade Girls – room A210
Sunday Nights – Fall 2024
7:37pm
The MAC Room A200
Resumes Sunday, September 8, 2024
Last one for fall semester is December 8, 2024
CONNECT.with a core group
GROW.through discipleship
SERVE.as Christ teaches
Here at First Woodway, we take discipleship ministry very seriously. In our 7:37 Discipleship Groups, students meet with a group of peers…his or her age and his or her gender. Each group has two college leaders that help them to grow in Christian faith and practice. We have a great line up of leaders for the fall!
Come and be a part of the spiritual backbone of our entire ministry. It is your chance to mature into a faith that you can use. It all takes place each Sunday at 7:37pm in The MAC room A200 on our campus. From there we break off into our small groups. Fall semester 2024 begins on Sunday, September 8 and wraps up on Sunday, December 8.
Wednesdays
PRIME TIME – for Junior Highs
6:30pm in The MAC*
Just what you need in the middle of the week—an opportunity to gather with your friends for some great fun and spiritual encouragement. All 7th and 8th graders are welcome to come to the MAC each and every Wednesday at 6:30 for game competitions, fun mixers, student testimonies, great worship, and a relevant talk. We’re done at 7:45.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE – for High Schoolers (9th through Grads)
7:00pm in The Venue
WNL is live and in person! This is your time to gather with other students for authentic worship through great music, hilarious skits, student testimonies, and a talk that will give solid direction for living out your faith commitment. Join us in The Venue every Wednesday at 7:00. This is the place for you to learn, grow, and reach out to your friends throughout the school year. Pick up is at 8:15-8:30.
Summer WAC schedule
Every Wednesday of the summer, we meet at a local restaurant for fun, food and fellowship. Every student pays for their own food and provides transportation to and from the restaurant. See the schedule on the summer calendar or the list below:
May 29 – Shorty’s (on Hewitt Drive)
June 5 – Union Grove
June 12 – Rosa’s Cafe (on Hewitt Drive)
June 19 – Slowrise (Woodway location)
June 26 – Shorty’s (on Hewitt Drive)
July 3 – Union Grove
July 10 – SONDAYS CAMP
July 17 – Rosa’s Cafe (on Hewitt Drive)
July 24 – Slowrise (Woodway location)
July 31 – Shorty’s (on Hewitt Drive)
August 7 – WAC @ the MAC (food trucks in MAC parking lot)
Social Media
To keep up with all the latest, follow our youth pages on the following social media platforms:
Instagram – @firstwoodwayyouth
SAVE THE DATE FOR SONDAYS CAMP 2025:
July 6-11, 2025
Class of 2024 Seniors:
This is your year and this is your page!
SAVE THIS DATE:
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Grad sendoff at WNL
Get ready seniors! This will be your last official WNL with us. We will send you off to go do your thing at college. Don’t miss it and we will make sure to have plenty of tissues on hand!
Summer 2024 Youth Mission Opportunities
Guatemala
July 20-26, 2024
Our first-ever trip to Guatemala in Central America will be this summer for FWYM! This team will be working with the missions organization East-West Next Teams, to help establish new churches in unchurched areas of Guatemala. Our team will lead others to discover God by combining leadership development, sharing of the gospel, discipleship, and church planting. During the week our group will learn to build relationships with the locals, share the good news of Jesus Christ, and then help connect them to the local church. Our team will fly into Guatemala City and then travel north to work with a missionary team that is working to plant a new church. We will be staying in a mission house which can sleep up to 30 people. The trip cost of $2,200 will cover all expenses for our trip. This trip is for current 10th-12th.
Youth Staff
mattMcCLURE (Youth Pastor)
coming from Oklahoma, Matt is the new guy around here and still learning his way around Waco. Matt has been a youth pastor for 25 years and is excited to be in here. Matt grew up on a farm in small-town Oklahoma and went to college at Oklahoma State. God had a totally different plan for Matt than life in agriculture, and that was one in youth ministry. Matt recently moved from Tulsa, Oklahoma where he served at the same church for the last 16 years. Matt and his wife Melissa have been married for 22 years and have two kids, both of which are in the youth ministry! If you have yet to meet Matt, then swing by the office or grab him on a Sunday or Wednesday at First Woodway!
meredithMORTON (Associate Minister: Middle School)
starting as the cutest little 7th grader, Meredith grew up in the ministry before departing for the mountains and the University of Arkansas – ending up with a degree in International Relations. After college, she spent a year studying in the Kanakuk Institute before starting her masters at Truett Seminay. After graduating, she moved into a full-time position– and is giving leadership to our ministry to middle school students. She is passionate about the opportunity to work with her junior highs. Meredith is definitely the best athlete on the staff, having excelled at volleyball, basketball, and softball in high school. She loves reading, hanging out with friends, and spontaneous adventures of any kind with her brand new husband, Tom.
terriJONES (Student Ministry Assistant)
came on board in this important position in 2013. She keeps all of this madness so very well organized, and we love her for it. Terri comes from Sweetwater, where she hung out at the Dairy Queen on weekends. After graduating from Angelo State University, she made a choice to move to Dallas. It was there that she met her future husband, David. Her present children, Allison (a Texas A&M graduate) and Sam (a Texas A&M student) continue to daily rise up and call her blessed. She enjoys walking, reading, and baking. Everyone loves Terri, mostly because of her pies.
jasonFLETCHER (Youth Associate: High School)
has served faithfully for the past five years as a volunteer and intern but now has moved into an associate role. Unlike everyone else, he is not home grown but grew up in Arlington. After graduating from Baylor, he taught chemistry (yuck) at Midway High School for one year. He now has chosen wisely and has come back on our staff, even as he goes full-time with his studies at Truett Seminary and the School of Education. Jason excelled in sports and was active in his youth ministry during his high school years. He loves reading, working out, playing piano, and hanging with his friends. He once broke his front tooth while trying to scare his mom getting out of her car; that obviously did not go well. Jason is a great speaker, mentor, and loyal team player. He also drives a truck.
Sunday Morning Team
High School Teachers
High School Department Director: Rodney Bowden
Assistant: Leighanne Fischer
12th Grade: Darrell Janecka, Cindy Janecka, Shannon Johnson
11th Grade Guys: Rodney Bowden, Brent Baker
11th Grade Girls: Niki Edwards
10th Grade Guys: Alan Bowden, Ben Erlanson
10th Grade Girls: Angie Wood, Kristy Erlanson
9th Grade Guys: Shon Sanders, Mike Meline
9th Grade Girls: Bailey Lopez, Shelly Meline
Junior High Teachers
Junior High Department Director: Jay Fischer
8th Grade Guys: Brandon Oates, Derek Stephens
8th Grade Girls: Haley Winkleman
7th Grade Guys: Kyle Miller, Jon Capron
7th Grade Girls: Kelly Capron, Robin Sanders
6th Grade Guys: Patrick Kekic, Ryan Hisel
6th Grade Girls: Dana Bowden, Rene Kekic
7:37 Team
High School Discipleship Leaders
12th Grade Guys: Harrison Escue, Jason Fletcher, Joey Leeper
12th Grade Girls: Sofia Aguilera, Casey Hoffmire, Julianna Lewis, Libby Noesen
11th Grade Guys: Michael Mize, Zach Smith
11th Grade Girls: Rachel Reeves, Caroline Steen
10th Grade Guys: Zach Brown, Mason Roye
10th Grade Girls: Faith Lauderdale, Emily Mosley
9th Grade Guys: Walker Garrett, Cody Glanzer
9th Grade Girls: Ayden Davoody, Abby Grace Edwards
Junior High Discipleship Leaders
8th Grade Guys: Ryan Jones, Caleb Wilson
8th Grade Girls: Rahya Gupta, Grace Powell
7th Grade Guys: Matthew Bouydston, Ethan Odermann
7th Grade Girls: Taylor Frost, Madi Jones
6th Grade Guys: Seth Collier, Matthew Cox
6th Grade Girls: Hannah Ellison, Meredith Morton
SLT (Student Leadership Team)
Every year we invite any and all of our juniors and seniors to join us in the leadership of our ministry through our SLT (Student Leadership Team).
Ministry is only effective if the students get involved and claim it as their own. We invite students to serve on a few different focus groups according to their interests. Groups typically meet one Sunday a month to talk over ideas and important events.
Here the areas of involvement:
:: PROGRAMS TEAM
:: SKIT TEAM
:: SPIRITUAL FORMATION TEAM
If you are a junior or senior in high school, you are welcome to join SLT.
SLT Meeting Dates for spring 2024:
Sunday, February 4th
Sunday, March 24th
Sunday, April 28th
In the vault we have the latest First Woodway youth videos. All available for your viewing pleasure… or mozy on over to youtube to watch some of our classics.
Follow First Woodway Youth on Social Media
First Woodway | 101 Ritchie Road, Waco TX 76712 | 254.772.9696