Youth Ministry

First Woodway’s Youth Ministry desires to be a place of community and discipleship for students in 6th – 12th grades. From weekly connections, like PrimeTimes and Wednesday Night Live, to exciting events, like Chi Alpha and Sondays Camp, students are given opportunities to grow deeper in the faith and in Christian friendships.

Chi Alpha

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Weekly Connections

Students, stay up-to-date on everything happening by emailing Terri Jones for a newsletter…printed on real paper!

9:30 am | Middle School in The MAC | High School in The Venue
Welcome to Sunday Morning Bible Study for Youth! We have some great teachers and great opportunities to explore the Bible together. Middle School (grades 6th, 7th, 8th) meets in The MAC room A200 to start the hour, then breaks 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.

Middle School Sunday School Break-Out Rooms:
6th Grade Boys – room A125
6th Grade Girls – room A128/party room
7th Grade Boys – room A124
7th Grade Girls – room A211
8th Grade Boys – room A120
8th Grade Girls – room A210

Fall 2024 Dates: Sep 8 – Dec 8 | 7:37 pm | The MAC Room A200
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 7:37 pm in The MAC room A200 on our campus. From there we break off into our small groups.

For Middle School (6th-8th) | 6:30pm | 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 6th, 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.

For High School (9th-12th) | 7:00pm | 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.

Special Events

Save-the-date (July 6-11, 2025) for the best week of the summer…Sondays Camp! Be on the lookout for more info soon.

Summer 2025 Mission Opportunities for FWYM:

Redcar, England
June 6-17, 2025
This trip is for current 11th and 12th graders. Click here to view the informational flyer. Application process is open and deadline to apply is December 1.

La Grulla, TX
June 15-21, 2025
This trip is for current 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders. Click here to view the informational flyer. The application process will open February 2025.

El Salvador
July 26-August 1, 2025
This trip is for current 10th, 11th and 12th graders. Click here to view the informational flyer. Application process is open and deadline to apply is December 1.

Click here for the international mission trip application

Groups

More information, special just for 6th graders coming soon!

Class of 2025…this is your year! Here’s what we have lined up for you:

PASSION 2025
January 2 – 4, 2025
We are taking a group of 21 students and sponsors on this awesome opportunity for high school seniors. Passion Conference in Atlanta, Georgia is put on by Passion City Church. Each year, thousands of college students attend this amazing event and they also include high school seniors. We have consistently taken a group for the past 15+ years. Check out the website for the line up of speakers, musicians and so much more. For those that have paid the deposit, find all the info by clicking here. To pay the final balance, click here.

SENIOR RECOGNITION
Sunday, May 18, 2025
This is a special day for our seniors where we get to present them to the congregation for their accomplishment. Mark your calendar for this special date and watch for details to come mid-spring.

High School Teachers
HS Department Director: Rodney Bowden
Assistant: Shannon Johnson

12th Grade: Alan Bowden, Angie Wood

11th Grade Guys: Rodney Bowden, Ben Erlanson
11th Grade Girls: Niki Edwards, Kristy Erlanson

10th Grade Guys: Shon Sanders, Michael Meline
10th Grade Girls: Kelly Capron, Leighanne Fischer

9th Grade Guys: Kyle Miller, Brandon Oates
9th Grade Girls: Bailey Lopez, Shelley Meline

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Middle School Teachers
MS Department Director: Jay Fischer

8th Grade Guys: Jon Capron,
8th Grade Girls: Amanda, Czimskey, Robin Sanders

7th Grade Guys: Brent Baker, Patrick Kekic
7th Grade Girls: Cece Lively, Haley Winkleman

6th Grade Guys: Ryan Hisel, Jimmy Rogers
6th Grade Girls: Dana Bowden, Rene Kekic

High School Discipleship Leaders
12th Grade Guys: Michael Mize, Zach Smith
12th Grade Girls: Rachel Reeves, Caroline Steen

11th Grade Guys: Rhett Grosz, Tom Morton
11th Grade Girls: Katie Bair, Madi Jones, Natalie Kaemmerling

10th Grade Guys: Jason Fletcher, Cody Glanzer
10th Grade Girls: Ayden Davoody, Abby Edwards

9th Grade Guys: Ryan Jones, Caleb Wilson
9th Grade Girls: Cate Lannen, Presley Stockham

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Middle School Discipleship Leaders
8th Grade Guys: Matthew Bouydston, Ethan Odermann
8th Grade Girls: Lauren Myers, Tatum Sale

7th Grade Guys: Seth Collier, Matthew Cox, Morgan Turner
7th Grade Girls: Avery Akin, Laura Lail

6th Grade Guys: Reagan Jones, Jack Reinhardt
6th Grade Girls: Emma Bullajian, Matalyn Johnson

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. Areas of involvement include:

  • Programs Team
  • Skit Team
  • Spiritual Formation Team

If you are a junior or senior in high school, you are welcome to join Student Leadership. SLT for the school year is underway! Our next meeting is on Sunday, November 3. After church, we will meet at Raising Cane’s for lunch (on your own) and then return to meet in The Venue. We should be done by 2:30 pm.

Meet the Staff

Meredith Morton
Meredith MortonYouth Minister: Middle School
Terri Jones
Terri JonesAssistant, Youth + College
Ronny Higgins
Ronny HigginsExecutive Pastor

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.

Terri 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.