Cornerstone Student Ministries
Middle & High School
Our mission is Helping Students Know Jesus and Make Him Known.
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Student Ministry Programs
Even though Cornerstone has 3 locations, we're one church—and that's something we help students keep in mind as we go through our ministry year. We offer the same foundational teaching at all 3 campuses, but we also incorporate some site-specific events that students from any campus are encouraged to attend. Student Ministry mission trips, retreats, and camps are offered to all of our students.
6th-8th Grade
Middle School programming happens Wednesdays from 6:30-8pm, September - May at the 84th St. Campus. At Heritage Hill and South Wyoming, there are Student Sundays.
This is where the party is! Middle school students experience games, worship and a message in a large group setting, before spending time processing in small groups. We believe that students can go further, faster when they have a consistent small group of peers with a committed adult leader. We create a safe environment where students can have fun, invite their friends, and build authentic community. Add some pizza, messy game nights and slushies, and you begin to get a glimpse of Midpoint!
9th-12th Grade
High School programming happens Sundays from 6-8pm, September - May at the 84th St. Campus. At Heritage Hill and South Wyoming, there are Student Sundays.
This is a place where students in 9th-12th grade can explore their faith, be authentic, and grow in their relationship with Jesus! These nights capitalize on valuable friendships with other students, as well as their small group leaders. Worship is followed by teaching and small groups, separated by grade.
Grades, Times & Location Vary
September - May, students get together during service for teaching, community, and small groups designed to help them grow in their faith and trust in Jesus.
Heritage Hill - 48 Lafayette Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI
10am Middle & High School
South Wyoming - 2730 56th St. SW, Wyoming, MI
11am Middle & High School
8th & 9th Grade
Confirmation is a class for 8th & 9th grade students to explore biblical foundational beliefs shared by those who choose to follow Jesus Christ, and to make their faith personal!
Confirmation class begins September 17, 2023 and goes through February 25, 2024. The class will meet at 11am at 84th St and Heritage Hill, and 9:30am at South Wyoming.
Serving in Student Ministries = Investing in Students Lives!
We're so glad you're interested in serving in CSM! Because we value students so much, it's really important we plug the right leaders in the right places! There are just a few simple steps required.
Please follow the steps below to get the process started.
1. Student Ministry Volunteer Application: Fill out the application.
2. Background Check: Background Check Application. **Important - please complete the application within 30 minutes of clicking on the link** Completing it means you approve running the background check (we don't see the info--all is run through our provider). Background checks are good for 2 years.
2b. If you signed up to have a minor child over the age of 12 serving with you, we need a separate Background completed for them. You may use the same link found above to complete their check. The application defaults to asking for a driver's license number, You can enter all "1's" or "0's". Also - if you do not want to reference your child’s SS#, you can use O's. Please also complete a Parent Covenant on your child’s behalf.
3. Interview: To schedule an interview with our CSM team, please email csm@cornerstonemi.org.
4. CSM On-Boarding Documents: Sign the on-boarding documents online.
Cornerstone's Family Framework
We Love and Support Your Family!
Your son or daughter (or grandchild or student) is in a phase of life, whether they’re a toddler, a seventh-grader or a senior in high school. Each Phase has specific moments to celebrate, and we call them Milestones. Each milestone is a part of our Family Framework.
Additional Information / FAQ
When students arrive for any CSM programs, they’ll come to the Check-In Station. They'll be asked to fill out a Contact Card. The leaders manning the station will then help your student connect to a Small Group Leader in their age group, and connect them with other students. When students dismiss to groups, leaders will help your student find their group.
We lead students relationally through small groups. Our small groups leaders are background checked, trained and prayerfully ready to lead your student. You can discover who your student’s leader will be by talking with the director for that area.
While each morning or evening program in Student Ministry may look a little different, we use the same basic elements: worship, teaching, small groups, prayer and of course, fun!!
Student ministry is a high-energy, fun atmosphere where students are given a safe place to grow. High-fives are a must, laughter is the glue, and Jesus is the focus. If this sounds like a place you’d love to serve, begin by filling out the CSM Volunteer form. We’d love for you to join the fun!
To get started, fill out our Student Ministry Volunteer Form.
The short answer is yes. Please see our baptism brochure for more on why we baptize and what that means at Cornerstone Church. You can also visit our baptism page for more information on upcoming baptism celebrations.
Events
Ongoing Activities Throughout the Year
Cornerstone Student Ministry has fun stuff going on all year long! Just take a look at some of these activities!
Student Ministry Events
Held in September as a kick off to High School Ministry, it's high energy competitions between grades to win bragging rights for the rest of the year! It's our most popular event, and a great way to meet new people.
During February or March, we head to a local camp where we get to spend a weekend laughing, growing, and making memories together. We focus on relationship-building, spiritual growth, deeper teaching in God's Word, amazing worship and LOTS of time having fun!
High energy competition all during March between high school students, raising money for a good cause. It’s a great time to bring a friend!
Middle schoolers fasting for 30 hours? Sounds totally crazy and impossible – but God uses that time to show up in dynamic ways! Each year (usually toward the end of March) we fast for a cause. We get together Friday night through Saturday for fun, games, doing service projects, and learning more about whichever charity we’re raising money for. We end our fast by eating together late Saturday afternoon, then going to the 6pm service together!
Just like it sounds! We find the most disgusting games that we can find, and play them just for the sake of fun. This is how we celebrate the end of the school year to send off our 8th-grade students.
It's both a mystery and an adventure that happens over the summer months. Nobody will know where we are going or what we are doing until it is happening. They may not know the details of the day but it will the best day of the summer for your middle school student!
Summer Camps/Mission Trips
High School Work Camp
Usually during July for one week, Monday to Friday. Traveling to a town outside of Grand Rapids, we work in teams doing small home repair jobs that can include: interior or exterior painting, handicap ramp building, roofing, and more!
Mexico Mission Trip
For High School Juniors and Seniors, this is a great opportunity to show God's love in the Mexican community of Acuna over Christmas Break! We serve alongside a local pastor, sharing the news of Jesus and the Gospel through children's, sports and women's ministries. We also share a daily afternoon message for the community. Registration opens in August with 35 spots for students, and 10 adult leaders. Cost varies due to flight pricing.
We're Here For You!
If you have any questions about anything students-related, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Amber Barr
For parent's social media, see Parent Resources