This past year in Pursuit, God has been unmistakably at work. As we look back on 2025, we can see many moments where students leaned in, asked meaningful questions, and took steps toward owning their faith in deeper, more personal ways. Led by Michael, Pastor Amanda and Chris Clements, Pursuit has continued to be a space where our youth are learning what it truly means to be with Jesus and become more like Him.

One of the greatest joys of the year was watching students genuinely engage. They didn’t just attend—they wrestled with truth, asked big questions, and showed a growing desire to understand their faith with their whole hearts. Leaders shared how fun and encouraging it was to witness those “aha” moments, when concepts began to click and students started connecting the dots for themselves.

A significant highlight in 2025 was the intentional collaboration between our Youth Ministry leadership team, Pastor Nancy, and the Kids Ministry to create a space for older elementary students. This was an exciting step forward, providing Grade 5 and 6 students with an environment where they could begin exploring faith more deeply while building relationships with leaders and older youth. While attendance naturally flexed due to after-school activities and commitments, we saw a noticeable increase in numbers following the Camp 5/6 weekend—an encouraging sign of growing engagement.

That season aligned beautifully with what God was already doing across the church. As Pursuit explored spiritual gifts, Camp 5/6 took place with—of all themes—spiritual gifts. At the same time, the Sunday morning congregation was walking through SHAPED for Ministry, learning about spiritual gifts together. Different ages. Different spaces. Same Spirit at work. It was a powerful reminder that God often teaches us in community, drawing us together around shared truth.

Originally, the plan for 2025 was to offer multiple small groups divided by grade levels (5/6, 7/8, 9/10, and 11/12). As the year unfolded, flexibility became essential. Numbers varied week to week, and the structure adapted accordingly. Some weeks meant splitting into guys’ and girls’ groups, other weeks into Grades 5–8 and 9–12. Ultimately, the format that served the students best was a large-group, classroom-style setting that naturally functioned as a small group as well. In this space, younger students learned from older students, and all students learned from dedicated leaders, creating a beautiful example of one of our core values - intentional discipleship.

Those conversations were further enriched by the presence of Pastor Glenn and Pastor Chris, who came to speak with the students. They answered questions honestly, shared their experiences, and intentionally poured into the next generation of Christ-followers. Their involvement reinforced a powerful truth: the youth matter deeply to the whole church. When students saw adults across the congregation investing in them, their excitement and engagement grew even stronger.

Throughout the year, Pursuit reflected CFA’s heart in meaningful ways. Real relationships were formed through shared discussion. God’s truth was explored together. Intentional discipleship happened as leaders walked alongside students in their questions and growth. It was stewardship with a kingdom perspective—planting seeds we trust God will continue to grow.

A number of our faithful and committed leaders were feeling called to dig deeper in their own walks and wanted to attend this year’s Freedom Session program. Also, as the congregation grew and we moved to two services, we saw both the opportunity and the need to offer a space for the youth to connect and grow during the first service.

With these considerations, Pursuit was moved from Tuesday nights to Sunday mornings at 9:30 and meant that we shifted back to offering Pursuit to grade 7-12 students (no longer Grades 5/6) as we did not want to take away from the already established and incredible Sunday morning programing aimed to the elementary students.

As Pastor Tyrone transitions forward, there is a strong sense of anticipation for what lies ahead. The vision remains clear: to see more youth engaged, to grow attendance steadily, and, in time, to expand into age-appropriate spaces that allow students to learn and grow at the pace that best serves them. There is excitement around creating environments where the gospel remains central—not only taught, but lived out through conversation, worship, and service.

We also ask for you to be in prayer for parents, volunteers, and leaders—that families would see the value of discipleship spaces like Pursuit, that God would raise up more labourers to invest in the next generation, and that wisdom would guide decisions around curriculum, structure, and creative ways to connect with youth where they are.

At its core, Pursuit is about creating space—for questions, for growth, for discovery, and for faith to take root. This year reminded us that when we make room, God shows up. And as we look ahead, we do so with gratitude for what He has done and confidence in what He is still unfolding.

We can’t wait to see where He leads next!