Adolescence is a time of change.
Our kids are navigating many unknowns as they face social, emotional, and physical changes, and begin to search for their own identity. At Third, Club 56 is a space dedicated to our fifth and sixth grade students where we can be intentional about nurturing our children during this transitional stage. We want to offer a time to gather for fun, fellowship, and diving into God’s Word, as well as a chance to come alongside parents as we equip our kids with the knowledge of how to grow through all of the dramatic changes in a peaceful, godly way. May they keep their focus on God as they continue to develop their identity in him!
Questions? Contact Robin Bedinger
Sunday Mornings:
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Basement
During the school year, Club 56 will meet on Sunday mornings from 9:30-10:30 in our dedicated space, the basement. To ensure the teaching team and students can get to the 11 o'clock service in a timely fashion, we close the basement down at 10:45. Using a curriculum created by Disciplr, our team of wonderful volunteers leads our students through God's Big Story in fun and creative ways.
The 2025–2026 Sunday morning teaching team: Robin Bedinger, Ruth Erickson, David Lynch, and Matt Markham.
Wednesday Evenings:
6:45 – 7:45 p.m.
Basement
During the school year, Club 56 meets on Wednesday evenings from 6:45–7:45 in the basement. These meetings are a scaled-down version of our Sunday night student ministry gatherings to prepare them for what they'll experience when they move into the Student Ministry. They’ll enjoy game time, large group lesson time and then end their time in small groups.
The first Wednesday of each month is "Fun Night," a time filled with extra games when students are encouraged to invite other 5th and 6th grade friends.
The 2025-2026 Wednesday evening volunteer leaders are: Robin Bedinger, Doug Brown, Tracie Meadows, Beth Sprinkle, and high school students: Jack Allen, Eva Brown, Clarke Garrett, Aurelia Hassler, Caroline Piepgrass.
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. ”
How can parents serve as loving support for their children during this transitional stage?
Demonstrate unconditional love for who they are, rather than what they do.
Serve as a confidant and friend, while most importantly remaining their parent.
Listen more than lecture; rather than dictate conclusions or discount “silly” ideas, use questions and thoughtful responses to coach your child’s thinking as you help him or her learn to think and speak clearly as they find a solution.
Spiritual maturity is often born out of struggle. If your child begins to wrestle with the faith, consider this a potential step forward on the road to spiritual growth. It is important to encourage thought-provoking questions and honest discussions about values, morals, and faith. It is through this process of exploration and discovery that our children begin to shift from adopting their family’s worldview to owning their faith and therefore entering into adulthood with a deeper, more secure and authentic foundation of faith.
Carve out quality time to spend together. Consider having a weekend away with your emerging teenager to discuss topics such as purity and integrity.
Be willing to be vulnerable; share areas where God has worked or is working in your own life. Our children need to know that we have problems too as they develop a realistic picture of adult life. Sharing our troubles gives us an opportunity to model with our teens how to rely on God and his strength.
Remember the power of encouragement. Our children need to have encouraging words replay in their minds as they face the difficult challenges of life.
Pray with your child about specific issues and together you will witness how God cares for them and answers prayers on their behalf.