Confirmation Class of 2026!

When you were baptized—maybe as a baby—your family and church promised to help you grow in faith. Now that you're older, confirmation is your opportunity to explore what it means to follow Jesus and be part of the church. It’s a time to ask big questions, learn the story of God’s love, and discover how your faith connects with your everyday life. Or maybe you haven’t been baptized yet. Totally fine! You get to explore that too.

At the end of confirmation, you can decide for yourself: “Do I want to claim this faith as my own?” If you say yes, you’ll make a public commitment in a worship gathering and become a full member of the church. If you’re not sure, it’s okay! It’s not about having all the answers—it’s about being curious, showing up, and taking your next step in a lifelong journey with God.

How does it work?

We’ll gather on specific Sundays throughout the 2025-2026 school year for lunch, conversations, projects, games & time to hang out. It’s basically like our regular youth group with a more focused lesson time included! Our pastors and other leaders will help us explore great conversations about life and faith. We’re inviting friends from multiple churches to bring lunch. You’ll get paired with an awesome mentor who you’ll meet with four times during the year. We know life happens! You can make up classes you meet by connecting with the teacher for that week.

Gatherings

Classes open to all teens in 6-12th grade. We meet in the lower level of the MICAH building unless noted otherwise. Sundays from 12:30-2:30 pm. Lunch provided.

September 21, 12:30-1:30 pm | Parent, Teen & Mentor Pizza Meeting

September 28

October 26

November 9

November 23

January 11

January 16-18 - Retreat (Tentative)

January 25

February 8

February 22

March 8

April 12 - Confirmation Sunday!

Questions? Contact Jenny at pastorjenny@opendoorchurches.org!

Open to All 6-12th graders!

Gaming Group
October 5, November 2, December 7, January 4, February 1, March 1

Salem Youth Collective Activities
Meets at St. Paul’s Episcopal in Salem from 12:30-2:30 pm unless otherwise noted

Sept 21 - Kick Off!
Oct 12 - Belonging gathering
Oct 19 - Pumpkin Patch
Nov 16 - Friendsgiving & Roller Skating
March 15 - Laser Tag

Life is busy. Why does this kind of space matter for me?

Teenagers need spaces where they feel safe, accepted, and understood—and we can create that when teens, parents & adults work together!

1. A Place to Be Yourself

You’re figuring out who you are, and that can feel messy sometimes. In this youth group, you don’t have to pretend to be someone you’re not. It’s a space where your questions, doubts, and unique personality are welcome.

2. Belonging, No Matter What

Everyone wants to feel like they belong somewhere. In this youth group, it doesn’t matter what you look like, who you love, or where you come from—you’re accepted just as you are.

3. Ask Big Questions

Do you ever wonder, Why do bad things happen? What’s my purpose? or How does faith fit into everything I care about? In youth group, you can talk about those big, tough questions without being told what to think.

4. Faith That Makes Sense

It’s not just about memorizing rules or stories. It’s about connecting faith to real-life stuff, like justice, climate change, and treating people with kindness. You’ll learn how your beliefs can help make the world a better place.

5. Support When Life Gets Hard

If you’re stressed, anxious, or just having a tough time, this is a place where people care about you and want to help. Your mental health matters just as much as your spiritual growth.

6. Faith That Cares About Everyone

You might see things in the world that feel unfair or wrong—youth group is about finding ways to make a difference. It’s about a faith that’s active, not just words, and helps others in real, meaningful ways.

7. Real Connections

You’ll meet people who “get it,” whether that’s other teens going through similar stuff or adults who care and want to support you without judging you.

Kellan-David
he/him
loves dry ramen
”I love all things Disney.”

Melissa Wager
she/her
loves chips & guacamole
”I’ve been a vegetarian since I was 10 years old.”

Sydney Jolly
she/her
loves cheez-its
”I’ve been to over 50 concerts!”

Jenny Smith
she/her
loves chocolate & caramel ice cream
”I played trombone for a year in middle school.”

Meet the Team

Rob Keller
he/him

Aaron Smith
he/him

Christy LaFleur
she/her