United Methodist Church

read moreMethodists believe we are called to practice the teachings of Jesus Christ in the world around us - and to inspire others to join us in this pursuit. Methodism itself was founded by John Wesley and his brother Charles in 1729 in Oxford, England. Methodism as a popular movement dates from 1738, when the Wesley brothers began preaching and attracting like-minded followers. In 1744 the first annual conference was held and the Articles of Religion were drawn up with emphasis on repentance, faith, sanctification, and the privilege of full, free salvation for everyone, an important distinction in class-conscious England.

read moreOur youth enjoy showing the love of Christ to others by serving them in various ways and through various projects. Just as many of the members of our congregation actively participate in outreach ministry, so do our youth. It is rewarding to know that we can make a difference in our community and world. Mission Involvement: In addition to Wednesday and annual service and outreach projects, we schedule periodic weekend outreach activities, such as Crop Walk, 30-hour famine, Many Mansions' Bowls of Hope, World Vision Hoops of Hope, prayer scarves, and Manna drives.

read moreImportance of Worship: In the midst of our modern family's extremely busy schedules, we value worship as being a central point of our week. We come together to take a much needed pause from all activity, and give thanks to our God who created everything! It's an amazing spiritual practice that we believe our souls long for. This ritual is a reminder that we are part of a spiritual community of faith that includes all ages and stages of faith. We believe that encouraging this spiritual time with our youth is good for their souls, and good for our community!

read moreWe invite you to join us: Welcome to the UMC Thousand Oaks Youth Ministry! All young people in Grades 6-12 are invited to join in one or all of the may facets of our youth ministry. We know this time of life can be a difficult one, and so our church provides loving and caring mentors who listen, teach, and care deeply about the lives of our youth. We learn about our faith, we allow time for questions, and we practice our faith together! Youth are Valued: We value the gifts and passions that our teenagers bring to our Church community.

read moreHowever, Methodists believe that none of these statements matter if they don't make a difference in your life. The life of following Jesus is practical, spiritual, intellectual, and at times confounding.