A WELCOMING SPACE

Middle and high school years can be a challenging time for young people. FORGE is here to make a difference in their lives. For students in grades 6 through 12, this ministry provides a safe, fun, and welcoming place to encounter God, form healthy friendships, and serve the church and community.

FORGE is a collaboration between Brookdale Christian Church and Esperanza de Vida, which worships on the Brookdale campus. As like-minded neighbors, we merged our youth ministries to collectively invest in the next generation. We are proud that our united youth group is truly building something special together! Join our weekly youth group on Wednesday evenings and for special events throughout the year.

Using our talents to share the gospel at the 2023 Spring Showcase

FORGE MISSION

Guiding youth to have a personal relationship with God.

FORGE VALUES:

Fellowship: Gathering for friendship, uniting through activities, fun, and food.
Respect: Showing kindness and respect by listening and being inclusive. Our message to each member is, “You are valued!”
Uniqueness: As God’s children, each student is created for a purpose and together form a diverse body of believers. FORGE fosters each member’s personal relationship with God and a desire to use talents and passions to His glory and to serve others.
Service: As we each grow in God, we are called to help others and bring hope and light to the world. FORGE inspires in each student a servant heart and provides opportunities to meet the needs of the church and the broader community.

BEHIND THE NAME

When we set out to name our group, we were looking for a high-energy name that could convey a diverse group of people coming together to know God, grow together, serve others, and make great things happen. To forge means to create something, often through fire and hammering. Forge, as a noun, is the workshop or place where forging happens.

At FORGE, our young people are coming together to change, grow, serve, and have a positive impact. FORGE communicates many things: the process of standing together as two church communities, the personal process of being shaped by getting to know the Lord and each other in the walk of life, and the process of building something powerful together to benefit our churches and community.

It’s WEDNESDAY. bring your “pb&J!”

During the school year, we host our weekly gathering on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm in the White Building. Kids enjoy food, fellowship, and fun, while also learning more about the Lord through a Bible study message. We ask students to bring their “PB&J”—a pen, Bible, and journal—to help guide their encounter with the Lord. Throughout the year, we host a range of speakers and discuss lessons from the Alpha series, presenting the basics of Christianity and biblical doctrine. Each week we help the students apply these lessons to their own lives, inviting honest conversation about the world and real topics that affect our teens today. Together we are learning, coping, rejoicing, and growing.

adventures year-round

We host special events throughout the year on and off our campus, including bonfires, barbecues, video game rallys, movie nights, bowling, paintball, and more. An annual highlight is our winter weekend retreat. The youth also produce and present a spring performance to showcase their talents as they share the Gospel. In the summers, FORGE Fridays give us a chance to gather every few weeks to stay connected, have a little fun, and continue serving while school’s out. Join us for our next adventure! (View calendar.)

*FORGE volunteers helping out at BCC Kids Worship on a Sunday morning.*

serving our churches & community

Service is at the heart of FORGE’s mission, the natural outgrowth of a community of young people who are growing closer to the Lord and each other. As a ministry, FORGE is investing in our young people as tomorrow’s leaders.

We look for opportunities to serve our churches, including helping with Sunday morning Worship, volunteering in the BCC Kids Worship (Sunday School), and assisting the congregation as it hosts special events. We also perform in Sunday Worship to use our artistic talents to express our love for the Lord. Throughout the year, we also seek opportunities to help meet the needs of our neighbors through community service projects, such as food drives and backpack-filling events.

*Amanda Pinales, Youth Ministry Director*

OUR FEARLESS LEADER

Meet Amanda Pinales, our talented and passionate Youth Ministry Director. Born of Puerto Rican parents, Amanda was the oldest of four children raised by her mother in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Amanda studied forensic psychology at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the Manhattan Psychiatric Center. Her background has prepared her well for the challenges of leading a youth ministry. “We have to be understanding and non-judgmental, good listeners. My goal is to foster an environment that feels inclusive and safe, in which each student feels valued.”

A local Bloomfield resident, Amanda is a devoted wife and mother to three boys. “My family is my pride and joy,” she says. Juggling her many roles, Amanda’s favorite Bible verse points to what sustains her: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

EMAIL AMANDA