Refuge (Confirmation)
Christus Victor’s Youth Ministry MISSION:
We meet students where they are at with belonging, support, and grace.
Christus Victor’s Youth Ministry MOTTO:
Let’s tackle life together.
What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8
A 3-Year Youth Ministry Experience helping 6th, 7th, and 8th graders say “YES" to God, who said "YES" to you in your baptisms. It’s about being a servant with a servant heart!
Why REFUGE?
Great question! Refuge is more than just checking a box for your faith. Refuge is about…
Friends in community
Belonging
Loving the Lord
Someone making you come and you leaving, wanting more
Growing into being Lutheran
Coming with questions and leaving with new ideas and perspective
Refuge is about being a servant with a servant heart
How may I serve and grow in knowledge and faith?
Take part in SERVANT EVENTS, on and off site
Go to Lutherdale to retreat together
Do 5 sermon notes per year, with Pastor Melanie’s intentional feedback/dialogue
Support each other, especially when we do our 10 Team Servants:
Everyone acolytes and assists with communion, but we also get to choose to be on two of the following teams: greeter, usher, reader, Rizen band, fellowship, Sunday School, Sunday School Starters, or gardening.
Show up to serve during Lent, the time of reflection before Easter .
refuge at Christus Victor Lutheran Church
6th – 8th Grade from 6:00 – 7:45 p.m. during the school year
Refuge is a place to call home. It is a sanctuary from the stress, a reprieve from the restlessness, a support for your story of faith. Jesus is who we need, and Jesus is who we’ll seek. Together. Throughout our time together, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students will grow to be equipped to say YES to God, who said YES to us in our baptisms.
Refuge will begin at 6pm on Wednesdays in community. Cell phones will be in their caddy, and we’ll hang together for ½ hour before teaching and small group time. We’ll play ping pong, 9 Square, or throw a football around. We’ll play board games or do homework. We’ll sit and talk, together, with Jesus and with each other.
Nightly Schedule
6:00-6:30 Refuge Community with Intention. It starts here! (NEW for 2026-2027, pizza will only be offered on special occasions. Please ensure your student is fed beforehand)
6:30-6:35 Gathering Activity
6:40-7:00 Teaching Time
7:00-7:40 Small Groups
7:40-7:45 Back for Large Group Final Blessing
To Support the ministry, we ask families to make a donation of $40 per student every year to help cover the many costs associated with this ministry. Additional donations to the ministry are gratefully accepted. No student will be turned away, and friends are always welcome.
If you have any questions or concerns about Refuge, please contact Pastor Melanie Potuznik at melanie.potuznik@cvlutheran.org.
Meet Your Coordinator
Melanie Potuznik
BIO
Education:
- BA at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN
- Master of Divinity at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
- Certificate of Organizational Leadership at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Interests/Hobbies: Running; walking in the woods with my family and dog, Coco; being outside
Passions: Africa, Encouraging an urgency for the gospel in everyday life, Helping organizations to become more missional
Goals for 2026-2027: Empower. Imagine. Love. Live for Christ!
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve. Thank you for entrusting me with your students’ learning and growth. Thank you for supporting your 6th, 7th, and 8th graders on their faith journeys, and thanks a lot for bringing them (and their friends!) to Refuge every week.