This Is Their Crew
A place for middle school and high school students to belong, grow, and figure out faith with people who actually get it. This is how we reach and connect the next generation to Jesus.
The Teen Years Are Hard. This Helps.
If you’ve got a teenager, you already know: the years between 12 and 18 are some of the most formative – and some of the most fragile – of a person’s life. The friendships they make, the questions they wrestle with, the communities they belong to right now are shaping who they’ll be at 25.
RVC Students exists to be part of that formation for the better.
This is not a babysitting service or a “keep them out of trouble” program. It’s a real community, led by real adults who invest personally in the students here. Your teen will be known by name, challenged to think, and welcomed exactly as they are.
For the teenager reading this:
You don’t have to have it figured out. You don’t have to know anyone yet. You don’t have to be the church kid who’s been memorizing Bible verses since kindergarten.
You just have to show up. Everything else gets figured out from there.
7th Grade Through 12th. All of It.
Middle School (7th–8th Grade)
Middle school is its own kind of chaos — and your teenager knows it. RVC Students meets middle schoolers with energy, humor, and leaders who genuinely like this age group (yes, those people exist). This is where they start building a faith that’s their own, not just their parents’.
High School (9th–12th Grade)
High schoolers get treated like the young adults they almost are. The conversations go deeper, the challenges are more direct, and the community is the kind that sticks around after graduation. This is where students start figuring out what they actually believe — and why.
What Your Teen’s Week Looks Like
Everything we do is built around one goal: students who know who they are, know what they believe, and have a community that shows up for them.
DWELL, Wednesday Nights
The highlight of the week.
Worship, teaching built for teenagers, and honest conversations that don’t happen in a classroom. Dwell is where your teen finds their people and starts owning their faith.
First-timers: Check in on the tablets in the entryway.
Small Groups
Where they stop performing and start being real.
Same-grade, same-gender groups led by a trained adult volunteer. The space where a student can say what they’re actually thinking without judgment and find out someone else is going through the exact same thing.
- Real conversations, not lectures
- Friendships within a smaller, trusted circle
- A consistent adult who knows your student’s story
Impact Weekend
A weekend that changes the trajectory of a school year.
RVC Students’ annual retreat — a weekend away from school, screens, and routine. Fellowship, worship, service projects, and a guest speaker in an environment built for focus and connection.
Students come back different. New friendships get locked in. Old barriers come down.
Student Camp
Five days. The kind of conversations that change everything.
Five days at Timberline Baptist Camp in Lindale, TX — built for the big questions teenagers carry but don’t always have a safe place to put down. Worship, honest teaching, small group time, and real fun with people you actually like.
Payment plans available. Don’t let cost be the barrier.
Serving
They’re not the church of tomorrow. They’re the church right now.
Students at RVC serve on Sunday morning teams, lead at events, go on mission projects, and are given real responsibility in the life of the church.
- Sunday morning teams (worship production, greeting, kids ministry)
- Community outreach events
- Mission projects and service days
- Student leadership opportunities
Adults Who Actually Show Up for Your Teen
The quality of a student ministry is determined by its leaders — not its programs.
Our adult volunteers are vetted, trained people who choose to spend their Wednesday nights with teenagers. They do it because they know what it means to have an adult in your corner at 16 — and they want to be that for your teen.
Every adult leader commits to:
- Background checks and safety training
- Consistent weekly presence
- Knowing students by name, not just by face
- Following up when a student misses
- Maintaining appropriate boundaries and accountability
Parents Who Made the Leap
“My son didn’t want to go the first time. I practically had to drag him. By the second week, he was asking me if it was Wednesday yet. The leaders know his name, they check on him, and he actually talks about what he’s learning — which never happened before.”
— Sarah M., Bastrop TX
“We moved here not knowing anyone. My daughter found her people at RVC Students within a month. The small group leaders aren’t just there on Wednesdays — they show up at her games, text her during the week. That’s not a program. That’s community.”
— David & Kim R., Bastrop TX
“Impact Weekend changed something in my son. He came home and started conversations we’d been trying to have for a year. Whatever happened that weekend, it stuck. I’m grateful for the adults who made it happen.”
— Jenna T., Bastrop TX
Questions Parents Ask Before They Drop Them Off
You’re trusting us with the most important people in your life. These are the questions we hear most.
My teenager says they don’t want to go. What do I do?
Bring them anyway – once. Most students who resist going end up not wanting to leave. The first Wednesday is the hardest. Teenagers are wired to resist things before they try them, especially in new social environments. Our leaders know how to make a new student feel less like an outsider fast. Give it one try.
What if my teen isn’t religious or doesn’t know anything about the Bible?
That’s not a problem – it’s actually the norm. Most of our students are somewhere on the spectrum between “curious” and “skeptical,” and our leaders are comfortable with all of it. We don’t require anything except showing up. No background knowledge, no prior church experience, no religious prerequisites.
How do you handle student safety and boundaries between adults and teenagers?
Every adult volunteer is background-checked before they ever work with students. Our leaders are trained on appropriate boundaries – one-on-one conversations don’t happen in private spaces, digital communication with students follows clear guidelines, and we have an accountability structure so no adult is ever alone with a student without another adult present. If you ever have a concern, Austin wants to hear it.
My teenager has anxiety. Will they be okay in a group environment?
Tell Austin before they come. Seriously – it helps us help them. Our leaders are experienced with students who need extra time to warm up, who struggle in large group settings, or who need a quieter entry point. We won’t force participation, and we won’t let your teen sit alone in a corner. We’ll connect them with a leader who can walk alongside them at their pace.
What does Wednesday night actually look like? How long is it?
Students arrive, there’s open hangout time, then a structured program that includes games, worship, a message, and small groups. It moves fast. Most students wish it was longer.
Can I volunteer or get involved as a parent?
Yes. Austin is always looking for adults who want to invest in this generation. If you’re interested in volunteering – whether that’s leading a small group, helping with events, or behind-the-scenes support – reach out directly: austin@myrivervalley.church.
What if my teen is going through something hard right now – depression, family stuff, friend drama?
That’s exactly the kind of thing RVC Students is built for. Our leaders are trained to listen, not fix. If something comes up that’s beyond what we’re equipped to handle, we’ll help connect your family with pastoral care and professional resources. Your teen doesn’t have to be in a good season to belong here.
Is there anything for my teen beyond Wednesday nights?
Yes – Impact Weekend, Student Camp, Sunday serving opportunities, service projects, and more throughout the year. The more a student engages, the deeper their community goes. Austin can walk you through what makes sense based on your teen’s age and interests.
How do I stay connected to what my teen is learning?
We’ll always have something for you to continue the conversation at home – because what happens in the room on Wednesday matters most when it shows up at your dinner table.
What’s the best way to reach the student pastor with a question?
Email is best: austin@myrivervalley.church. He responds quickly and would rather hear from you than have you wonder.
Here’s Exactly What to Expect the First Time
Drop Them Off
Arrive at River Valley Church during the Wednesday evening window.
They Check In as a New Student
Look for the New Student table in the lobby. A leader will greet your teen personally and walk them into the room.
There’s Already Something Happening
They’ll walk into activity, not awkward silence. Games or hangout time fills the opening window so new students have something to do immediately.
Leaders Are Watching for New Faces
Our team is trained to notice when someone is new and make sure they don’t spend the night feeling like an outsider.
You Pick Them Up at the End
Ask your teen what happened on the drive home. They’ll have something to say.
Stay Connected with RV Students
Follow us on social media and subscribe to our parent newsletter for weekly updates.
Wednesday Is the Best Night to Start
Every Wednesday Night • 6:30–8:30 PM • Cafe Opens at 6:00 PM
No sign-up required. No prep needed. Just bring your teenager and let us do the rest.
River Valley Church – 1224 HWY 71 W, Bastrop, TX 78602 · 512.308.2570
More Ways to Get Connected
Student Camp 2026
Five days at Timberline Baptist Camp in Lindale. June 20–24. Payment plans available.
See Camp Details →RVC Kids
Younger siblings from 6 weeks through 6th grade have their own home at River Valley too.
RVC Kids →Sunday Mornings
Students are always welcome at the main service — and there’s a spot for them to serve on the Sunday team.
Plan Your Visit →