Mission + Values
Equipping the Church So That All Students Know Jesus.
Gospel-Centered:
Our identity is informed by the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ.
Spirit-Empowered:
When we encounter Jesus through our obedience to the Spirit’s leading, we are empowered to demonstrate the gospel.
Personally-Responsible:
We engage in the mission of God when we love Christ, serve others, and proclaim the gospel.
Staff
Matt Hoag
Church Ministries/District Youth Director
matt.hoag@ag4sc.com
Matthew and Kasandra Hoag have been serving in full time ministry since 2013. Matt is from Summerville, SC, and Kasandra is from Worcester, MA. They met and graduated from Southeastern University in Lakeland, FL, and started their ministry together at Lake Wylie Christian in Lake Wylie, SC, where Matt was the youth pastor for 7 years and Kasandra was a Kindergarten teacher at WCCS in Rock Hill, SC. They are blessed with 3 amazing children.
Their heart is to see the next generation realize that the best possible life they can live is in a relationship with Jesus Christ. They have been serving in the SC AG District Office since February 2020 and are excited to serve and see all that God will do through the AG churches and ministries in South Carolina.
Upcoming Events
SC YouthCon and Fine Arts
Christian Life Church, Columbia
Resources
Scholarships
Eligibility for all Scholarships and Grants:
Those planning on attending, currently attending or graduate of AG endorsed college
Those currently attending an Assemblies of God church
District Youth Director Scholarship—Evangel University (up to $1,000)
Eligibility
- 3.0 high School Grade point average
- Displays maturity and leadership qualities
- One -Time award
- Name must be submitted by Pastor/Youth Pastor to DYD
- Submit by February 15, 2021
For more info, contact DYD Matt Hoag
District Youth Director Scholarship—North Central University ($1,000)
Eligibility
- 3.0 high School Grade point average
- Displays maturity and leadership qualities
- One -Time award
- Name must be submitted by Pastor/Youth Pastor to DYD
- Submit by University Deadline
District Youth Director Scholarship—Southeastern University ($1,000)
Eligibility
- Entering Freshman for Fall of this year
- Displays maturity and leadership qualities
- Awarded one -time per year for 4 years
- Name must be submitted by Pastor/Youth Pastor to DYD
- Submit by University Deadline
For more info contact District Youth Director: Matt Hoag
District Youth Director Scholarship—Nelson University (up to $1,000)
Eligibility
- 3.0 high School Grade point average
- Displays maturity and leadership qualities
- One -Time award
- Name must be submitted by Pastor/Youth Pastor to DYD
- Submit by University Deadline
For more info, contact DYD Matt Hoag
District Youth Director Scholarship - University of Valley Forge (up to $4,000)
Eligibility
- 2.0 GPA High School
- First time entering freshmen or transfer students
- One Time Award
- App must be submitted to DYD
- Submit by end February
Fine Arts Scholarship - University of Valley Forge (up to $2,500)
Fine Arts – Valley Forge Scholorship
Eligibility
- Must have received an “Excellent,” “Superior,” “Top 10,” or “Award of Merit” rating at the national level or “Superior with Invitation” at the District level during high school.
- Award based on hight achievement in each category attained throuoght high school career.
- A copy of award certificate must turned in wtih Application. or form must be verified and signed by DYD
JBQ Scholarship - University of Valley Forge (up to $3,000)
JBQ Scholarship University of Valley Forge
Eligibility
- Can earn one Team, one Top 6 Quizzer, and one National Meorization Bible Quiz Scholarship
- A Copy of the Certificate of Achievement must be retruned with this Application or this form must be verified and signed by the DYD
J. Robert Ashcroft National Youth Scholarship Program (Up to $8,000)
Nov. 1 – Feb. 1
Awards
- First: $8,000 ($4,000 for 2 semesters)
- Second: $4,000 ($2,000 for 2 semesters)
- Third: $2,000 ($1,000 for 2 semesters)
Please reference the Assemblies of God Youth Department office’s guidelines.
Eligibility
- High school senior planning on attending an AG endorsed college
- Proficient in four areas
- Academic achievement
- Extracurricular activities
- Christian service
- Christian character
Ethnic Minority Scholarship (Approx. $200 - $1,000)
Sept. 15 – Feb. 1
Awards
$200 – $1,000 (Varies according to need and school funds)
Our colleges desire a wealth of cultural diversity throughout the student body, and the Ethnic Minority Scholarship provides financial assistance to students who otherwise could not afford costs associated with the school in which they are enrolled. The Financial Aid Director from your college can help you fill out the application. Please turn it into your Financial Aid Director once you are finished, and good luck!
Eligibility
- Currently enrolled in an AG endorsed college
- Classify as an ethnic minority
AG Next Generation Grant (Up to $24,000)
June 15 – Sept. 15
Awards
$24,000 (Up to $400 per month for five consecutive years in full-time AG ministerial service)
When our students graduate and find a ministerial position, some find that they cannot afford their educational loan payments with their income. The AG Next Generation Grant provides a boost to your loan payments, enabling you to stay in the ministry and serve without such a large financial burden. We desire our AG alumni to follow their ministerial calling without financial stress!
Eligibility
- Graduated (between 2013 – 2018) from ministry program with degree from AG endorsed college
- Incurred educational loan(s) from AG endorsed college (loan payments still in good standing)
- Credentialed AG minister participating in District events or activities and has worked in full-time ministry for at least one year
Riggs Scholarships (Up to $30,000)
Nov. 15 – Feb. 15
Awards
$30,000 each (awarded over 4 years)
$5,000 each (awarded over 2 semesters)
To help our high school seniors attend our quality schools, the Assemblies of God institutions and departments created the Riggs Scholarships, named after former General Superintendent Ralph Riggs, an early advocate for higher education in our AG Fellowship. Riggs, a formal faculty member at two of our colleges, believed that every high school graduate should have the opportunity to attend an AG endorsed college.
- Ten high school senior semi-finalists chosen
- Two (one male, one female) of ten semi-finalists selected to receive General Superintendent National Scholarships (GSNS) (up to $30,000 each)
- The final eight receive one-time $5,000 scholarships
Eligibility
- High school senior planning on attending an AG endorsed college
- Demonstrate leadership potential through involvement in an AG church, school, and community
- Minimum GPA of 3.7 (unweighted 4.0 scale) or an ACT score of 28/36 or an SAT score of 1870/2400
- Demonstrate a dedicated walk with God and a commitment to use his/her gifts toward Kingdom expansion
J. Edward Blount Summer Camp Scholarship
Click Here to download
The concept is simple: we give so others can speed the light of the gospel to a world in darkness. This is accomplished by providing the “essential transportation and creative communication” equipment for missionary evangelism. Through modern transportation, radio, television, print, audio, and digital equipment, our missionaries can help make Jesus known.
Speed the Light is the student-initiated, volunteer, charitable program that provides much-needed equipment to missionaries across the nation and in over 180 countries around the world. It began in 1944 after Ralph Harris, then head of the National Youth Ministries department, prayed for a way to give Assemblies of God students the opportunity to help missionaries in their work.
Nearly 75 years later, Speed the Light is one of the most effective youth missions ministries in existence. Since its beginning, over $300 million has been raised for missionary equipment around the world. And, Speed the Light is still helping to disciple students to live a life of generosity as they become personally responsible for the mission of God by helping our missionaries make Jesus known throughout the world.
Speed the Light operates with one guiding principle: all assistance must go to purchase equipment directly related to evangelism (“evangelism” is defined as propagating the gospel and instructing converts). Speed the Light equipment has not been nor is presently given for promotion, solicitation, or normal administrative functions.
If our missionaries are going to get to those who do not yet know Jesus, it will be because of Speed the Light. Every missionary in the Assemblies of God will at some point fly, drive, or float to their destination in transportation that has been provided to them by our churches and students through Speed the Light. Airplanes, cars, vans, motorcycles, bicycles, trucks, buses, boats, horses, camels, donkeys, wheel barrows, etc…if it has wheels or hooves and can carry a missionary to a country, city, town, village, or under a card board box where someone is waiting to hear about Jesus, Speed the Light has provided it.
Simply put, we give so our missionaries can travel faster, preach clearer, and be heard louder in order for all to know Jesus.
Current South Carolina Speed The Light Projects
Sumba House of Hope/Business as Missions – 36648
Ken Owen Jr STL Vehicle – 36441
Jimmy Sellers STL Vehicle – 36564
Hillcrest Family Services Foster Families Vehicle – 36465
World Serve Water Wells – 36340
Project Rescue – 36493 or 36494
To receive Speed The Light giving credit, offerings must be postmarked by December 31.
Offerings should be sent directly to STL: 1445 Boonville Ave., Springfield, MO 65802
Get Involved
Contact your Youth Pastor to see how you can get involved with Speed The Light!
We would love to hear from you.
Address:
South Carolina Youth Ministries
101 Medical Circle, Suite B
West Columbia, SC 29169
Phone:
Office 803.936.0541
Fax 803.936.1570