F P C F + P I P E

C O N F I R M A T I O N

Register for the 2024 Cohort

If your child’s birth year is between 2006-2010, they are eligible for registration for the Confirmation 2024 Cohort. Use the form below to register your child and indicate your interest. Registration materials (personal workbook, handouts, binder) will be provided at no cost. Suggested donation is $25.

Confirmation Leaders

  • Joseph Novak

    SENIOR PASTOR

    Joseph has served FPCF as Senior Pastor since 2016. He is a Flint native who attended college in Grand Rapids and seminary in Los Angeles. He previously served as Pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Ithaca, Michigan before serving at FPCF. Joseph and his wife, Katie, have four delightful and energetic boys with one more on the way!

  • Paul Ytterock

    ASSOCIATE PASTOR

    Paul has served FPCF as Associate Pastor since 2008. He is a Detroit native who attended seminary at Western Theological Seminary while serving at First Presbyterian Church of Dearborn. Paul and his wife, Luz, have two sons, and two delightful grandchildren who live in Colorado.

Confirmation FAQs

What is Confirmation?

Confirmation is a two-year process of spiritual preparation and discipleship designed for middle and high school students to assist them in making a personal and public commitment to Christian faith.

Why does it take two years?

Because we plan to meet once-per-month and take a break during the summers, we need to spread out the cohort across two school years. This helps our confirmands become familiar to the congregation and to the church in general! Plus, as we all know, time flies!

What curriculum are we using?

We use the re:form curriculum from Sparkhouse Publishing as our base confirmation curriculum. This curriculum has short, creative videos to introduce each section, a clever workbook for students to complete, and is an excellent introduction to the essentials of Christian faith.

What is a “confirmand?”

A confirmand is a person enrolled in a confirmation cohort. It’s church-speak for “student-participant.” Confirmands have an important role in Sunday worship and are expected to assist in our weekly breakfast program on Sunday mornings.

What if my child isn’t baptized yet?

While the normal mode of operations is for confirmation to take place with students who were previously baptized, we understand that not all confirmands were baptized as infants. For those students, the confirmation service at the end of the two-year cohort will include the sacrament of baptism. Students previously baptized will be blessed, but not re-baptized.

What is a “cohort?”

We think Confirmation is best done with others, especially with peers. Being able to ask questions and sort through issues with fellow confirmands is a vital part of confirmation classes.

What is my role as a parent?

The most important thing you can do as a parent is to pray for your confirmand. Pray that they would be equipped to wrestle with Scripture and that they would learn the way of Jesus and practice it in their lives. The next most important thing you can do is commit to being a part of our church community. Show up to worship weekly, attend faith formation classes and Bible studies, get connected to mission opportunities—show your confirmand what Christian faith looks like. Finally, commit to getting your confirmand to required meetings. Make confirmation a priority!