Student Ministry Updates
Hey Parents,
Now that we are approaching the hectic holidays, I just wanted to give you all a quick update on where we are headed over the next couple months and into next year.
We want to help students take steps towards Jesus. We do this by trying to balance three things: connecting them to the church, giving them opportunities to connect with one another and equipping you with information, tools and resources.
So let me equip you with some information.
February 15-16 we will be taking the Jr. Highers down to Believe at NKU. This is an event that will include high energy worship, KJ-52 (a rapper), a magician, and amazing speakers. We will be doing an indoor campout that night at the church and we will attempt to fly kites (as per tradition) on that Saturday. Cost is $100/ student. That includes registration for the event, the camp out, bedtime story, Late-night pizza, breakfast on the 16th, and a kite. Payment and Registration Forms are due by Sunday, January 13th. We will meet at the church at 5:30 pm on the 15th and be back around 4:45 pm on Saturday.
March Exact dates have not been announced yet, but we are planning on taking our high schoolers to Ignite again this year at Woodland Lakes. The cost will be about $100 per student which includes registration and all meals. It will be a Friday to Sunday event that will include high energy worship and great speakers.
These type of events are spiritually significant in the lives of teenagers and I would greatly encourage you to sign your student up to go. If money is an issue, let me know. Please do not allow this to be the reason you do not send your student. There are options if you just let us know.
Just a quick snapshot of boot for you:
We come together and spend about 45 minutes playing some games, worshipping and having a teaching time where we will talk briefly about the book of John, focusing on the people that surround Jesus and how they react to Him. Then we will split into groups (based roughly around age and sex)- and this is what I am so pumped for.
Each group receives a pile of cards that have different questions, Bible readings, games, prayer activities, etc. If you are passed a card, you lead that part of the group. So your card says, "Read John 1:1 Aloud." You can do that or you can decide to pick someone else to read. Each group has an adult there to keep things in line but the students get to practice leading in a very nonthreatening way.
If a student brings a friend, that friend is automatically in their group. And once a student is assigned to a group, they will stay in that group unless the group gets too large. Even then, they will stay with some of the same people. That applies as long as we do boot. So if we are still doing this same program in 7 years, they will still be in a group with some of the same people. So they won't have to meet ten new people every week and be expected to open up in front of them.
The first week students will be asked to identify themselves in their development of discipeship. We have identified five stages to becoming a disciple of Jesus in the gospels: The Observer, The Seeker, The Believer, The Worker, The Discipler. So once the student identifies, "I am a Seeker," they will pick up a Button and a Card that helps them think through some steps they can take to move to the Believer. The goal is not for them to associate any of these stages with failure, but to honestly assess where they are, so they can keep taking steps towards Jesus.
Throughout the program they have the opportunity to change buttons when they feel like they have gone from questioning to believing or from believing to doing, etc.
One more note on this service, if your student wants to come, but you need help getting them there, just let me know and we will try to hook you up with some sort of carpool.
On November 15-18, we will have the opportunity to attend the International Conference on Missions for free. This is a really cool event for students so be sure to meet us at the church on Saturday November 17th with your student at 8:30 am so we can carpool down together.
Friendsgiving
On November 29th, I am inviting any 6th-12th grader to participate in a potluck at my house from 5:30 pm - 8 pm. We will provide Fried Chicken as a main dish. If your student would like to participate, have them sign up here with what they will bring.
New Year's Eve Dance Party
It is happening again. We are going to dance in the new year. We will have inflatables in the sanctuary, food, fun games, karaoke, prizes, and of course we will count down into the new year and then dance like no one is watching. Last year was tons of fun and we can't wait to do it again. 8 pm on December 31st - 12:30 am January 1st.
Youtube Live Parent's Meeting
On January 9th at 9 pm we will be doing a Youtube Live Parent's Meeting. We will cover upcoming events, there will be time for you to ask questions, and we will talk through three new year's resolutions you can make that will help your family grow spiritually in 2019. You won't want to miss it.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns on any of this stuff, feel free to email me (eric@bridgetownchurch.com) or give me a call at the church.
Eric
Now that we are approaching the hectic holidays, I just wanted to give you all a quick update on where we are headed over the next couple months and into next year.
We want to help students take steps towards Jesus. We do this by trying to balance three things: connecting them to the church, giving them opportunities to connect with one another and equipping you with information, tools and resources.
So let me equip you with some information.
1. Weekend Retreats
We have two weekend trips coming up in February and March.February 15-16 we will be taking the Jr. Highers down to Believe at NKU. This is an event that will include high energy worship, KJ-52 (a rapper), a magician, and amazing speakers. We will be doing an indoor campout that night at the church and we will attempt to fly kites (as per tradition) on that Saturday. Cost is $100/ student. That includes registration for the event, the camp out, bedtime story, Late-night pizza, breakfast on the 16th, and a kite. Payment and Registration Forms are due by Sunday, January 13th. We will meet at the church at 5:30 pm on the 15th and be back around 4:45 pm on Saturday.
March Exact dates have not been announced yet, but we are planning on taking our high schoolers to Ignite again this year at Woodland Lakes. The cost will be about $100 per student which includes registration and all meals. It will be a Friday to Sunday event that will include high energy worship and great speakers.
These type of events are spiritually significant in the lives of teenagers and I would greatly encourage you to sign your student up to go. If money is an issue, let me know. Please do not allow this to be the reason you do not send your student. There are options if you just let us know.
2. boot
This Thursday will be the last boot for this semester. We will starting it up again in January, but I would like some feedback on days and times and such. So if you have not already filled out a survey, go here and fill one out. Dates and times will be announced before December 1st so you have time to plan your winter activities around this mid-week service that has been really great for our ministry.Just a quick snapshot of boot for you:
We come together and spend about 45 minutes playing some games, worshipping and having a teaching time where we will talk briefly about the book of John, focusing on the people that surround Jesus and how they react to Him. Then we will split into groups (based roughly around age and sex)- and this is what I am so pumped for.
Each group receives a pile of cards that have different questions, Bible readings, games, prayer activities, etc. If you are passed a card, you lead that part of the group. So your card says, "Read John 1:1 Aloud." You can do that or you can decide to pick someone else to read. Each group has an adult there to keep things in line but the students get to practice leading in a very nonthreatening way.
If a student brings a friend, that friend is automatically in their group. And once a student is assigned to a group, they will stay in that group unless the group gets too large. Even then, they will stay with some of the same people. That applies as long as we do boot. So if we are still doing this same program in 7 years, they will still be in a group with some of the same people. So they won't have to meet ten new people every week and be expected to open up in front of them.
The first week students will be asked to identify themselves in their development of discipeship. We have identified five stages to becoming a disciple of Jesus in the gospels: The Observer, The Seeker, The Believer, The Worker, The Discipler. So once the student identifies, "I am a Seeker," they will pick up a Button and a Card that helps them think through some steps they can take to move to the Believer. The goal is not for them to associate any of these stages with failure, but to honestly assess where they are, so they can keep taking steps towards Jesus.
Throughout the program they have the opportunity to change buttons when they feel like they have gone from questioning to believing or from believing to doing, etc.
One more note on this service, if your student wants to come, but you need help getting them there, just let me know and we will try to hook you up with some sort of carpool.
3. A Couple Events
ICOMOn November 15-18, we will have the opportunity to attend the International Conference on Missions for free. This is a really cool event for students so be sure to meet us at the church on Saturday November 17th with your student at 8:30 am so we can carpool down together.
Friendsgiving
On November 29th, I am inviting any 6th-12th grader to participate in a potluck at my house from 5:30 pm - 8 pm. We will provide Fried Chicken as a main dish. If your student would like to participate, have them sign up here with what they will bring.
New Year's Eve Dance Party
It is happening again. We are going to dance in the new year. We will have inflatables in the sanctuary, food, fun games, karaoke, prizes, and of course we will count down into the new year and then dance like no one is watching. Last year was tons of fun and we can't wait to do it again. 8 pm on December 31st - 12:30 am January 1st.
Youtube Live Parent's Meeting
On January 9th at 9 pm we will be doing a Youtube Live Parent's Meeting. We will cover upcoming events, there will be time for you to ask questions, and we will talk through three new year's resolutions you can make that will help your family grow spiritually in 2019. You won't want to miss it.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns on any of this stuff, feel free to email me (eric@bridgetownchurch.com) or give me a call at the church.
Eric
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