Student Ministry Update
Hey Parents,
The New Year is sneaking up on us, so 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.
1. boot
After getting some feedback on days and times and such we have decided t move this service to Sunday Nights. We will start meeting on January 13th from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm. We will be opening the doors at 5:30 and getting things rolling around 5:40 pm. I think this service has been really great for our ministry and I hope you will encourage your students to come.
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.
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. Oh and if you have a tent we could borrow, let me know.
ALSO... we need some help for this event. Let me know if you might be interested in helping and I will send you the list of volunteers I need to pull this event off along with the details of what exactly would be expected of you.
March 15-17 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.
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. Doors open at 8 pm, most of the fun will start at 9 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.
Parent Discussion Groups
On March 3rd, right after church I would like to invite all parents or guardians of Jr. Highers (whether they currently participate in our programming or not) to enjoy a meal together and just basically discuss how bcsm can do better at partnering with you, equipping you and encouraging your student(s) to take their next steps towards Jesus.
On March 31st, we will invite the parents of High Schoolers to do the same. If you have kids in both age groups and only want to come to one of these, I totally understand. I just wanted to have the opportunity to not just tell you what we have planned and how we want to partner with you but to really give us a chance to pick each others' brains and find some solid ways where we can work together.
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
The New Year is sneaking up on us, so 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.
1. boot
After getting some feedback on days and times and such we have decided t move this service to Sunday Nights. We will start meeting on January 13th from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm. We will be opening the doors at 5:30 and getting things rolling around 5:40 pm. I think this service has been really great for our ministry and I hope you will encourage your students to come.
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.
2. 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. Oh and if you have a tent we could borrow, let me know.
ALSO... we need some help for this event. Let me know if you might be interested in helping and I will send you the list of volunteers I need to pull this event off along with the details of what exactly would be expected of you.
March 15-17 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.
3. A Couple Events
New Year's Eve Dance PartyIt 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. Doors open at 8 pm, most of the fun will start at 9 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.
Parent Discussion Groups
On March 3rd, right after church I would like to invite all parents or guardians of Jr. Highers (whether they currently participate in our programming or not) to enjoy a meal together and just basically discuss how bcsm can do better at partnering with you, equipping you and encouraging your student(s) to take their next steps towards Jesus.
On March 31st, we will invite the parents of High Schoolers to do the same. If you have kids in both age groups and only want to come to one of these, I totally understand. I just wanted to have the opportunity to not just tell you what we have planned and how we want to partner with you but to really give us a chance to pick each others' brains and find some solid ways where we can work together.
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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