Students

With the recent program changes, my impressionable kids are now seeing a world where everyone, of all ages, has an important role to play in church. And with the example being set by our students, my kids will not only know that service should be a part of their teenage years, but that they actually have a place at church each Sunday.

Over the past few months, you’ve likely heard us talk about the changes coming to our student programming this fall. Well the time has come. Beginning this Sunday, things will be a bit different around here. Here’s a quick overview of what to expect.

We’ve just wrapped up another year of Sports Camp and it was packed full of sports, fun, singing, dancing, and most of all, Jesus. Spicy Mike and Sweet T even made a surprise comeback! It was a fantastic week. Here’s a quick photo recap.

Sports Camp starts tonight and we’d like to invite you to join us in praying for this event and the hundreds who are involved. We have a daily prayer focus and have included some specific prayers Would you join us?

One of the things I think about often as a mom is who my kids are looking up to. My kids are at the age where they are extremely susceptible to influences surrounding them. But the thing that seems to speak the loudest is what they observe in kids a few years older than them.

I never grew up hoping to be in student ministry. But here I am, and these girls are fierce. They are deep and have real emotions that shape the way they view themselves, how they view God, and most importantly how they think God views them. I will not sit back and let them be told who they are and live their lives not knowing the truth about their identity.

Parents and the church should be leading the way in conversations about sex, creating safe places for discussion so truth can root down in the hearts of the next generation. Silence is not an option.

Last weekend was our middle school winter retreat, Snowbound. Our students dressed as hippies for the annual church-on-church Muck War, tested their courage on the high ropes swing (The Screamer), faced off with multiple inflatable games, consumed huge amounts of food and hot chocolate, learned about King David and worshiped Jesus together.

PRiSM56 is a beautiful program, where caring adults intentionally enter into the crazy world of tweenagers who are just beginning to step into their identity, self-worth, interests, passions and self-awareness. As a mom of a daughter who will soon be entering the pre-teen world, nothing makes my heart happier than knowing that PRiSM56 is waiting for her.

Mark Windle reflects on thankfulness, the students of Pulpit Rock and year three of something called Thursday Serve Day. Students giving a up day every week of their summer to love, play with and bring free lunch to neighborhood kids around Mitchell High school.