See You At the Pole (& Net) 2009

by Pastor Nick

Today I was inspired again by the students of Wayne County! At 6:57 on my cell phone I sat in the Wooster High School parking lot in my car with the rain pouring down & thinking, "bummer". Today was the annual See You At the Pole where students gather at their school to pray for their school and to be counted for the cause of Christ on their school campus. I have to wonder how many adults would have just said, "I'm not going...it's raining" or maybe "alright, it's raining, I'm leaving." I wonder because I thought that too.

Then at 7:07 I was standing at the flag pole (it was still raining) with over 75 students, singing, praying, & encouraging each other. Some one asked me "What's the value of this anyway?" Well obviously prayer is a value of any follower of Christ. But what about the concept of ministry presence. Having people see that there are followers of Christ on their campus. And what about the body of Christ. I would be in the circle of 75 students some were standing there thinking, "Oh, she's a Christian? Oh, he's a Christian" It's good to see the body come together like that!

I know my experience wasn't isolated so here's what some people shared with me already today:

"41 @ Triway...7 or so from Grace" - one student from Grace led the time in prayer
"75 @ Wooster...15 or so from Grace" - one student from Grace led the worship & another led out in closing prayer. Most were underclassmen so the future is REALLY bright!
"41 @ Norwayne...13 or so from Grace" - two from Grace led worship, read verses, & a challenge was given.

One parent said, "It was so great! Just wanted to remind us all that students in Wayne county do care!"

Then there was the not so publicized SYATN (not SYATP) that I witnessed last night...It was See You At the Net. After a volleyball game last night both teams gathered (probably over 20 total) at the net & thanked God for His blessings & safety while playing. Conferences foes, but united by something way greater! It happens all over the place, but this week it's been refreshing for me to see & experience. Thanks to the students who step up for Christ!

What'd You Just Call Me?

by Josh Atkins

I'm sure we're all familiar with the "Sticks and stones..." rebuttal to the name-calling that was so pervasive on the playground while we were growing up. And the funny thing is, the more I said that little poem-ette, the less I believed it. And as a 4th grader, I had trouble refuting what they were saying because I hadn't really found my identity in anything more than how well I could play Tecmo Super Bowl on Nintendo (let alone in Jesus).

I think I began to believe it less and less because if they were calling me that over and over again, maybe it was true. Maybe I was a (fill in the blank). Their name(s) for me started to affect how I saw myself and what I thought of myself.

It happens in ministry too. So many times we call people certain names or give them titles that really, aren't that encouraging. They're innocent enough and to a certain extent might describe that person exactly. But these names lack vision, direction, and might convey something totally opposite of what we're trying to accomplish as a ministry.

Here are two ways that we at Wooster Grace Student Ministries have changed how we refer to people in our ministry.

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What we used to say: Volunteer

What it implies/conveys: It implies a lack of ownership, vision and even a separation between the leadership team and the people brought on to see that vision come to life. There's a sense of "come and go as you please" with little to no accountability. There's not a lot of connection or commitment because the "volunteer" says that if he/she doesn't do it, then someone else probably will.

What we say now: Adult Leader

What it implies/conveys: This conveys an idea of partnership between the leadership team (paid and unpaid) and gives a vision for what is expected. We are looking for people to do more than just "show up", we are looking for leaders, adult leaders. Regardless of position or rotation or level of involvement, an Adult Leader acknowledges the opportunities to speak into the lives of students and make a lasting impact for Jesus.

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What we used to say: Kid

What it implies/conveys: When you're referring to a 3rd grader, okay, it applies. When you're referring to an 11th grader, not so much. Once "kids" get into 7th and 8th grade, they are looking to be challenged and treated more and more like adults. And once they get into those grades, the word "kid" becomes more like an insult than an accurate descriptor and carries an ever-increasingly negative connotation as the "kids" get older.

What we say now: Student

What it implies/conveys: It tells them exactly what we should be telling them as they get into 7th and 8th grade, that they're not a kid anymore. They need to see that we acknowledge that they are growing up and with that they are asking questions about themselves, about faith, and the things they've been told all their lives. By using the word "student", it separates them from jr. church and their little siblings and gives them a chance to grow as "students" of the Word.

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Now, I'm not going to say using words like "volunteer" and "kid" is an altogether bad thing. But we have chosen to go a different route with our verbiage; one that we think conveys a little more identity and vision and hopefully pushes each of those groups to a better understanding of their Savior.

Small Groups: Ephesians 1 interaction

Hey, if you're in small groups and have started studying the book of Ephesians, check out this video about the city of Ephesus and Roman culture. The book of Ephesians was letter written to people in this culture.

September 11, 2009 - 8 years ago today...

by Pastor Nick

9-1-1. September 11. Numbers & Dates that for Americans say over the age of 14 are awfully meaningful and horrific all in one. A date that changed the pace of American life. I was a new Pastor about 1 month into leading a small church in the mountains of Virginia. I was newly married. I was in Seminary. That was 8 years ago. The events of that day shook the core of our freedom and we said we 'learned' lessons & vowed we'd change our priorities.

But instead I wonder if we've just inconvenienced ourselves into more rules trying to protect the very life we aren't garunteed another breath of?

What I mean is exactly what I taught students this past Sunday in HSM. Sometimes life is just so much fun we don't stop and think of God, want to pause and realize we are really dependent creatures, or even admit we are vulnerable. There are days we live like this. But then another look a life, a closer look reveals more to life than fun. I unpacked this from the 4th chapter of James:

1. Life is Hard
2. Life is Unpredictable
3. Life is Short

So in light of those realities we discover a total dependancy on God who "does not change" - Malahai 3:16. So Nick, how do you propose we should live? Well, I think God answered in James 4:15, "Instead you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'"

I'm asking myself to revisit the pain of September 11th from an innocent bystandard's perspective and draw more lessons that airport security from it. Maybe we could all do well to look at a full reality of life and admit our need for help...help that only comes in the LORD Jesus Christ!

Small Groups!

by Ben Framstad

Small Groups just started for High School and Middle School ministries. To promote it last week and get the most students to come out, we created this video of classic disney movie clips...with one twist. Take a look.

Small Groups from Wooster Grace Students on Vimeo.

The Gift of a Friend

by Rachelle Graber

I got home one evening after a hard day of work and just wanted to lay around and do basically nothing. So I flopped myself down in front of the little black box called the television. Not seeing something that interested me at first glance I began flipping through the channels. Passing from commercials to news to more shows that were of no interest to me, I kept flipping through. I came to a channel with a music video on it. It was Disney channel. Yes, I'm a dork and sometimes watch The Disney channel (admit it, you all do it sometimes), but the thing that attracted me to it at that moment was the song that they were playing. The song was called "Gift of a Friend" sung by Demi Lovato.

Now let me tell you that this kind of hit me in the face a little bit. Not even realizing it, Disney channel and Demi Lovato hit me with a lesson in my faith. Let me explain. The chorus of the song is "The world comes to life, and everything's bright, From beginning to end, when you have a friend by your side, the helps you to find, the beauty you are, when you open your heart and believe in the gift of a friend." Now through the past couple years of my teenage life I've always felt like I never really fit with anyone. Girls in particular. I don't have the kind of friendship that would be there forever. The friendships I have are just aquaintances. I don't feel like my friends are friends that I could talk to about anything. And the closer friends I have, have their own "best" friends already.

Now, "how in the world does this song teach a lesson of faith?" you ask.

The song, especially the chorus, made me realize that I do have a best friend. I have the greatest best friend of all. I have Jesus. No matter what I do he will always be my best friend. He gave his life so that He could be my best friend and so I could tell Him anything. Not only that, He sees me as the beautiful girl I am instead of the way of the world, which makes me feel inferior. He gave me the gift of HIS friendship. His eternal, wonderful, powerful friendship. And so, Disney channel taught me that I have the Gift of the greatest friend I could possibly have. I have the Lord Jesus Christ as me eternal best friend.

And that's how Disney channel taught me a lesson about my faith.
Tata for now, and maybe I'll have the privilege to write here again soon!
Rachelle :)

This is Home

by Pastor Nick

This past weekend we kicked off our 2009-10 school year in student ministries by hosting a family worship service. With over 350 middle school students, high school students, and parents the morning was an overwhelming success.

We tried to crystalize who we are for students and families. Casting vision for the year and what God can do this school year. Last year we moved into a new facility and there was so much buzz about the building...but I enjoyed this year's kickoff more. It was more about people and lives changed. It was about reaching more students, it's about celebrating God's presence, it's about growing together, & about acting for Jesus in other's lives. We boil our ministry down to these 4 blocks that we build our 'home' on...building off the foundational mission of Jesus to develop fully devoted followers of Christ:

BLOCK 1: RELATIONSHIP EVANGELISM - it's our desire to equip and empower students to reach their friends through genuine and authentic relationships.

BLOCK 2: STUDENT WORSHIP - weekly gathering of students to celebrate God's presence in our lives and learn what God says about our daily lives in the Word.

BLOCK 3: SMALL GROUPS - is the backbone to who we are. Students grow where they are connected and these groups foster a commitment to the life together.

BLOCK 4: STUDENT LEADERSHIP - focusing on Jesus' model of 'servant leadership' we see leadership development both as a program and an initiative.

There are more 'things' we do that supplement & support these blocks, but once a student is around these blocks they have a sense of belonging and a place to make spiritual memories...that's a spiritual home. That's Wooster Grace Student Ministries.

Sunday after all the people left, cards were collected, lights turned off I read one student's response to the morning. From a single parent home, without much spiritual influence in life he wrote, "This is my spiritual home, thanks!" I guess for him the vision is a reality...this is HOME!

This is Home from Wooster Grace Students on Vimeo.

Do I really need to know that??

by: Rachel Snyder

I'm sure all of you come across the facebook messages, notes and wall post SURVEYS that ask you embarrassing questions and/or annoying questions about yourself that NOBODY really needs to know about you (and the ones that would be interesting you leave blank....I know, I do it too.) But, hey, maybe that's the point.....maybe it's interesting b/c we feel like nobody else knows what we're reading about you (even though we have 20 tagged friends in view as we read the post on the right side panel in the note). Dispite my doubts and since everybody I talk to seems to enjoy these notes sooo much....I want you to know 3 things you probably don't know about me, Rachel Snyder, HSM Ministry Assistant.

1. I say a few words a bit differently than EVERYBODY else...I guess.
For instance...... you say "orange juice" --- I say, "ornch-juice"
Or....................... you say "milk" ---------- I say, "melk"
Last one............ you say "down stairs" --- I say, "downt stairs"
So what? I think YOU say words "funny" too.

2. I love eating frosted flakes on my ice cream. Try it. It's incredible.

Last but not least...
3. I ashamedly admit that when I'm in the car by myself ... I listen to Delilah....you know "love someone...requests and dedications. I'm really not one for the mushy-gushy stuff of life...I'm not really one for soft-rock either. But there's something about her that MAKES me listen. Yeah, I bet you never would have guessed that one.