Student Ministries Weekend

T-minus 10 hours and 45 minutes.

I absolutely LOVE Student Ministries Weekend. Here is an easy-on-the-eyes list of reasons why I can't wait until tomorrow.

- High School Praise Band - Students using their gifts to lead adults, other students, me, in worship is a sweet sight. I got to sit in on their practice last Sunday and it was a great time watching them laugh and have a great time singing, playing their instruments, and worshiping God together. Mike Lee, the Praise Band coordinator, has done a GREAT job with the students and I know they'll do a great job tomorrow.

- Pastor Bob Doerr (RAD) speaking - Being in meetings and listening to RAD talk about the the message for tomorrow, I know it's going to be good. He's been working out some sweet details with us as a Student Ministries team and rest assured you're not going to want to miss it.

- Just a Glimpse - For the rest of the church, this is one weekend a year where they get to experience what those of us who work in Student Ministries get to experience EVERY DAY. Students finding Jesus for the first time. Students using their gifts to glorify God. Adults loving students and helping them along in their faith journey. There's NOTHING like working with students. And for one morning, the rest of the church gets just a glimpse.

Can't wait.

T-minus 10 hours and 12 minutes.

- Josh

Wooster Football

This coming Thursday, we have the awesome privilege of feeding the Wooster Football Team. Since, I've attended a lot of their Friday night games by now, it's cool to finally serve them.

When was the last time you gave back to your community in a significant way? Everyone has the ability to start somewhere and do something special and show the love of Jesus. You could throw an open house at your home for the people on your street or rake all the leaves on your block one Saturday. You could visit a local nursing home and just sit and listen to people's stories. The sky's the limit in how you can be like Jesus.

Wooster Grace Students sure isn't perfect and we're conscious of how many needs there are in our community, many of which we're unable to meet. But we realize that we need to start somewhere, and then maybe...maybe we can change something for the cause of Christ.

- Ben

Post Game

In High School Ministries, we're ramping up to throw a county wide "shin-dig" called THE POST GAME. We're getting excited about it in the student ministry office as we plan and prepare for it. I can only imagine what it's going to be like, because to us, it's unlike anything we've really done. We're advertising for it through families tailgating at local schools and spreading the word and at the party, the whole entire student center's going to be transformed.

What I'm most proud of is how our student leaders have taken ownership of this event. On Sunday, 30 or so students met in the side room after the HSM service and took letters to give to local businesses asking if they'd donate some free stuff for prizes at the party. I believe with their hard work, it won't be the "HSM Team's" party, but "OUR" party (students and adults alike). This has the potential to be a super sweet time!

Alright, it's 5:10pm on a Friday and everyone's leaving the office. Better jet. Later!

Ben

Small Groups

This afternoon, I spent the whole time working on small group curriculum. Currently we're working through the book of Ephesians in High School Ministries. Students have learned by studying chapters 1 through 3 of who they are in Christ. God has given them an incredible identity.

Maybe you're a student and you're reading this blog. Do you ever leave school some days thinking "I don't even know who I am..." It's tough sometimes when everyone else seems to fit into some group or clique. I remember when I was middle school questioning who I was.

If you're an adult, do you remember feeling this way? Ephesians 1, 2, and 3 all answer this pressing question that everyone has asked: Who am I?

This week, High School Ministries is embarking on Ephesians 4, which answers the question "Alright, now that I know who I am, what do I do?" The answer? Behave and act like the person God created you to be. Ephesians 4 stresses two things in order to begin - pursue unity and live a holy life.

In your pursuit of unity, how have you treated those at Wooster Grace? Is there someone who you've wronged? Is there someone who has wronged you? If so, it's your calling from God to gain unity back and seek reconciliation.

It's exciting to see Students secure their identity in Christ. By doing this, they're in the process of becoming a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.

If you listen to the group "Casting Crowns" you may know one of their songs "If we are the body." It talks about the church's responsibility to be united in love for the sake of bringing Jesus to others. Watch the video below.

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.

______________________________

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.

__________________________________

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.

______________________________

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.