You can download this month’s Parents Update Newsletter below. It is full of great articles written by some insightful people on parenting teenagers.  You can also pick up a print out of the newsletter at the Elevate info table right outside the Mission Cafe.

December2014ParentNewsletter

In this series we will discuss how Jesus’ life and teachings turned people’s world upside down, and how He still does that to us today.

Week #1: Law to Relationship (December 3)

This week we will introduce the series and talk about the profound implications of Jesus changing things from law to relationship.  This is something that is HUGE and yet we can easily take it for granted.

Scripture:

Matthew 22:34-40

Matthew 5:17

Week #2: The Beauty of Doubt (December 10)

This week we will talk about how Jesus can handle our tough questions, and actually He encourages us to come to Him with our tough questions of doubt.  Doubt can be a good thing when it leads us to action by searching and coming to Him for answers.

Scripture: John 20: 24-29

Week #3: Jesus’ Third Way (December 17)

When confronted with evil we often think that we only have 2 options: return evil with evil or become a victim.  Jesus offers us a third option, one that that more creative and redemptive.  This week we will discuss how we can creatively apply Jesus’ Third Way in our own lives.

Scripture: Matthew 5: 38-41

This past weekend we took 11 middle schoolers and 4 adults to Ocean City for Alive. Alive is a middle school conference put together by Youth for Christ. This year they had over 2,000 middle schoolers in attendance.

This is a little summary of what the students learned and experienced:

The theme of the conference was “Game On”. Throughout the weekend the students got to experience great speakers, funny comedians such as “Dave the Horn Guy”, great worship led by “Rush of Fools”, tons of games like dodgeball, and just a fun and encouraging atmosphere with other middle schoolers and adult leaders.

During the Friday night main session the speaker, “Runks”, introduced the theme “Game On” and talked about how God can use all of us. He shared his own story and how God used him through his ADHD.

On Saturday morning during the main session the speaker, Tyra Lokey-Robinson, told the powerful story of her life and talked about how with Jesus we are never “out”. No matter what we have been through or what we have done Jesus will always love us and be with us.

In the afternoon we went to the boardwalk. There we ate lunch, hung out with other Alive students, and played sports on the beach.

During the Saturday night main session Runks gave the Gospel message, and it was powerful to see so many middle schoolers respond. We had 2 of our own students accept Christ and 5 students re-dedicate their lives to Jesus. After the service we talked as a group, and each student shared about what God did in their lives and how they responded. Every one of our students had an amazing story to tell of what God did in their lives during the service, and how they responded. It was a beautiful time of sharing, and bonding as a group.

During the Sunday morning main session they had time for students to share what God has done in their lives this weekend. Two of our students were bold enough to go up front and get in line to share, but sadly the line had to be cut off before they had a chance to share. However, I am still proud of them for having the courage to be willing to share in front of so many people. Powerful stuff. Runks then shared about the “5 minute lies” that satan tells us after events like this, and how we can keep the fire going after the emotion fades. This was a very good practical message about choices the students need to make when the get home.

This was an amazing weekend for our middle schoolers. God moved and the students responded! I want to thank Melody for being so generous with setting us up with a house to stay out in Ocean City this weekend. This made the event so much cheaper for our students, and it was a great bonding time hanging out at the house together. I also want to thank our amazing adult sponsors: Barb, Ashley, and Aubree. We have an amazing team of adult leaders at Elevate, and they really showed that this weekend.

I want to encourage you as parents to ask your student specifics about what God did in their lives this weekend. They were encouraged to share with their parents as soon as they get home about what God has done in their hearts during Alive.

Blessings on you and your family!

Pastor Derek

This Elevate News video was premiered last wednesday night (11/13) at Elevate.

WHERE:

Black Rock Retreat in Quarryville, PA

If you would like to see what it is like check out their website: www.blackrockretreat.com

WHEN:

February 27-March 1, 2015

COST: $105

(This covers ALL of your expenses for the weekend)

IMPORTANT DATES:
Wednesday, November 19th
$20 Deposit and Permission Form due

Wednesday, January 21st
$50 Payment Due

Wednesday, February 11th
Final $35 Payment Due

You can download the info packet here: info packet

Hey Parents, the Huffington Post just posted a great an article on The No. 1 Reason Teens Keeps the Faith as Young Adults.  It is based on the National Study of Youth and Religion.  A study that has been ongoing since 2003.

Here are some great quotes form the article on the influence of parents in the spiritual development of students:

“No other conceivable causal influence … comes remotely close to matching the influence of parents on the religious faith and practices of youth,” Smith said in a recent talk sharing the findings at Yale Divinity School. “Parents just dominate.”

“Parents, for better or worse, are actually the most influential pastors … of their children,” Smith said. “Parents set a kind of glass ceiling of religious commitment, above which their children rarely rise.”

Click HERE to read the article