Big Event Weekend for Parents AND Youth

This coming weekend, on Sunday, August 21st, we have great opportunities for both YOU and your youth.

First, FBCJC will begin hosting a "growth group" for parents of all ages. "Parenting with Purpose" will be a time of encouragement, inspiration, and imagination as we parents seek to live more faithfully into our roles as leaders and spiritual guides for our children. Whether you are a new parent or have teenagers on their way out, you will enjoy this. We will meet on Sundays from 5:30pm-6:30pm from August 21 to October 9 and we will be discussing the book 99 Ways to Raise Spiritually Healthy Children, a very practical and encouraging guide to parenting in faith. The cost will be $15 per parent/couple and free childcare will be provided. We will meet in Room 214.

Second, your teen may be interested to know that our Celebration Singers Youth Choir resumes rehearsals this Sunday, August 21st, at 5:30pm in the Choir Room. Led by Music Minister Kim Bowen, Youth Choir continues to provide a great opportunity for our teens to lead in worship and grow in their faith together, and Kim has a few big surprises up his sleeve this year to entice the youth even more!

We hope to see both you AND your youth this Sunday night!

The Family That Eats Together . . .

While it may be common wisdom that shared meals between family members are a good thing, it's certainly not common practice, especially if you have teenagers in the home. If you've wrestled (and/or are currently wrestling) with this difficult scheduling of priorities, take a few seconds to read this column on recent research related to the very practical benefits for teenagers who eat regularly with their families.

And then discuss it over a family meal.

While We're Gone . . .

As many of you know, 17 of our teenagers and 6 adults will be heading off this Sunday (July 17th) for PASSPORTChoices Youth Camp in Wingate, NC for a week of mission, discipleship, and celebration. Since most of us will be out town, we will not be having Xchange on Wednesday, July 20th, but will resume on July 27th.

Also, please pray for all of us during this exciting and inspiring week. May God continue to build a magnificent kingdom through the lives of those participating in camp this week!

Youth Ministry That's Not for Youth

In a recent conversation with a member of our congregation, I heard a statement that I think echoes the sentiment of many: "Being an old person, I haven't had any reason to be around you all."

As a relatively young form of specialized ministry, it's not uncommon to have many misconceptions and misperceptions floating around any given congregation about what exactly "youth ministry" is all about. One of the most pervasive, and I believe most destructive, of these beliefs is that "youth ministry" is for "young people." There are many reasons for this, both complex and fascinating, but I won't go into that here (however, come by my office and let me pour you a cup of coffee with some good conversation on the matter!). Instead, I want to offer a brief look at why "youth ministry" is about everybody, ESPECIALLY those who are older.

Youth Ministry needs the involvement and participation of "older" people because . . .
. . . young people can't mentor themselves;
. . . young people need living, breathing models of faith in their life;
. . . young people need the wisdom of those who have experienced much more life (and death);
. . . young people need the assurance of elders that mistakes are okay, risks are worth taking, and grace is abundant for those who fall;
. . . young people need a history to ground their identity;
. . . young people need tradition to ground their faith;
. . . young people need a compass to direct their energy and passion;
. . . older people need the fresh expressions of faith that each new generation provides;
. . . older people need the opportunity to pass on their faith;
. . . older people need to know that their experiences and what they have learned will not be in vain;
. . . the Church needs to reflect the fullness of God's "family";
. . . the Church needs the energy that is generated by diversity and difference of opinion and approach;
. . . the Church needs to know that at both ends of life, there will always be someone to take care of you.

I look forward to seeing you at our next "youth" event!

Book Study, Fireworks, and Hiking - OH MY!!!

We have many opportunities for growth and fellowship coming up quickly, and here's your one-stop guide to all the information you need to know:
1) Our ongoing discussion of Scot McKnight's book The Jesus Creed for Students will continue this Sunday evening, July 3rd, at 7pm at the Bulls' house. Contact Dave if you need directions.
2) On the 4th of July, we'll be gathering (that means EVERYONE - youth, family, friends, pet gerbils, etc.) at the Lowes' house for fireworks, games, and food. We'll celebrate together from 8:30-11pm. If you would like directions to the Lowes', contact Paula Lowe or the church office. Rides will be available from the church at 8pm.
3) After 34 of us had a great time on the Virginia Creeper Trail, we decided to go on a HIKE this coming Wednesday, July 6th. We'll leave from the church at 9am, head to Hen Wallow Falls in Cosby, and enjoy a cookout at the campground before returning to the church around 3pm. ALL are invited! Don't forget to wear good walking shoes, and a water bottle and snacks wouldn't hurt, either! For more information, contact Dave.

AO Work Week Schedule

It's that time of the year again! During our annual Work Week with Appalachian Outreach, it can be a challenge to keep all the times and activities straight, so here is your handy-dandy guide to the week!

Daily Schedule Monday-Thursday (June 20-23)

Breakfast - 7am

Worksite - 7:30am-4:30pm

Dinner - 5:30pm

*Breakfast and dinner served at FBCJC Fellowship Hall; lunch is provided on the worksite for all volunteers

Special Events

Monday - Trip to Sonic (bring your own money) - 7pm

Tuesday - Movie Night - 7pm

Wednesday - Wet Games - 6:30pm

Thursday - Cookout - 5:30pm

For more information, contact Dave. For directions to the worksite, stop by the FBCJC office.

Passport Camper/Parent Meeting

This Wednesday evening, June 15th, we will have a MANDATORY meeting for teens who will be attending Passport Youth Camp this summer, as well as their parents/guardians. The meeting will be at 8pm in Rm. 214 (youth room), and we will go over camp information, including our itinerary, what to pack, expectations, medical forms, etc. A notary will be on hand to authorize medical forms, so make sure to bring a driver's license!

For more information on this meeting, or if you will be unable to attend, contact Dave at cndavemcneely@aol.com or 865.475.3826.

For more information on Passport Camps, visit http://www.passportcamps.org/. For more info on the specific camp we will be attending, check out the link to the Passport Choices camp at Wingate, NC.

Book Discussion Begins Sunday, June 12

This summer, we will have a book discussion group for interested youth. The discussions will take place on Sunday evenings at 7pm at rotating families' houses. Our first meeting will be on Sunday, June 12th at the McNeelys' house (e-mail Dave for directions: cndavemcneely@aol.com). We will be reading The Jesus Creed for Students by Scot McKnight with Chris Folmsbee and Syler Thomas. Books cost $10 and will be available throughout the summer. And, yes, you're welcome to join us!

Revised Summer Xchange Time

As per our fabulous custom, our Wednesday night youth program, Xchange, will meet from 6pm-8pm during the summer months of June, July, and August (during the school year, we begin at 6:30pm). If your teen is late, they could cost their team valuable points and pennies!

Parent Meeting Tonight

Tonight, Wednesday, May 25th, we have our Summer Kickoff for our youth program and we don't want to leave you behind or uninformed! At 6pm, right before the youth overwhelm room 214 with their out-of-school energy, we will be having a special Youth Parents meeting in room 214 to give you a calendar for the summer and catch you up on where we've been and where we're going. You won't want to miss it!

Details on The Amazing Post-Prom Race

As you may have heard, the Youth Ministry of FBCJC is sponsoring an after-prom event called "The Amazing Post-Prom Race." Open to ALL high schoolers (regardless of whether or not they attend prom), this event will take place from midnight on the evening of Friday, April 29th until 7am on Saturday, April 30th, and here are the details you may wish to know: * Any student interested in participating MUST sign up in advance and pick up a Permission Form that must be signed by a parent; Permission Forms must be handed in to Dave before the event begins in order for that youth to participate; * Each student wishing to participate must pay $10, which will help to cover the cost of gas and miscellaneous items for the event; * The event itself will begin at midnight after the prom, at FBCJC (students are required to find transportation to and from the church) and will consist of a number of team challenges throughout the evening; * Each team will consist of 3-4 students being led and driven by one of our adult chaperones (no students will be allowed to drive during this event); * Students will be allowed to leave FBCJC as early as 6am and need to be picked up (if they do not have their own car) no later than 7am on Saturday morning. If you have any other questions, please contact Dave at 475.3826 or cndavemcneely@aol.com.

Is Your Teenager a Good Samaritan?

According to a story widely circulated, a group of young seminarians, pastors-in-training, were given a simple but exciting assignment: Prepare a sermon on Jesus' Parable of the Good Samaritan and walk down the street to the local radio station to deliver the sermon across the airwaves. What made the assignment unique, however, was the situation their professor had set up for them. Unbeknownst to the young preachers-to-be, a man had been hired to lay beaten and bruised and crying in pain in an alleyway near the radio station. Sadly, each student acted out the wrong portion of the parable quite well, passing the man without offering to help, because apparently they had more important things to do, like . . . preach about helping the beaten and bruised on the side of the road. This past week, we decided to conduct an experiement of our own with our youth group to see how they would respond in a similar situation. After a game and a brief Bible study on the Parable of the Good Samaritan, our youth were instructed that they were going to prepare bags for the homeless but that they first had to walk down to McDonald's to purchase a gift card to put in the bags. Unbeknownst to them, a friend of one of our leaders had been tasked with showing up at McDonald's with a sign begging for food. So, how did the youth respond??? Much to my joy, our youth came back with fewer gift cards than expected because they gave two to the young man in need, along with buying (with their own money) a meal for him. I'll never forget the excited amazement on the face of one of our young girls, when she came up to me and said, "You're never gonna believe this! There is a man begging for food here, and we JUST talked about the Good Samaritan!" Thank God for teenagers who get it!

Ice Skating and Winter Jam Info

Have your teens been mentioning something about a "Purple Day?" Allow me to explain . . .

We are blessed to have some wonderful female adults who devote a lot of time and effort to ministering to and with our teenage girls and they frequently have "Girls Nights." The guys, of course, are insanely jealous and beg for their own. So, when you mix girls (pink) with guys (blue), what do you get?

Purple, of course.

This Saturday, February 26, we'll be taking the guys and girls out for an afternoon of ice skating in Knoxville. We will meet at and leave from the FBCJC parking lot at 1:15pm and we will return between 5-5:30pm (just in time for Family Rec Night at the MSAC at C-N!!!). Each youth will need $8 to cover the cost of ice skating - they're on their own for snacks, too!

Also, next Friday, March 4th, we will be making our annual trek to Knoxville for WinterJam, a concert that includes 8-10 Christian artists for the low, low price of $10. We will leave from the FBCJC parking lot at 4:30pm and stop for dinner before the show. We should be back in Jeff City by 11pm. Students need to bring $10 for their concert ticket and $5-$7 for dinner (fast food). And make sure to RSVP so we have a seat on the van for them! For more info on WinterJam, visit http://www.jamtour.com/.

Updated Information on Super Bowl Party

On Sunday, February 6th, our youth Super Bowl party at the Jones' will begin at 6pm. Rides will be provided from the FBCJC parking lot at 6pm, as well.
For directions to the Jones' house, e-mail Christine Jones at cjones@cn.edu.

Follow-Up to Last Week's Question

Last week, we asked the question, "So what happens to your faith when the church doors stay closed?" Recently, we asked our youth to share what they themselves did to develop and nurture their faith over the extended holiday break. Their answers are . . .

Encouraging.

As I reflect on their responses, what stands out for me the most is that God is clearly on the minds of our teenagers. While only a handful of youth seemed to have a close-to-definitive approach to nurturing their faith, a strong majority of them pointed to their efforts at prayer, seeing God in others, and reading the Bible. The clearly good news is that God is reaching out to these youth and they are making efforts to respond. Which throws the ball back in our court and asks of us . . .

How well are we encouraging them?

As we all know, youthful impulses, like their hormones, are fluid, volatile, and ever-changing. Often, the key to sustaining faithful development is tied to having a strong community of support that encourages, guides, and models faithful behavior. Our teens need our encouragement to find and stay on "the way everlasting" - are they getting it?

Upcoming Events

With a new semester beginning (finally!), here are a few upcoming events that you'll want to have on your calendar:

Friday, January 28th - Youth Game Night

7-10pm, Rm. 214 (Youth Room) at FBCJC

Guys bring a 2-liter, Girls bring a snack, Everyone bring a friend!

Sunday, February 6th - Super Bowl Party

Time TBA, Greg and Christine Jones' house

We need parents to help provide snacks - let Dave or Christine know if you can help!

Friday, March 4th - WinterJam Concert

Time TBA, Knoxville (Transportation will be provided)

Cost: $10 + dinner

For more info, check out http://www.jamtour.com/.

As always, you can find up-to-date information on FBCJC events on our website, http://www.fbcjeff.org/ (look on the Calendar for the most extensive info). And, if you're a member of Facebook, look for our Youth page ("First Baptist Jefferson City Youth Ministry") for more updates, including notices when there are last-minute changes in events and activities.

What Happens When the Church Doors Stay Closed?

I doubt I need to remind any parents that Jefferson County Schools haven’t been open in quite some time now. No, with each “snow day” tallied, each of us adds a new frazzled nerve to go with it. Cabin Fever catches a hold and we feel like the desperate characters in a “survivor” movie. One more day and we must might . . . well, some things are better left unsaid.

If you’re keeping score at home, you may have also noticed that – with Thanksgiving break, Christmas break, snow days, traveling, and more – we haven’t exactly had a lot of youth activities lately. And, by lately, I mean . . . some of us haven’t even been to church in almost two months straight.

Which makes me wonder . . .

What happens when the church doors stay closed? In other words, how do our teenagers continue to develop their faith when the programs they’ve come to depend on are not readily accessible? Do they just set faith development aside for a time? Pull out their Bible and read? Call their friends and pray together?

The answer to those questions has a lot to do with the answer to this question . . .

What do YOU do when the church doors stay closed? Whether we think it’s true or not, our children look to us for guidance, especially in situations that are new to them. And what kind of guidance did your kids receive from you over this wintry holiday?

Did extra family time become extra opportunities to discuss faith?
Did more meals together lead to more prayer together?
Did cancelled Sunday services lead to special times of family worship?

Or did winter vacation simply become a “faith vacation” as well?

Xchange Resumes January 5th

After a nice holiday of mirth and rest and hopefully not too much egg nog, we're excited to begin a new year at FBCJC! Xchange, our Wednesday night gathering for youth, will resume this Wednesday, January 5th, with a WILD WEDNESDAY!
Stay tuned for some exciting upcoming events!