With summer winding down and school just around the corner, we are making plans for our Welcome Back Night on August 14th and this Fall’s Activities.  I am looking forward to getting all of our students back on Wednesday night for Bible study, music, and fellowship.   Our attendance has been great throughout the summer as we have been watching the DVD series “The Bible”.  Our students have been enjoying this series and it makes the Bible come to life seeing the movie. 

SMART CARDS ARE HERE!
As we make plans for the upcoming school year, we are already looking ahead into next year’s Mission Trip as we prepare our first fundraiser.  2013-14 Smart Cards will be here this week and our Main Event students and workers are going to be selling them.  These cards are good for Lee and Itawamba county businesses. 
 
Let’s Be In Prayer
We need to pray for our students as the school year gets ready to begin in a couple of weeks.  I want to encourage you to pray for the safety of our students, teachers, bus drivers, and all workers.  We need to ask God to protect them while they are in school and that they allow God to be a part of the school.  Every year there are tragedies that happen with students and faculty and we should begin praying now for a safe upcoming school year. 

Bro. Trent and Ms. Rebecca

Have you ever planted a seed and watched something grow from it?  Did it give you a sense of accomplishment when you saw the seed developed into whatever it was you planted?  Think a minute about planting a spiritual seed.  Sharing the “Good News” of Jesus Christ with others is considered spreading a seed.  When you share God’s Word with others you are doing more than just sharing stories and words with someone else;  you are planting a seed inside of someone that may one day develop into something big or special.  When Jesus taught His disciples the parable about the farmer, He demonstrated that not all seeds are going to produce.  When we share God’s Word with others, not all who hear it are going to accept it.  The parable illustrates how some will listen and seem like they are growing, then eventually fall away, some will refuse to listen or accept anything about God that others tell them, and some people will take God’s Word and grow spiritually with what they learn and will even produce fruit by sharing the Gospel with others.  The point of the parable is this:  we are to share God’s Word with others no matter how they accept it.  We plant the seeds, the person nurtures the seeds, and God makes the seeds grow.  This also means that when we plant seeds and someone refuses them, the blame doesn’t fall on us when that person won’t believe in what we tell them.  This becomes the choice they make!

Bro. Trent and Ms. Rebecca

In my years of youth ministry, I have noticed that not all students are the same.  This should be a no-brainer to most people, but I try and look at all students as equals.  I believe students get graded enough in their schools, homes, and through the social media that they don’t need it to happen in the church.  When trying to view each student equally, you come to terms that not all parents are the same either.  It is easy to spot a student who comes from a good Christian home and one who doesn’t.  That’s why it’s important for parents to start ministry in the home before the student comes to church.  When students get to church, they should already know how to act and what they are there for.  I have put together an S.O.S. plan for parents that will help them and their teens get ready for church. 

S. = Show Authority.  Parents have to be the authority figures in the home, not the child.  When parents lose control and don’t lay down and uphold the laws of the home, the children don’t see them as they need to.  Parents have to be seen as the ones with authority.

O. = Offer Guidance (be the example).  Parents who don’t show their children the right way to live their lives, become parents who raise unruly teenagers.  Children need to be shown proper guidance in the home and not have parents expect them to learn it all from their minister(s). 

S. = Surrendering Your Time.  Nothing shows a child love more than the time you spend with them.  Become a part of their life in all areas.  This doesn’t mean you have to smother them, but it does mean you need to nurture them with love and care.  Communication is key to raising a teenager.  Don’t be afraid to tell them that you love them.



Bro. Trent and Ms. Rebecca