Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Do Teens Get Tired of Being Wired?

Check out what a leader in the youth ministry learns about teens and their technology!

Definitely some interesting statistics!

http://www.dougfields.com/posts/inforgraphic-teens-wired/


Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Welcome! How To Get Started!

Welcome to the First Church Student Ministries Blog!

The purpose of this blog is to equip and encourage parents of teenagers!  The goal is to send out emails to parents every other Tuesday with helpful information and resources that might be useful to you as you spend over 3,000 hours with your child this year!  After each email, the information will be posted to the blog so you may come back to it at any time and reference it.

This blog will include links to valuable websites, important information, and hopefully a sounding board for you as parents.  The blog also links to our First Church Students Facebook page as well as to the First Church Students YouTube account (which has students' testimonies that you can watch).  Please feel free to comment or ask questions!

The first few initial posts below include information we went over from Sunday's parent meeting.

The graph below is an example of being INTENTIONAL and PURPOSEFUL during natural times that families are able to spend together.  The graph explains the time, what type of conversation that naturally comes from that time period, your role as a parent, and what your intentional goal is during that time.  For instance, as you drive from one place to another with your child, turn off the radio, DVD player, etc. and listen up.  There is nothing else to do in a car except talk with one another.  The conversation is not very intimidating for the teen because you do not always make eye contact.  You can learn a lot simply through a drive to Fort Wayne and back.  And you role, most often, during these moments is not to teach, but simply to be a friend and understand life together.


What's Most Important



Family Values


#1       What matters more than anything is that my kids have an 
            authentic relationship with God

#2       My wife and I are not the only adult influences my children need

#3       My children need to know I will never stop fighting for a right 
            relationship with them (I will fight for their heart)

#4       My relationship with God and with my wife affects my children more 
            than I realize

#5       Just being together can never substitute for interacting together in 
            a meaningful way

7 Things Every Teen Needs To Know


The Seven Checkpoints:
Seven Principles Every Teenager Needs to Know
Andy Stanley & Stuart Hall

Authentic Faith (putting your trust in God)
·      Principle: God can be trusted; He will do all He has promised to do.
·      Critical Question: Are your students trusting God with the critical areas of their lives?
·      Key Passages: Proverbs 3:5-6, Hebrews 11

Spiritual Disciplines (seeing with God’s eyes)
·      Principle: When you see as God sees, you will do as God says.
·      Critical Question: Are your students developing a consistent devotional & prayer life?
·      Key Passage: Romans 12:1-2

Moral Boundaries (paving the way for intimacy)   (how holy can I be?)
·      Principle: Purity paves the way to intimacy.
·      Critical Question: Are your students establishing & maintaining godly moral boundaries?
·      Key Passage: I Thessalonians 4:3-8

Healthy Friendships (choosing friends for life)
·      Principle: Your friendships determine the direction & quality of your life.
·      Critical Question: Are your students establishing healthy friendships & avoiding unhealthy ones?
·      Key Passage: Proverbs 13:20

Wise Choices (walking wisely in a fool’s world)
·      Principle: Walk wisely.
·      Critical Question: Are your students making wise choices in every area of their lives?
·      Key Passage: Ephesians 5:15-17

God as the Ultimate Authority (finding freedom under God)
·      Principle: Maximum freedom is found under God’s authority.
·      Critical Question: Are your students submitting to the authorities God has placed over them?
·      Key Passage: Romans 13:1-2

Others First (considering others before yourself)
·      Principle: When you make yourself nothing, you’re really something.
·      Critical Question: Are your students putting the needs of others ahead of their own?
·      Key Passage: Philippians 2:3-11

Sunday Night Calendar 2012-2013


Sunday Nights 2012-2013
 

Doors open @ 5:30pm (enter door #11 or 15). Programming from 6-7:30pm in the youth worship center.

   Date                                  Sunday                                        
 

     September 16th                            Fall Kick-Off
     September 23rd                            Sunday PM
     September 30th                            Sunday PM
     October 7th                                   Sunday PM
     October 14th                                 Sunday PM    
     October 21st                                  Sunday PM    
     October 28th                                 Church-Wide Family Fall Festival
     November 4th                               Sunday PM
     November 11th                             Sunday PM
     November 18th                             Sunday PM
     November 25th                             Thanksgiving Sunday (No PM)                  
     December 2nd                              Sunday PM    
     December 9th                               Sunday PM Christmas Party & Christmas Program

     January 6th                                    Sunday PM    
     January 13th                                  Senior High Winter Retreat          
     January 20th                                  Sunday PM    
     January 27th                                  Sunday PM    
     February 3rd                                  Super Bowl Party     
     February 10th                                Sunday PM
     February 17th                                Junior High Winter Retreat           
     February 24th                                Sunday PM
     March 3rd                                       Sunday PM
     March 10th                                    Sunday PM
     March 17th                                    Sunday PM
     March 24th                                    Sunday PM
     March 31st                                       Easter (No PM)
     April 7th                                           Spring Break (No PM)
     April 14th                                        Sunday PM
     April 21st                                         Sunday PM
     April 28th                                        Sunday PM
     May 5th                                            Sunday PM
     May 12th                                         Mother’s Day (No PM)
     May 19th                                         Final Sunday PM of School Year

Save the Date:  Winter Weekend
Senior High Winter Retreat (9th thru 12th Grade)—January 11-13th 
Junior High Winter Retreat (6th thru 8th Grade)—February 15-17th