Update!

Been going just about all day... figured I'd drop in and communicate a couple things.

Earlier today I met with Pastor Dave and we talked about the youth ministry and I just went over with him about how our meeting went and some of the things we discussed. He put in his planner that we're having our first event on the 27th of June and I told him a bit about what our plans were regarding the layout of that evening, etc. I didn't go into great detail about particular events, curriculum, (mainly because I'm still fleshing some stuff out)

As far as addressing the church on Sunday about an announcement- he's going to talk with the leaders this week about it. As far as future activities (games, etc.) if any one has any idea's... let's start brainstorming as time moves on I'll have more details regarding specific lessons I want to introduce and we can build games around those lessons. I was thinking of putting together a "show and tell" type activity each time we meet up. This would be a chance for the students (or even us) to share with the others how God is working in our lives and this can be signified by a keepsake that means something, a talent or gift that God is using (a song, a skit, a writing, drawing, a story, etc) this would help create community and would give allowance to each individual to worship how God desires them to.

I've been coming up with a philosophy regarding Christian world-view. For example...
1. Creation + Hope 2. Fall 3. Redemption... Vocation...etc
As far as the mission of the group... well to put it in plain sight
It has been said that roughly 88% of teens that graduate high school- leave the Church at the same time! We can put that on the world all we want and point at the "worldly" reasons for this... but the reality is that the Church has to own this. We have to own this. Why is there such a great divide? It could be that we have done youth group incorrectly for quite some time and it's going to take sound teaching, authentic living, incredible love and openness with one another to turn these numbers around. I'm telling you... we're going to change the world with this. I believe that this youth group is a hinge point for a lot of other groups in the future.

We'll wait and see... but I'm also questioning the combining of the middle and high schoolers. Yet lets just see how things pan out after our first get together on the 27th.

That's it for now... I could write for some time... but I have to get going.

- Lance