THEPARENTLINK

THE
PARENTLINK
September
2012
FOR PARENTS OF TEENS
GRACE
STUDENT
MINISTRY
BOOST KIDS’ LEADERSHIP SKILLS
As a new school year begins, teenagers will have many opportunities to explore and develop their talents. One often-overlooked talent is leadership.
Yet your youth minister can tell you how desperately this trait is needed—
and not just in church settings. In fact, in a Group magazine survey about
youth ministers’ “dying needs,” the top response was “developing leaders.”
Leadership means more than just good citizenship, discipleship, or community service. It’s the process of helping people accomplish together what
they couldn’t do as individuals. Contrary to popular belief, leaders aren’t
born. They can come in a variety of forms, from charismatic pied-pipers to
troublemakers to reserved kids on the verge of blossoming. Indicators for
high leadership aptitude include boldness, curiosity, a wealth of opinions
and ideas, the fact that peers listen to those ideas, and dissatisfaction with
the status quo.
After identifying young leaders, it’s important to group them together, give
them opportunities to truly lead, provide them with feedback and mentoring,
and disciple them so they’re spiritually grounded. Partnering with your
church’s youth minister is a great way to provide teenagers with meaningful
leadership and growth opportunities. As one youth leader says, “It’s one
thing to quote scripture to kids; it’s quite another thing to actually entrust
them with greater responsibilities—that’s what truly enables them to reach
their full potential.”
TIPS >>>
Youth ministry pioneer Doug Fields
offers this advice for cultivating teen
leaders:
Understand that teenagers can be
ministers. Kids aren’t the future of the
church; they’re the church of today. We
must challenge teenagers to serve others
and discover the significant life God has
called them to live.
Think small. Instead of devising huge
leadership programs, spend time developing each teenager individually. Rely
on resources such as small-group leaders.
Paint potential. Let your kids know
that they’re gifted and talented in the
leadership department and able to carry
out God’s work. Some teenagers believe
that if they’re not outgoing or popular,
or popular, or lack an upfront-type
SEPTEMBER 2012
THE VIEW
Kids begin to form ideas about
what they can and can’t achieve
by age 7 or 8. Yet only 42% of
kids ages 10 to 18 say they’re
energetically pursuing their goals.
And only 35% strongly believe
they can navigate around obstacles to reach their goals.
(Gallup Poll)
When asked why they chose particular role models, 26% of teenagers said personality traits were
most important. Another 22% of
kids said the decision was based
on whom to emulate or in whose
footsteps they’d like to follow.
(Barna Group)
PONDER THIS
personality, then they can’t be leaders or
ministers. So it’s important for us to encourage them and challenge them by
“painting their potential.” They need to
“see” that their lives can make a big difference.
Position individuals. First seek out opportunities that will make good use of
teenagers’ current interests. Then try to
stretch them a bit by exploring new opportunities. Such intentional leadership
development can alter kids’ understanding that God has shaped them in unique
ways and can leave an imprint in their
community, as well as a legacy in their
long-term walk with Jesus.
What leadership potential do you
see in your teenagers, and how
have you been trying to nurture
it?
In what ways do you view yourself as a leader or as a leadership
role model?
With whom can you partner to
further develop your teenagers as
leaders?
Updates from Grace Students
Jason Lamb
Student Ministry Pastor
I am so excited to be starting another ministry year here at GFC! God is doing amazing
things in and through your students and I am
blessed to be a part of what He is up to. I
want to take this opportunity to briefly introduce you to 3 other individuals who are also
excited to be a part of what God is
doing in our Student Ministry.
Meet Your Student Ministry Team…
Josh Horton
Middle School Pastor
Josh & his wife Catherine are moving from the
Dallas/Ft Worth area at the end of September.
In addition to working with our 7th& 8th grade
students, leaders & parents, Josh will provide
valuable insight & energies into the spiritual
development & discipleship process of the
students in our ministry.
Ryan Hughes
EPIC Worship Leader
Ryan is continuing in his responsibilities
as our Worship Leader that he began the
second half of the last school year. He is
passionate about leading students in
worship and raising up students to be a
part of the worship team.
Ashlee White
Executive Assistant
Ashlee will be supporting both the Student
Ministry Team as well as the Teaching
Team here at GFC. She is excited to get to
know the Student Ministry and each of you
as well as being a resource for you.
2012-2013 C-Group Leaders
7th grade Guys: David Gemar & Shea Smith
7th grade Girls: Barbara Gemar & Tammy Keller
8th grade Guys: Ken Clifton & Jay Grindstaff
8th grade Girls: Marcia Bechtel & Jill Ledes
9th grade Guys: Taft Simmons, Rich Riesz, Grant Taylor & Todd Spann
9th grade Girls: Shelly Spann, Haley Spann, Kirsten Siegfried & Lisa Booher
10th grade Guys: Perry Ripple, Taylor Simounet & Ryan Hughes
10th grade Girls: Amie Shaver & Janie Ripple
11th grade Guys: Joel Bowers & Jason Barter
11th grade Girls: Jennifer Barter & Cori Horne
12th grade Guys: Pat Walding, David Morrison, Ben McCurry & Jordan Vanhoy
12th grade Girls: Subrina Sonekeo, Jennifer Daniel, Carolee Morrison & Erica Griffin
Sunday Morning Volunteers
Larissa Ferguson, Student Ministry Kiosk
Cathy Botts, Hospitality Team
Ethan Palmer, Tech Team
Kevin Blankenstein, Tech Team
Confidence Connection
Expert Insights for Parents of Teenagers
By Doug Franklin
LeaderTreks founder Doug Franklin says
teenagers’ leadership skills will grow in
direct proportion to their confidence.
Three key ways to grow kids’ confidence
include:
God has their back. He’s their safety net,
and, in the end, every Christ-follower
wins. Kids must realize they’re made for
a purpose and God gives them all the
needed tools to complete that purpose.
1. Understanding God’s design. Most
kids don’t think they’re special. They
don’t think they have some great Godgiven ability to change the world around
them. They rarely see their potential.
They need to understand that God made
them for a purpose and would never short
-gift one of his children. God isn’t in the
business of giving life to his kids and
then cutting them off. For students to be
confident, they must know that
Stress builds, relationships weaken,
rebellion flares, and depression may
result.
2. Positive life experience. Kids need an
experience beyond what they thought
was possible. They must be placed in
situations that require them to reach beyond themselves, such as mission trips.
Confidence doesn’t happen by accident, so
The experience is reinforced when they
receive recognition from peers and point create a solid plan for your teenagers to develop into confident leaders.
out one another’s giftedness.
to take risks and offer teenagers leadership
opportunities.
Teenagers need adults to connect the dots for
them concerning how God has made them
and how that giftedness can be used in real
life. When kids are allowed to lead an event
and the success or failure of that event is in
their hands, with positive adult support,
they’ll develop confidence regardless of the
outcome.
3. A positive adult who is willing to
risk. Kids need a positive adult figure in
—SimplyYouthMinistry.com
their lives who’s cheering them on to greatness. Adults need to tell kids how they see
God working in their lives. Adults also need
RESOURCE
Help! I’m a Student Leader, a practical
guidebook from Doug Fields (Simply
Youth Ministry), offers young people
guidance about being creative, encouraging leaders—and leading as Jesus
did.
BIBLE FOCUS
Don’t let anyone think less of you because
you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in
your love, your faith, and your purity.
1 Timothy 4:12
MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
MAINSTREAM MUSIC
CHRISTIAN MUSIC
MOVIES
Movie: Looper
Genre: Action, Thriller
Rating: Not yet rated
LECRAE
T.I.
Background: Once called “the Jay-Z
of the South,” T.I. is a hip-hop artist,
producer, and actor. He also started
Grand Hustle Records. T.I., 31, has
had some run-ins with the police,
including probation violations and
weapons charges. He’s worked with
almost every name in hip-hop, been
nominated for Grammy Awards, and
won numerous Billboard Music
Awards—including Rap Artist and
Rap Album of the Year. He works
with the Boys and Girls Clubs and
once gave 200 bicycles to kids in
Atlanta.
Albums: Trouble Man (2012), No
Mercy (2010), King (2006)
What T.I. Says: He once talked a
man down from a ledge, where he
was threatening to kill himself. Afterward, T.I. said, “I’m not taking any
credit. … The fact of the matter is
that God put me in a position to help,
and I can’t take any credit for that.”
Explore: T.I.’s albums are available
to listen to on Spotify—including
both Clean and Explicit versions of
many of them.
Background: Hip-hop artist Lecrae,
32, was raised by his Christian
grandmother. He ran with gangs and
did drugs, using a Bible as a “goodluck charm.” After going to Bible
studies in his late teens, Lecrae realized the characters were just like
him—but had hope and love. Five
years after becoming a Christian, he
started his own label and has won
two Dove Awards. Lecrae is incredibly popular and a positive role
model.
Albums: Gravity (2012), Rehab
(2010), Real Talk (2004)
What Lecrae Says: In response to
people accusing him of selling out
the gospel, Lecrae writes:
“[Christians] limit spirituality to
salvation and sanctification. … Most
Christians have no clue how to engage culture in politics, science,
economics, TV, music, or art. We
tend to leave people to their own
devices there.”
Explore: All of Lecrae’s albums are
available to listen to on Spotify.
Synopsis: In the future, when the
mob wants to get rid of someone,
they send the target 30 years into
the past, where a “looper”—a hired
gun—is waiting to mop up. Joe is a
Looper, and one day the mob decides to “close the loop,” sending
back Joe’s future self (Bruce
Willis) for assassination.
Our Take: This sounds like a
Christopher Nolan movie (but isn’t). It promises to be incredibly
clever. I hope they keep it to PG13.
Movie: House at the End of the
Street
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: A woman and her teenage daughter move next door to a
house where terrible things happened years ago. When the girl
begins a relationship with the only
survivor of that night, things start to
go badly.
Our Take: This fall’s horror-movie
offering features Hunger Games
star Jennifer Lawrence. So it’s a
good bet that teenagers will be interested.
For more media discussions and
ideas, go to
www.MinistryandMedia.com.
VIDEO GAMES
Ratchet & Clank—This game collects three classic Ratchet & Clank games—fully remastered—in one place.
They’re fun, clever, and mostly teen-friendly platformers. Some titles are full of innuendo: Up Your Arsenal, Going
Commando, etc. (Rated E10; PS3)
Borderlands 2—This first-person shooter has a unique cel-shaded art style, plus technology that can create thousands
of different gun combinations when you kill bad guys and loot their stuff. It also has foul language and lots of gore.
Don’t let your kids talk you into this one. (Rated M; Xbox 360, PS3)
SEPTEMBER 2012
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thurs
Fri
Sat
1
2
NO
EPIC!
3
4
5
6
7
8
13
14
15
20
21
22
C-GROUP
KICK OFF
LABOR DAY
6:30-8:00 pm
9
10
11
12
EPIC
@ 10:45 am
16
C-GROUPS
6:30-8:00 pm
17
18
Lakewood
Bible Club
EPIC
@ 10:45 am
Awaken
10am-3pm
@ GFC
C-GROUPS
6:30-8:00 pm
24
25
26
27
28
29
REVEAL
EPIC
@ 10:45 am
EPIC
Band Camp
@ 4:00 pm
Awaken
23/30
19
Student
Conference
7:00 am
C-GROUPS
6:30-8:00 pm
6:00-9:00 pm
Freedom Hall
* The calendar is accurate at the time of publication. Changes to the schedule can occur as needed.
We are introducing a brand new conference
event that is sure to transform the lives of our
students! Dare 2 Share is bringing their
FOLLOW tour to Chattanooga, March 8-9, 2013.
Our desire is that EVERY student will be able
to attend this event as it lines up so well with
where we are headed as a Student Ministry. It
will help us accomplish our mission statement:
Building up students to reach out to students!
Even though this event is 6 months away we
wanted to make sure you got it on your calendar as it is the first weekend of Spring Break
for Johnson City Public Schools. We will be
providing more details every month as the conference weekend gets closer, so stay tuned…
See You At The Pole is a prayer rally
where students meet at the school flagpole before school to lift up their
friends, families, teachers, school and
nation to God. SYATP is a studentinitiated, student-organized, and student-led event. The start time at each
campus will vary depending on when
school starts. Jason is planning on being
at Science Hill High School that morning
and Josh, our
new Middle
School Pastor,
will be attending
at Liberty Bell
Middle School.
Last year, Grace
Students led the
charge on every
campus represented in our
ministry. Join us
in praying for
them as they
prepare to do
the same this
year!
Lakewood Village Apartment
Bible Club
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 4pm
The time we spent at the Lakewood Village Apartments as part of GFC’s ECHO
week has become more than we could have ever anticipated. God has used that
week to start an ongoing relationship between our church body and the residents
of Lakewood. We have several things in the works for this upcoming school year,
the first of which is launching a monthly Bible Club for the kids that our students
bonded with during ECHO week.
Stay connected with Grace Students:
www.facebook.com/gfcstudents
Twitter: @gfcstudents