We are very thankful for all the hard work and love that John and Marisabel Becker put into the High School Ministry and for how God is now blessing them in their new ministry in Atlanta.

After they left, we issued an open invitation to all the parents of youth in the church and the youth workers to come to a planning meeting at the Tarte's house on August 23rd. We had about 20 people come, including High School and Middle School parents, teen workers and three High School teens for a spiritual lesson, a prayer, and a planning session.

We decided that we needed to "win our teens over to God" like Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. So, we decided that since we have them all together on Sunday mornings, let's make their Sunday morning experience really fun, really powerful, and really faith-building! So, our Middle School Leaders, David and Renea Hamilton, volunteered to meet again with the group and plan some really powerful "Youth" (High School and Middle School combined) services. (Note: the two ministries are still separate ministries. The Hamiltons lead the Middle School Ministry while Deundra and Ingrid Peavey and Julio and Jean Marte lead the H.S. ministry. Jeff Chacon will oversee both. We are meeting together on Sundays in order to combine our resources and maximize the Sunday morning experience!)

So far, the reports from the teens themselves are very encouraging! The services (which take place in the Media Room at Burnett Middle School and start at 10am, just like the adult service) usually begin with "really cool at any age"Jeff Lanius, leading singing and playing guitar and harmonica for us! Then someone does a high energy welcome and prayer, followed by some zany and fun group activity or skit (like the one Philip and Natalie Goodchild put together where one person stands behind another and puts their arms through the other person's arms, and then they need to make a sandwich – blindfolded! It was very messy and very fun!) Then someone does a spiritual lesson from the Bible (one week was on how much we need God and each other to stand strong through peer-pressure at school, and another week focused on having your own faith, etc.). Finally, we break up into several discussion groups around the room, led by an adult facilitator, and people can respond to and discuss applications to the lesson.

Many thanks to all the people who are helping in this ministry (too numerous to name, but you know who you are!), and our greatest thanks to God who is stirring the hearts of our young people and turning their eyes toward him.

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