The Parent Page

Dear Parent,

From time to time I would like to communicate to you on what we're doing with your young people and how we can partner together to help them grow in their spiritual walk. I hope this newsletter gives you a glimpse of some exciting things we hope to do this year, and how we can do it together to impact your student's life.

Last month at our Congregational Meeting, I shared my vision for doing student ministry. It involves around helping parents be the champion God has called them to be in their homes. Here's my reasoning.

An alarming statistics indicate that a majority of churched high school graduates drop out of church within the first year or two of college. Some place the statistic at 7 out of 10, but according to the North American Mission Board, it places it at 88%. This statistic is quite staggering.

How many teens do you know who have been a part of the youth group and are no longer to be seen once they graduated from high school? What is the problem or what is going wrong? Are we not doing enough or missing the mark in certain areas?

What is happening in the last 20-30 years, parents have passed on the direct discipling and spiritual development of their students to the church. While this is not true in every case, many parents have taken a back seat role in spiritually developing and discipling their children.

Parents, you hold the most influential role in your child's life. God has placed you there to diligently invest, disciple and model what it means to follow Jesus. It takes time, effort, attention and hard work.

So I'm asking you to partner with me and be actively involved in your child's spiritual life. I have them only 1% of their time each week, and I need your help during the week. My hope is to equip and encourage you to be the primary discipler. Find out what they're learning on Friday and Sunday. Ask them questions about the sermon or church service. Engage them in conversations and challenge them to greater commitment. Help them apply what they learned and put into practice. Encourage them to lead and serve. When they do that, they will be the leaders to their friends, in their small groups, and in their church when they go off to college.

When we team up we can make a difference in their spiritual life for many years to come. Thank you for the privilege of serving.

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

We formed a Student Ministry Leadership Team and met for the first time last Sunday. This team consists of parents, workers and student. Its purpose is to work with the Youth Pastor and help give guidance and direction to the Student Ministry. If you are interested in helping and serving, let Pastor Panha know.

Our next meeting will be Sunday, February 18 at 12:30 pm.

This Sunday is our Student High Attendance Sunday. Please do encourage your student to be in church this Sunday (and every Sunday).

After both services, our students will be collecting $1 from each person for The Souper Bowl of Caring. This is a youth-led, grassroots movement of caring, to help fight hunger and poverty.

The Super Bowl Party will be held at the Metzger's house on Sunday, February 4 from 4 to 8 pm. We ask parents to help bring sweets like cookies, brownies or cakes. Many thanks!

Each week we are using a video-based curriculum called FUEL. Fuel has all the elements to help youth connect with Scripture. Intense drama, energetic teen hosts, and experienced youth leaders make this study unique and relevant to teen's lives.

Friday's FUEL (Fuel2) is going over some of the essential doctrines of the Bible. Some of the topics covered were Worldview, Theology, Truth, The Bible and the Trinity.

Sunday's FUEL (Fuel1) is going over the Bible in two years by covering major characters and events. We kicked this study three weeks ago and covered The Creation, The Fall, and Cain and Abel. This Sunday we will cover Noah and the Flood.

Please encourage your student to be attend church and be fed spiritually as well as being among Christian friends.

Coming in March...

DiscipleNow Weekend is a weekend where students spend the weekend being discipled by area college students and enjoy food, fun, relationships and growth in Christ in a host home.

We will need host homes for overnight stay. Please let Pastor Panha know if you're interested in opening your home for junior high, 9-10 grades and 11-12 grades. More info to come...

An Evening with Josh McDowell on "Why Belief Matters."

Thursday, February 22 from 7-10pm at Community Bible Church. Sponsored by SA Christian Schools.

See Beverly Metzger if you need more info...

Living with Teenagers

Here's an October 2006 issue of Living with Teenagers magazine. There are some good articles you may want to check out.

You can also subscribe and receive hard copy in your mailbox.