Are We Friendly? Take the Quiz!

One of the advantages to a small church youth group like ours is that it allows us to get to know everyone. No one should feel lost in the crowd, or like no one will notice whether they come or not. We can be a close-knit group the intimately invests in each other's lives.

But along with being close-knit comes certain challenges. How do newcomers feel when they visit our group? We will never be a perfect group, and we can always find opportunities to grow. Making people feel welcome is a group effort in which each of us can play a part!

In my devotions last week, I read a section of Romans 15. Verses 5 and 7 lept off the page at me:

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

 First, it's hard to justify rejecting someone because they don't look, act, or think like I do, or like I think they should, when I think about how Christ has accepted me and loved me even when I was an enemy of God.

Second, accepting others brings praise and glory to God! That's exciting! I want to be a part of bringing unity, so that "with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Results: 

According to the author...

• "If most of your answers are fours or fives, great! Your group is accepting and open to newcomers and has potential for growth. 
• If most of your answers are ones, twos or threes, think of why it's wishful thinking to expect newcomers to feel accepted in your group. 
• On paper, list actions or attitudes that would move your answer to fours or fives. Then for starts, choose one action or attitude to work on your 'acceptance ability.'"

The quiz results are anonymous, but if you want to share, tell us how you scored in the comments below. 

The Year So Far

It's been awhile since I last posted, but we've been busy! Here's a few highlights from the year so far:

January

After the epic Christmas party, we kept it low key with a game night.

February

In February, we helped prepare and serve the dinner at the college group's outreach activity: a comedy night.

The girls also had a Valentine's Day Party. We decorated cupcakes and made valentines for everyone in the group.

 

March

We surprised Haylee with a 16th birthday party!

Isaac was really into it.

April

In April, several of the girls and the guys served at the Annual Kindred Hearts Ladies' Tea.

Photos by Star Hill

We also held our first Parent's Meeting, where we introduced our purpose statement, vision, and objectives. We also discussed current issues in our culture that affect teens, current issues in our group, and the youth group calendar of events.

May

This month, we had planned two sleepovers, one for the guys and one for the girls, but had to cancel due to too many other things going on at the time. Several of you enjoyed Family Camp with your families.

June

June was a crazy month! We were involved with teaching classes, registration, decorating, snacks, games, and music for Vacation Bible School from the 10th through the 14th.

 

 

The following Sunday was Youth Sunday! Pastor Joel preached on the "Christian Family," which became a sermon series. We sang two special music songs as a group, and the girls also sang a special music song. and managed every aspect of the service from leading the songs to passing the offering plates.

July

Teen camp got the month off to a great start. Junior camp followed, and we ended the month with a graduation party for Brittany.

Photo by Mikayla

August

The much anticipated Fun Trip took place the first few days of August, the 2nd-4th. We drove to California early Friday morning, and spend the day at the beach, stopping for dinner and a tour at a Chick Fil A owned by former members of our church. Saturday we spent the day at Knotts Berry Farm. Sunday, we enjoyed the church services at Lighthouse Bible Fellowship, where we'd been blessed to stay at their facilities for the three day trip.

 

What was your favorite of the activities so far this year? What do you hope we do before the year is over? Let us know in the comments!

Youth Group Outreach

“The King will reply,‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’"Matthew 25:40

As the youth group has read and discussed the book "Crazy Love" for the past several weeks, we've been motivated by God's crazy love for us to extend that love to others. One practical way we want to show God's love this Christmas season is by distributing Christmas Care Packages to a few families in our communities in need. Each care package will contain food, paper products, toiletries, some holiday items, and the gospel.  

From now until December 17th, the youth group in collaboration with Food For Families is collecting donations for the care packages. Please consider spending just a little extra this week to purchase some of the following items: 

• tins of ham
• boxes of candy canes
• canned vegetables
• canned fruit
• boxed mashed potatoes
• tea, coffee, hot chocolate
• Christmas goodies, such as nuts, pretzels, chocolates
• pasta
• cereal
• boxed cookie mixes
• personal care items, such as shampoo, soap, and toothpaste
• Christmas napkins, paper plates, cups 
• facial tissue, toilet paper

Please bring your donations to church on the 11th and place them in the Food For Families hamper in the foyer and the tote in the cry room, or bring your donations to your mid-week small group (most likely, someone from your small group will be working at the church during the week, and could deliver your donations for you). 

Thank you for partnering with us to bring the gospel to our communities! 

Brian and Emily Conley, and the Southeast Valley Baptist Church Youth Group

"If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." James 2:15,16

What does it look like to have idols?

 I read these questions a few weeks ago on my friend Natalie's blog. We've been talking about idols now and then, so I thought you might like these questions. 

"If you want deep intimacy with God, He will eventually uproot your idols. He will mess with you. But it's all for your greater good. He's after your joy even more than you or I want. And I know it doesn't fell good, and at times it feels like your in wrestling match, or have been abandoned, but trust me on this, He loves you, and He knows what's best for you.

"David Powilson, offers these questions to uncover what may be an idol in your heart, which I thought were great...

What am I most afraid of?
What do I long for passionately?
What do I run to for comfort?
What do I complain about the most?
What angers me the most?
What makes me the happiest?
How do I explain myself to others?
What has caused me to be angry with God?
What do I brag about?
What do I want to control?
What comfort do I treasure the most?
Whose approval to I seek?
If I could change one thing in my life, what would it be?
Who do I sacrifice the most for in my life?
What do I want to have more than anything else?"

What do you think? Is there anything that comes to your mind that God might be telling you is time to let go?

Coming September 11th!

In case you didn't get the email: 

First, we want to apologize for the very short notice last week when the youth group sang special music. Through a mistake, we were planning for the wrong Sunday. Second, thank you so much for being flexible! We were so impressed when we arrived on Sunday morning for practice to see all the teens ready and waiting. We feel privileged to serve such dedicated teens and parents! 

The recent time changes and adjustments to the services and programs at Southeast Valley Baptist have given us the opportunity to evaluate the current youth group schedule and implement some changes of our own.  

• ·         We have decided to keep youth group on Sunday nights since that time seems to work best for everyone.
• ·         But, we will move the time back to 6:30 pm to give everyone a chance to eat dinner and drive to the church.
• ·         We will combine the youth group midweek small group with the way Sunday nights were before into one Sunday night session. As a result, Sunday nights will run a little longer, until 8:30 pm.
• ·         We will start at 6:30 pm. with a game or activity, followed by a praise and worship, and ending with the teaching time. 

Attached to this email is a new calendar for youth group events for the rest of this year, September through December 2011. You'll see that the time changes for Sunday School and Youth Group have been incorporated, as well as a new schedule for activities. Our plan is to have one opportunity for outreach and one fun night every month. The outreach projects are on the first Saturday, and the fun nights are on the third Saturday of every month. 

In other news, during the month of September we will begin reading and discussing the book “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan. If you are unfamiliar with Francis Chan’s ministry or “Crazy Love,” check out the synopsis, introductory video, and even download the table of contents and chapter of the book on the crazy love book website. Please pray with us for God to use this study to change us for His glory.

Expect another email soon with details about the upcoming outreach opportunity for September!

In Christ,

Brian and Emily Conley

P.S. If Sunday night really isn’t going to work for you, talk to us about it.