Greetings and blessings, it has been awhile since I have written an update. I have not heard from you and wondered if this is a help to your family ministry. I love to write and want to be helpful with book reviews, hints, tips etc. However, I need to hear from you as to whether you read the updates, value the advice or is there something else you would prefer. Let me know by commenting on this post.

Last six weeks of study we have gone over the GRACE outline. GRACE Study for Gospel Sharing We have talked about justification and sanctification Justify and Sanctify and did a bait and switch using pastoring and dating (ask your student about the teaching) The challenge of Pastoring. We have done skits on different proverbs Proverbs 21 Proverbs  10 Application Exercise. Sunday evenings we finished a series on Cults and other Religions and have started meeting on the hill for Sunday nights.

It is time to get Super Summer money and paperwork in for this summer. I will need everything by the time I send it out on May 29th, 25th preferred. The cost is $150 ($180 after May 29th).

Blessings

LT

January was a fruitful time as we grow in the Lord. We had several who have come forward for baptism and we are working through those commitments as I write this. Pray for the students and their families as we share the gospel and affirm their faith.

Sunday mornings we have been studying Ephesians along with the church. When we finish, our plan is to study Romans. I had a great time last Sunday teaching the middle school boys as Brett Gross was leading some of our worship team students as they led worship at another church.

Sunday night we have looked at the Marks of a true Christian Romans 12 9-21 Marks of a True Christian . We have reviewed the sin cycle and what Biblical counseling looks like. How People Change

Wednesday night we looked at the flesh The Flesh which has a great write up in the book “Dug Down Deep” by Joshua Harris.

Our trip to the CAC in January was very productive in that we had many opportunities to connect and help kids with their homework, reading and Lisa Crosson did an outstanding job working with them. She even went back with a friend to help with makeup, nails, and hair for their winter ball.

Here is the calender for 2011 2011 Schedule for Students please help your student make commitments to go and sign up. You should have gotten your 2011 medical release forms. Please review them, correct any updates, sign it, and return them. Your student cannot go with us without the signed forms. Please help me with this as it is a major effort to chase them down before a trip after they have been sent out and not returned.

D Now weekend is coming up and we will need at least two more homes for students to stay at. Two for boys and possibly another for girls. I have two homes already for girls. Pastor Travis Peterson will be the speaker and the cost is $10. They must sign up in the Annex list to have a spot.

Pray for our worship team as they prepare to lead a student conference in Dixon Illinois on February 20th. I was speaking at a conference and met a man named Butch. He is 61 and three students from his church asked him to start a youth group. We connected and talked through many challenges in student ministry. He told me that he was taking them to their first outing on February 20th in Dixon Illinois. God has a sense of humor. I am looking forward to see Butch again at the conference.

Walk humbly with your God and daily with your students in love.

Blessings

LT

Happy New Year friends, I pray that you are considering how God has moved in 2010 and learn from the challenges as we grow together in Christ. I pray you are looking forward to the new year and how we can further impact the world for Christ. I have put together a schedule of events for 2011 2011 Schedule for Students. This is as best we know it and will be updated if needed.

Thank you for your prayers, notes, and encouragement. It means a lot as every week can be a challenge in student ministry. I could not do this without our volunteers who have grasped the ministry by building relationships with the students and loving on them in Christ. They come every Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, and go on trips because they love Christ and love students. Please, when you see them, thank them and pray for them. Erin Westfall, Mary Blair, Stacey Blair, Sarah Ballard, Brett Gross, Dewayne Gerberding, Rob Mardirosian, Susan Price, Terry Price, Audrey Trembly, Matt Trembly, Donny Miller, and Mark Warnock. There are a number of new folks looking to join us this year and we are working together to see where they fit in the mninstry.

It is a new year and we will need new 2011 Medical release forms for the year. As a reminder, fill out one form and your student is good for the whole year to go on events with the youth group. You can find the form at http://www.heart-for-god.com/forms.htm or your student can get the form at the Annex. Please fill them out and get them in as soon as possible, events and trips are coming up!

On January 16th at 4:00pm at the Annex please come with your student if they have an interest in the worship band or drama team. We are looking at starting a new group and want to meet with you and your student.

Youth Encounter 2010 was a really deep time in the Lord. Mark Warnock was our key speaker and the bands/artists were very God focused. You can experience some of the trip at http://fbccnetwork.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=42. The worship team led worship, gave testimony, drama, and preached the word at Belle Rive Illinois on New Years Eve you can experience the trip at http://fbccnetwork.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=43.

Here are some of the life lessons we have covered in the past month: Kings Lesson on Older Verses Younger Student Version, A Gift from God to the Dead, and there are others in Proverbs that we have worked through.

One on One Discipleship has taken root in our group. There are currently ten students in one on one relationships and at 6 more getting started. This is a glorious way to grow in Christ.

Our goal this year is to worship, grow and impact the world for Christ as we develop a heart for God.

Pray for us, join us, and or visit us as we are the church. We are missionaries and living out our faith in Christ. let’s get Radical this year.

Blessings

LT

Monday I was excited to start Corey Gaynor, Luke McClanahan, and Paul McClanahn on one on one discipleship. This is a key to growing in Christ. Pray for us as we begin our journey together to grow in Christ.

Wednesday we studied by reading the Scriptures together. The story from beginning to end all based on Scripture. (Bible in Total Story ). We also had some prayer in prep for the Life Book and we got ready for the Lake Sallateeska trip.

The trip to Lake Sallateeska was the best one yet. Five churches attended and 80 people. I had the joy to play on the worship team and Mark Warnock was a blessing sharing the Word of God. Here are the pics from the trip http://fbccnetwork.com/gallery/index.php?cat=8 We learned a lot in the Lord and the weather was wonderful.

Youth Encounter is coming up and the cost is $50. After next week the cost will be $60 as the cost will be raised for late registration. Check with your students to see if they signed up. Details at http://www.ilstudentz.com/

We are going to have more free books very soon for our students to start their own spiritual library. Readers are leaders or you will remain ignorant all your life.

We have had several students make professions of faith over the last month. Please pray that they would follow through and grow in the knowledge and understanding of Christ.

I will be on vacation November 18th through the 21st.

May the Lord Bless you these Thanksgiving Holidays

LT