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Update From Shepherds

In our continuing effort to keep you informed, we want to update you regarding our current thinking about the congregation’s relationship with our teens and the staffing of that part of our work. Over the past few years we have emphasized the obvious. Parents have the primary responsibility for and the overwhelming influence on the spiritual development of young persons. Thankfully, our teen parents have wholeheartedly agreed. The congregation does have a role in that process, however. As you know, one of our overarching hopes for us is that we will become a community with more and more intergenerational relationships. This is particularly true for our teen members. Because of the strong tendency of all of us to spend most of our time with others of our own age, however, this requires intentionality and significant staff time and effort. As this relates to our teens we determined two difficulties this past spring. First, our staffing plan at that time had not had sufficient time provide adequate mentoring for Jessica Sloan and Scott. This was unfair to them and adversely affected their experience and effectiveness. Second, we were unable to recruit a replacement for Jessica. This possibly in large measure was the result of the sub optimum and undefined mentoring.

Given these difficulties we concluded that a more mature and experienced person who could focus on this area would be of great value. Because of this, we asked Chris Dell to consider a staff role focused on this area on a trial basis for a few months at half time status. As most of you know, Chris has had years of experience in this area, great passion for God and teens, as well as a wonderful testimony to that passion in his children, Carissa, Harrison and Mallory. This was to be a trial both for him and us. This trial period is coming to a close at the end of the year as does Scott’s two years with us.

In light of all of this, we, and Chris, are now in the process of assessment in order to make two decisions. First, does Chris want and do we want him to continue in that role and at what level, that is, half time, full time or something in between? Second, is their a significant continued need for a younger intern role like that provided by Jessica and Scott? Ed Miller and Myron Mizell have met with and had other conversations with Chris as well as the parent leaders, Josh and Sharon Zahn, Jeanette Graham and Rob Fridge. They now, in turn, are seeking input from parents in this regard. We will be making decisions in these matters over the next few weeks and will inform you promptly as they are made.

Activities

The group gets together every Sunday and Wednesday night. On Sunday nights there are several activities throughout the month:

On Wednesday nights we meet in our Lifegroups. A Lifegroup is a group of teens from the same grade led by a non-youth group family (lifeguards). We love the idea of the teens having the opportunity to be lead/mentored by a couple (other than me or their parents) all throughout their junior high and high school years. We believe this blesses their spiritual development as well as our experience of community.

Once a month on Sunday nights we will have an "In-Home Devo" which involves us all going to a family's home to be together and worship together. The other activity we have every month is when Lifegroups meet at the building together. When the Lifegroups meet together we have worship and present something from scripture that the groups then are sent out to discuss.

Scott Light - Youth Minister

I am originally from O'Fallon, IL. In 2007, I graduated from Harding University with a Bachelor's Degree in Youth and Family Ministry. Other than working at Sonic for a year, I have never held a position that didn't involve teens, and I can hardly imagine things otherwise. I love them. It seems God was serious in Jeremiah when He said He has plans because it is clear to me that He has sovereignly guided me thus far. I find constant guidance, encouragement, and hope in Eph. 3:14-21 & Phil. 3:7-16. Oh, that I might give up all in order to gain Christ, and that, though we are yet perfected, we might press on with the strength to comprehend how long, and wide, and deep is His Love!