Lakewood United Methodist Church
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
of North Little Rock, Arkansas
Upcoming Events and Activities for YOUth!
 
 
 
February 3-5: Lakewood YOUth Council “Frontline” Retreat @ Mount Eagle Retreat Center. What if the YOUth Council was the Frontline of Lakewood’s YOUth Ministry? What if it was the driving force behind making Jesus famous in this generation and creating a world-changing movement for Him? It starts in our own backyards, schools, and neighborhoods when we create an environment — a friendship epidemic — where bridges are built between hearts so Jesus can cross over!

February 24-26: Veritas @ Rogers John Q Hammons Convention Center. Bringing together nearly 1000 youth in grades 7-12, Veritas is a weekend to celebrate, worship, learn, experience, and be energized to serve God together. This year’s speaker is Mark Oestreicher, worship will be lead by Kyle Cantrell, and Drew Worshem joins as special guest. Choose from several different workshop breakouts.
 
And on June 10-16 and 24-30, it's OMP! The Ozark Mission Project heads to Bear Creek and Camp Preston Hunt this summer, and here's the Registration/Permission form.
 
Here's the entire Spring 2012 Calendar and the Permission/Consent Form for the stuff that needs it! 
 
 
YOUth L.I.F.E. Groups meet at 10 am on Sundays in the YOUth area downstairs near the Plaza Entrance. Designed to help young people Live In Faith Everyday, Junior and Senior High L.I.F.E. Groups include a rotation of amazing leaders we call ARMS or Adult Role Models.

Learning to Live In Faith Everyday involves Bible study, prayer, discussion, and authentic fellowship where a community of faith is developed among young people and adults who love and care for them.

Sunday Night Live meets most Sunday nights at a variety of times and for a variety of activities, and SNL is the key "open door" into the Lakewood YOUth community. All are welcome! A "typical" schedule, unless noted otherwise is Jr. High 5 - 6:30 pm & Sr. High 6 - 7:30 pm.

4:45 pm: Doors and Game Room open: Welcome Jr. High!
5:15 pm: Jr. High SNL begins
6:00 pm: Combined Jr. & Sr. High activity: Welcome Sr. High!
6:30 pm: Sr. High SNL begins: Thanks for coming Jr. High!
7:45 pm: Doors are closed: Thanks for coming Sr. High!

Once monthly is Snack Supper in Wesley Hall for Jr. & Sr. High at 6pm. Enjoy a great meal for just $1! We offer nights that focus on spiritual growth, missions, worship, outreach, and more--check the calendar for more specifics. Check back here or on Facebook for updates and reminders.

Wednesday Night Interest Groups meet from 6 - 7:15 pm and offer ways for you to grow in your faith or learn some skills that are beneficial inside and outside the church. The last Wednesday of the month is a family game or movie night. Spring semester 2012:
January - JAM (Jesus And Me) Time: How to Have a Quiet Time
February - Nights of Art 2
March - How to Share Your Faith Without Being Obnoxious
April - Creative Writing
May - the Bible 4 Dummies
 
A Youth Ministry Minute: Why Youth Ministry?
By Andrew Suite, our new Director of Youth Ministry

I am so very excited to be serving as the new Director of Youth Ministry at Lakewood UMC! My wife Kelli and our two kids Cole and Olivia are looking forward to what God has in store for our ministry with you, our new church family. It will surely be a grand adventure! We have yet to move to the North Little Rock area, but we have been blown away by the reception we have received so far—most of it via Facebook! I am so humbled by the kind comments from those we are coming to be in community with and those we are leaving. As we get to know one another, you may wonder why I think youth ministry is so important.

Young people are amazing! Their energy, vitality, interest in spiritual things, desire for significance and making a difference in the world, and ability to be raw and real all contribute to my love for teenagers.

This is a critical time in their development through adolescents to young adults and for the Kingdom of God. Statistics show that 80-90% of people who ever give their lives to Christ do so before the age of 18-20. More alarmingly, a large number of young people are said to walk away from the church and their faith within their first years of college or soon after high school graduation.

While God is certainly bigger than statistics, my desire is to see this trend reversed and see young people—the church of tomorrow AND today—make Jesus famous in this generation and create a world-changing movement for Him. Wouldn’t it be amazing if this was the generation that sees the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations completed?

Biblically, I see youth and children’s ministry as a large part of our marching orders from the King of kings. As a nation set apart for God was chosen and Moses shared the law he said, “Teach them to your children and to their children after them (Deuteronomy 4:9).” Jesus Himself said to “let the…children come to me…for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these (Matthew 19:14).”

My favorite Biblical rationale for youth ministry is found in John 21. While the Old Testament chronicles the birth of a nation, this chapter marks the birth of the church and reveals to me the importance of youth and children’s ministry. A resurrected Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him. As Peter painfully recalls his three denials just days earlier at Jesus’ trial, he tells his master he does love Him.

Putting the fascinating study of the Greek words being used aside, Jesus’ response is very telling. He first says, “Feed my lambs (v. 15),” and then, “Take care of my sheep (v.16)…Feed my sheep (v. 17).” It’s as if Jesus is saying taking care of the lambs—our youth and children—is of primary importance for the church. Arguably, it’s worth at least 1/3 of our time, effort, and resources.

God has wired me with a passion to care for and see a generation transformed in order that they may transform the world for Him. Again, my life’s mission is to make Jesus famous in this generation and create a world-changing movement for Him. And I am looking forward to joining the mission of Lakewood UMC “Expanding the Light by seeking, serving, and sharing the message of Jesus Christ.”