Welcome

We at national youth ministries thank God for you and your commitment to youth! Thank you for loving, lifting, leading and living students. This monthly e-publication is about you, the youth leader. Every issue aims to encourage excellence and spark ideas in you as you endeavor to “make disciplined-learners (disciples)” of youth for Jesus Christ. We want to help you win, build and send them to fulfill the Great Commission. You are our heroes in this charge. We believe in you! Pray daily. Live like Jesus. Tell the Truth. Serve others. Give generously. You’ve got Momentum! —Jay Mooney, national youth director

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From Leader to Leader

Garrett Neuman is the team leader of the student ministries at Rockford First Assembly (Illinois).  He mainly focuses on pastoring the middle school students in Junior Varsity Cross Current (JVCC), but his other responsibilities include, pastoral duties, leadership development, RMC Ministry Track training, Chapels at Christian Life School, and the JV Internship program. He and his wife Melissa have been happily married for over 5 years and have two wonderful sons, Grant and Hayden. On a personal level he loves to watch Star Wars and classic Dukes of Hazzard.  He also loves riding and wrenching his custom motorcycle. My first taste of working with Junior High students was in 1995 as a student of the Rockford Master’s Commission.  Through my 4 years of RMC I always loved working with Middle School students at Junior Varsity Cross Current.  I knew my calling was to discipleship so I helped plant a Master’s Commission in Toronto Canada.  During this time I was volunteering as a Jr. High Leader, soon the Sr. Pastor asked my wife and I to take the helm of Jr. High leadership.  God blessed that group of leaders and students and within one year saw it grow tremendously.  Counter Culture grew from 30 students (who didn’t want to be there), to an exciting weekly service of over 120 students who loved God.  At that point I realized I’d found my calling, Jr. High/Middle School Ministry! My personal mission is to give away the “full time” knowledge and experience that God has given me with Jr. High/Middle School students to anyone who has a heart for this age ministry. Raising 13 Year old “Spiritual Giants” "The most influential stage of development in a child's life is the ages of 10-13. That is when he finds who he is, what he is to become and what he will contribute to mankind. It is during these years that ethical, political, philosophical and religious beliefs are formed that will most likely last a lifetime." - Philip G. Zimbardo, PhD.,President: American Psychology Association For the last 10 years, it has been such a privilege to see sixth to eighth graders go from “Sunday School knowledge” to applying Biblical Principles to their real life. I love that “tweeners” are so genuine.  Watching a twelve year old raise their hands in worship, crying, experiencing God for the first time is priceless.  From age to 11-14 students start to make personal decisions that will shape the rest of their life.  You have been given the opportunity of creating their first discipleship moment ever!  The first person that says you believe in them, that you see a calling on their life, that God will use them. These are moments that they will never forget… Our initial response to Middle School ministry is to just try and “get them through” these years, so you can really minister to them in Senior High.  We may see a 4’ tall Middle School student but God sees a “Spiritual Giant”.  I believe it is God’s desire to see Middle School ministry as a place of raising up those “Spiritual Giants”. My hope is to enable you to create an environment for this to happen and to inspire those who run your middle school ministry.  I’d love to send you a FREE DVD of our JV Service, contact me garrett@crosscurrent.cc or www.myspace.com/garrettneuman.

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Ice Breaker (5-10 minutes)

Game - Tarzan, Jane, Ape… This is a great game especially for a night on relationships.  This is the same concept of the game of Rock, Paper, Scissors, played in teams.  First you need to pick 2 teams, of highly expressive students (mixing in a leader is hilarious too).  Guys against girls works well, 3-4 people on each team is best.  The object of the game is to choose the winning “action”. Each “shot” has actions and this is the HILARIOUSLY FUNNY PART.  If the team chooses Tarzan they beat their chest and yell like Tarzan swinging through the trees.  If the team chooses Jane they, strike a feminine pose, one hand on hip, one behind their head and say a feminine Ohhhh!  If the team chooses Ape they scratch their armpit and head and make monkey noises.  Tarzan beats Jane, Jane beats ape, ape beats Tarzan.  The team together has to make a choice whether they will be Tarzan, Jane or Ape.  Usually the best 2 out of 3 elimination is sufficient and will have your crowd rolling in laughter!

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Sermon Outline

TYPICAL Middle School SERVICE SCHEDULE & Principles Behind CHRISTmas Series Week #1 Dec 7'05 6:15     Pre-Service Prayer - Jenna 6:45     Pre Service Party - Christmas Music & Lights 7:00     Intro Video - Interns/Tech -CHRISTmas (Spanish for More of Christ) 7:05     Welcome - Garrett & Ginger -Work up the crowd!!! Meaning of CHRISTmas Series -Giveaway to visitors (CD's from Gottee Records) -Visitor Greeting -Praise & Worship Disclaimer 7:10     Praise - Liz Goggin & Team -Action Song -2 Praise Songs 7:20     Announcement Video - Interns/Tech 7:25     Priority Announcement - Josh & Ginger -Narnia Series in January 7:30     Offering  - Garrett -For "Angel Tree Gifts: for kids whose parents are in Prison -Student prays for Offering 7:35     Worship - Liz Goggin & Team -2 Worship Songs 7:45     Message - Garrett           -Intro           -Funny Christmas Video clip           -Main Point           -Practical Application 8:05     Altar Call / Response + Token - Garrett 8:15     Dimiss     Principle #1 - Children/Students can stay focused for approx. 1 min for each year they are alive.  Example, an 11 year old can stay focused for about 11 minutes.  To ensure that students are listening we build our services in five minute increments.  After five minutes there needs to be a change in presentation style, speaker or emotion.  Students need this change or they tend to check out.  Even though it may seem choppy to you, the students will hear your message. Principle #2 - State your expectations.  Ex. Lets get excited about ______. (then give them time to cheer.)  MS Students need to know what is coming up next and how they are supposed to respond.  The teenager side WANTS the night to be exciting and different but the child side NEEDS clear direction. Principle #3 - What to do with all their ENERGY!!! 11-14 year old students are well known to have an OVER abundance of energy.  During welcome we let them express lots of energy and excitement by yelling for things they are excited about.  We've found that using action songs in Praise help to get their energy out so they can listen later.  Also having a lot of response through message with humor and reading scriptures all together helps handle the extra energy. Quick Tip on finding Jr. High Leadership...To find an adult leader who loves middle school students.  Typically they don't have patience for the "High School Cool Factor".  A great place to look is with parents that volunteer in the children's ministry whose children have grown into Student Ministries age group.

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ILLustration

Have you noticed that EVERYTHING now has an award show (Movies, TV shows, Music Videos, Video Games).  Recently JVCC did a retreat with the theme of “The Legacy Awards.”  These ideas can be used for anything from a retreat to an outreach or an illustrated message. 1. Have students dress up/costume party.  Host a “Red Carpet” w/ interviews and commentary on outfits, take digital pictures & drop into a slideshow to show later in night or on your website.  Students love to see themselves! 2. Tell Bible stories of people who had lives of Legacy like Joseph, Esther, Paul. 3. Have students write “acceptance speeches” thanking people that have encouraged them in their faith. 4. Tell stories of students that have made outstanding choices for God.  Have trophies made at a local Awards shop and present them to the students. 5. Talk about how leaving a Legacy happens through prayer/relationship with God.

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For Your Library

The One Year Chronological Bible –– New Living Translation Book Summary I promise I’m not trying to “brown nose” by recommending a Bible.  My Lead Pastor gave a Chronological New Living Translation of the Bible to all the Pastoral staff and Board to read through and discuss together.  It has REALLY changed my outlook on the scripture.  I’ve read NIV for so long I find myself skipping over common passages.   The New Living Translation has a raw way of stating the truth. There is something about reading Chronologically (in order events happened) that has really changed my outlook on the scripture.  There is a whole different level of understanding when you read about David’s life and have Psalms inserted when he wrote them.  Paul’s missionary journey’s come alive when you read the letters he sent as he traveled.  It really is a different look at Jesus when you put all four gospels together.  The most impacting part was reading about the “Exiles”.  Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Esther, Mordecai, Ezra, Nehemiah, all happened within approximately 160 years or each other. purchase the book online: Hardcover –– Christianbook.com Softcover –– Christianbook.com

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Quotes for Leadership

(taken from The New Encyclopedia of Christian Quotes  copyright  (c)1979,1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.) Start with what you can do; don't stop because of what you can't do. Author unknown I read of George Whitefield, preaching, and as he was preaching about the glories of grace and salvation, the tears were pouring down his cheeks, and those who listened to him were weeping too. It is true of all these men, yet we may be so hard and so intellectual and so controlled. This is not a plea for emotionalism, which I have denounced, it is a plea for emotion. M. Lloyd-Jones Shared joy is double joy and shared sorrow is half-sorrow. Swedish proverb Don't count the days, make the days count. Author unknown

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Statistics that Speak

Three-quarters of America’s youth (73%) have engaged in at least one type of psychic or witchcraft-related activity, beyond mere media exposure or horoscope usage. Seven million teens have encountered an angel, demon, or some other supernatural being. Nearly two million youth claim they have psychic powers. More than one-quarter of teens believe horoscopes are always or usually true. Above stats found at barna.org

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From the Field

AIM In 2005 we had 169 registered AIM teams traveling to 47 different destinations to share the Good News.  To date, AIMers have ministered to 15,526 people and have seen an incredible 5,289 people come to Christ!   If your youth group was part of this summer's  harvest, and we haven't received your Outreach Report, please visit http://aim.ag.org/forms/aimpacket_online.pdf  print, and complete the Outreach Report / Giving Credit form (page 8) and FAX (417-862-1693) or mail today.  We are excited to add your AIM 05 statistics, and want to insure that your church receives giving credit for your total expenses.  Questions?  Contact AIM at: aim@ag.org or 417-862-2781 x4039.

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Resources

Online Daily Devotional Beginning January 1, 2006 students can go online for a daily devotional. Each day a new devotional will appear, including Scripture assage, prayer emphasis, through-the-Bible reading plan, reflective questions and additional Web links and resource materials for further study. Go to: http://www.youth.ag.org/discipleship.

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