Author: Wesley Fryer

I interviewed Brian Wagner, Director of Student Ministries at First Presbyterian Church of Edmond, Oklahoma, today at “Follow Me Sunday.”

Learn more on:
http://www.fpcedmond.org/students

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This is the curriculum our 12th graders are using in Sunday School this year.

http://www.trueu.org/

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These are my notes from our middle and high school Sunday School teacher training on August 28, 2011. These are mostly ideas shared by Brian Lamb.

We brainstormed characteristics of “meaningful mentors”

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Kids born after 1992…
– there has always been an Internet ramp onto tone information highway
– Ferris Bueller could be their parent
– more…

I’m going to assume if your cell phone is out, you are googling something and are about to make an incredibly astute contribution to class

Brian has to teach his students who are not African American who Rosa Parks was

Interesting study on undergrad research among 13 institutions in Oklahoma
– kids can retain / recall 15% from amy one communication / event stimulus Researchers define generations by going through common events together, rites of passage at formative years
– so now with lots of info generations are getting narrower

GenY
– searching for great personal fulfillment
– very short attention spans
– lack discretion for filters and boundaries
– busy
– very connected
– prefer to work in teams
– struggle with independent decisions and critical thinking
– ambitious yet a bit clueless GenZ born after 94-95
–

Generational Characteristics in the Workforce
– matures, baby boomers, Gen X, Gen WhY?

Engagement: what does it mean?
– participation is the crucial ingredient to our success
– these kids need the guide on the side, not the sage on the stage

Every lesson:
– start with what they already know

Kids can’t imagine stuff that hasn’t happened to them yet

Aural: Visual
Kinethetic

Biggest mistake made by sincere, well intentioned teachers: they teach the way THEY learn

Kids teach the way they learn

Watch how you present material with concrete examples

Don’t confuse activity with engagement, projects engagement, engagement = participation

Most effective phrases
– what do you think about that
– why do you feel that way
– how would Jesus use this info?
– how might others feel about is

What, how, why?

Psalm 85:10-13

Don’t tell students, “When I was a kid…” instead say “Let me tell you a story…” & it will hook them more

We are using Student Life website as curriculum for middle and high school students

http://www.studentlife.com

The login for our curriculum page is:

http://biblestudy.studentlife.com

Our site uses:
http://reftagger.com
(this shows more info about specific verses)

Thinking about structure for our Sundays:

Socialization
Big Together Event Assembly
Transition
Small Groups

The content filter we have at our church SAVED us today when someone mistyped a direct URL on the main projector screen

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I recorded a video with Robert Menja today about Team Kenya.

Learn more on:
http://upendokidsinternational.org

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This seems closely analogous to the selling of indulgences by the Catholic Church in the 15th century. Why would God uniquely authorize grace and forgiveness to boost attendance at a Papal event in Spain this month? Answer: He wouldn’t. This is an example of the will of men (the Pope and Catholic Church leadership, in this case) gone awry.

“The Vatican has given authority to priests who are in Madrid during the pope’s visit there to give absolution to women who confess to having had an abortion – and has empowered priests to lift excommunications for such women…. Lombardi said that the Vatican often extends authority to absolve certain sins and to lift excommunications at big papal events. Any woman who knows that the church considers abortion a sin and goes through with the procedure is automatically excommunicated, Lombardi said.”

Read the entire article:
Church extends authority to absolve sin of abortion for papal visit

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/18/authority-to-absolve-sin-of-abortion…

What’s your take on this?

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These are my notes from the parent meeting for Middle and High school youth ministries on August 21, 2011 at our church in Edmond, Oklahoma.
http://www.fpcedmond.org/students

These are out goals for student ministries at FPCE this year.

Growth – youth group double in size
More worship oriented students
Happier, vibrant youth group
Stronger relationships (outside of church)
Know the Word of God and be obedient to it
Consistency in Attendance
Externally focused: Missional
Students Minister to Adults

A huge goal which did not make the list but Brian Lamb added for our meeting today: For every youth to form a deeper and more meaningful personal relationship with Christ

Voting results:

We want to create a culture of expectancy for parents for equipping families, not just focusing directly on students
– ministries are acting in partnership with families

Expectancy steps:

My comment after hearing other parents mention this: Since high school meeting time is Sunday night and not on Wednesdays, there is concern many high school students will choose NOT to help out with ministry in other areas and just go to other churches on Wednesday nights. It will be interesting to see how this develops. The idea of having high schoolers in ministry to others on Wednesday nights is good. It sounds like some will prefer to “be served” rather than serve on Wednesday nights, however.

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