PLUGGED IN PARENTS NEWSLETTER (OCTOBER 2013)

7/27/2019 PLUGGED IN PARENTS NEWSLETTER (OCTOBER 2013)

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A publication of IBC Student Ministry.

www.ibclrstudents.org © 2013

STUDENT MINISTRY STAFF

Matt Hubbard

ead Student Pastor

Melissa Sponer

Girls Ministry Associate

Ross Spigner

Middle School Pastor

Amanda Bea

Ministry Assistant

HIGH SCHOOL AND MASCOT:

Morrilton Devil Dogs

MOST HATED CHORE AS A KID:

Dusting.

HIGH SCHOOL AND MASCOT:

Magnolia Panthers


Raking pine straw.

HIGH SCHOOL AND MASNorth Pulaski Falcons

MOST HATED CHORE AS A

Unloading the Dishwash

HIGH SCHOOL AND MASCOT: Arkansas Baptist Eagles


Vacuuming.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

STEVE GEURIN

MY FAMILY: RAMONA (WIFE, LITERACY COACH AT ROBERTS ELEMENTARY) SCOTT (SON, ELECTRICAL ENGINEER) LAURA (DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, TEACHER AT ROBERTS ELEMENTARY) TAYLOR (SON, SEMINARY STUDENT AT BEESON DIVIN ITY SCHOOL) HOLLY (LONG-HAIRED CHIHUAHUA)

WHERE I SERVE: I TEACH 10TH GRADE DURING THE 10:30 HOUR.

I HAVE SERVED FOR: 8 YEARS.

MY DREAM VACATION DESTINATION IS: A BEACH IN MEXICO WITH NOTHING TO DO BUT READ AND SLEEP.

MY FAVORITE SNACK FOOD IS: PEANUT BUTTER FILLED PRETZELS

MY FAVORITE BIBLE STORY IS: ESTHER...NOT TYPICALLY THE FAVORITE STORY FOR GUYS, BUT I THINK TH CONCEPT OF “FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS” IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT!

MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THIS ABOUT ME: I WAS BAPTIZED IN AN ACTUAL RIVER ON A SUNDAY AFTER CHURCH.

http://www.ibclrstudents.org/






O N TH E W E B

S e e d s W o r s h i p

F a m i l y M a t t e r s

I N P R I N T

P l a y i n g f o r K e e p s/L o

s i n g Y o u r M a r b l e s b y R

e g g i e J o i n e r

A c c e l e r a t e: P a r e n t i n g T e e n s T

o w a r d A d u l t h o o d b y

D r.

R i c h a r d R o s s

5 2 C r e a t i v e F a m i l y

T i m e Ex p e r i e n c e s b y

T i m S m i t h

C h u r c h + H o m e: A P r

o v e n F o r m u l a f o r B u

i l d i n g L i f e l o n g

F a i t h b y M a r k H o l m e n

NGAGE

E EVER-ANTICIPATED

WAKENINGPriority of Prayer

w years back, the student ministry

of Immanuel saw a huge need. I

’t know all the history, but I’m sure

cluded a thought process much like

The staff probably realized that

hing we could dream up...no

rbitant amount of pizza and

einated drinks, no hugely talentedship leader or speaker with painted

kinny jeans, not even the most

-planned GO trip to the most fertile

sion field on the planet...could

rantee the movement of Christ.

doesn’t operate in our time or

n we think He should. He is Lord!

nk the student staff realized back

, as we keep being reminded even

ay, that God will show up and rock

and, change our people, and bring

glory when His people seek His

! During this time, they started ar called the Bridge Prayer Letter

engaged our Senior Adults. These

or Adults who probably do not

e the stamina nor the strength nor

nsanity (just kidding...tho you who have

n on a student trip know exactly what

talking about.) to go on a student trip,

they have experienced firsthand the

wer of prayer and have seen God move

r generations and want to experience it

n. This generation of adults have truly

n revival in our land...in our church.

Each month these Senior Adults not only

pray for our many ministry endeavors

(events, Sunday School, student worship,

etc.), but they pray for our students by

name. I wonder what would happen those

who had the time to pray would be joined by

those who MADE THE TIME to pray.

We did a survey of our parents a few months

ago which revealed that a little less than half

of our parents pray FOR their children and a

even smaller percentage pray WITH their

children. And this is just from those parents

who filled out the survey (about 75-100

families). I wonder what the percentages

would be if everyone completed the survey?

Please know this is not a knock on pa

Cassie and I struggle to pray FOR an

our 3-year old consistently. Many of

have multiple teens pulled in so many

different directions. It is so hard! I ha

found that I will never find the time to

have to make the time to do it.

Would you consider making praye

integral part of your family time if y

not doing so already, and I’m not j

talking about right before a meal!

would you consider adding the fo

to your personal and family prayerover the next month? I believe th

we commit to integrating our stud

ministry into our prayer time, I hon

believe that this will be a game ch

for our church, our city, our culture

‣Schools--We have over 25 publi

private, charter, and home school

student ministry. Needless to say

multitude of schools makes it diffi

programming, but it also affects

friendships/unity between schools

Would you pray that our students

unified no matter what school theattend?

‣Family--Our students come from

mosaic of families. Some families

intact marriages, others are single

parent, others are led by grandpa

and still others have absent paren

Good or bad, parents and family

situations are the primary influenc

students. Would you pray for our

students’ families, parents, etc.?

Continued on page 5.

There are over 25 public, private, charter, and home schools represented in

IBCLR Student Ministry. Here is a map of those with known physical addresses.

Many more campuses could be included considering visitors.


http://www.amazon.com/Church-Home-Building-Lifelong-ebook/dp/B005WJJKSC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380599027&sr=8-1&keywords=church+++home


















http://www.amazon.com/52-Creative-Family-Time-Experiences/dp/0892656786/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1380597985&sr=1-8











http://livepage.apple.com/













http://secure.rethinkgroup.org/store4/product.php?productid=1649&cat=&page=1












http://www.familymatters.net/







http://www.seedsfamilyworship.net/














1 2

Student

Worship

MS (5:45-7:15)

HS (6:15-8:00)

3 4 5

7 8 9

Student

Worship

MS (5:45-7:15)

HS (6:15-8:00)

10 11Fall Retreat

Shepherd

of the Ozarks

12Fall Retr

Shepher

of the Oza

Fall RetreatShepherd

of the Ozarks

14 15 16

The Gathering

5:45 meal

6:15 worship17 18 19

Girls Ministry

Mission Focus-

Paraguay

12-2

21 22 23

Student

Worship

MS (5:45-7:15)

HS (6:15-8:00)

24 25 26

Friend

Day 28 29 30

Fun Fest

No Wed. night

worship31

2013 / October

November 3 Jr/Sr Southeast Asia Go info meeting @ 5pmNovember 24 Girls Ministry - Mission focus MacauNovember 24 Family Packing Party November 27 No Wednesday night worship

November 28 Happy Thanksgiving

SS Christmas parties.....stay tuned JANUARY 17-19 DNOW





ENGAGE

Continued from Page 3.

‣ Names--I know this is simple, but each

name represents a student...a

person...not just a line on a roll sheet or

a number. Would you consider praying

for our students by name? We do not

need to know all the gossipy details,

God already knows all of those. We just

need to be fervent and committed to

praying for our students by name.

‣ Spiritual Warfare--I truly think we are

making some good, strong, correct

strides as a student ministry...as a

church. Our staff, our student ministry,

our church has been under attack over

the past few months, and its exciting.

Why you say? Because Satan only

attacks things that are having an impact

on his plans. Would you pray for our

staff and our people as Satan continues

to wage war on the church? Would you

pray for strength, wisdom, and focused

attention on what God has called us to?

Just this week a group of pastors and

student pastors from all over the country

gathered in Southlake, Texas for the sole

reason of praying for revival in our land.

There was no program, no show, no

bulletin, no schedule of events...just men

on their faces before the Lord. What if the

same thing happened not as a periodic orannual event for church leaders, but a daily

event for the church body...for you and I?

B y Matt Hubbard, Lead Student Pastor

EQUIP

(NOTE: IBC Student Ministry does notnecessarily endorse the content and viewpoints expressed in these articles. They are posted here for purposes of keeping youinformed as to what is happening in the world

of youth culture.)

TEENAGERS AND MARKET-

DRIVEN MINISTRYhttp://www.theologicalmatters.com/index.php/2013/09/10/teenagers-and-market-driven-ministry/

Three documents have crashed into each

other on my computer. Their composite

message is both troubling and hopeful.

First

Christian Smith is the researcher whocoined the phrase “moralistic therapeutic

deism” (MTD) to describe the “faith” of

most church teenagers. His seminal

National Study of Youth and Religion

research sent shock waves through the

youth ministry world.

A church teenager might express MTD this

way: “God exists. He is nice and wants us

to be nice. He doesn’t bother me about my

life. But since I’m very special, He’ll show

up whenever I call. But as soon as He does

something to make my life happier and

easier, He goes away again—so I can livemy life my way.”

Smith and his team of researchers have

continued to research the students who

made up the original sample. They have

just completed Wave Four interviews with

those subjects, who now are ages 20-24.

Last week Christian Smith emailed me with

the initial results. Even with their church

backgrounds, Smith found that about 90%:

‣ “Know absolutely nothing about what

the [churches] they grew up in believe

theologically,‣ Have no understanding whatsoever of

the ways that faith is not just an

instrumental help but is something that

might drive and transform one’s life,

and

‣ Think religion is totally about the basic

moral orientation it gives (most of which

they agree with but say they are not

living by).”

He summarized by saying, “Only about

10% remain what we called ‘committed

traditionalists.’” To use the vocabulary of

evangelicals, that means about 10% can

express their core beliefs, can lead

someone else to saving faith, and embrac

Christ’s mission for their lives. Ten percen

Second

Blogger Matt Marino has generated lots o

conversation with his post, What’s So

Uncool about Cool Churches? Marino

wrote, “What is the ‘pill’ we have

overdosed on? I believe it is ‘preference.’

We have embraced the idea of market-

driven youth ministry. Unfortunately, givin

people what they ‘prefer’ is a road that,

once you go down it, has no end. … In an

effort to give people something ‘attractive

and ‘relevant’ we embraced novel new

methods in youth ministry, that 20 years

later are having a powerful shaping effect

on the entire church.”

Near the end of that post, Marino says, “I

summary, ‘market driven’ youth ministry

gave students a youth group that looks lik

them, does activities they prefer, sings

songs they like, and preaches on subjects

they are interested in. It is a ministry of

preference. And, with their feet, young

adults are saying ‘Bye-bye.’ What might w

do instead? The opposite of giving people

what they want is to give them what they

need.”

Third

Writing in The Atlantic Monthly, Larry Alex

Taunton summarizes a study performed b

his Fixed Point Foundation. They

conducted extensive interviews with

collegiate members of atheist organizatio

that Taunton calls “the atheistic equivalen

of Campus Crusade.” He found that almo

all the young atheists had backgrounds in

the church and in youth groups. Here aresome of the conclusions of the study:

‣ The mission and message of their

churches was vague.

‣ They felt their churches offered

superficial answers to life’s difficult

questions.

‣ They expressed their respect for those

ministers who took the Bible seriously



WHAT THEN SHALL WE SAY

TO THESE THINGS? IF GOD

IS FOR US, WHO CAN BEAGAINST US?

ROMANS 8:31

http://www.youthandreligion.org/

http://www.theologicalmatters.com/index.php/2013/09/10/teenagers-and-market-driven-ministry/



http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/06/listening-to-young-atheists-lessons-for-a-stronger-christianity/276584/


http://thegospelside.com/2012/09/23/whats-so-uncool-about-cool-churches/





















‣ Ages 14-17 were decisive. For most,

the high school years were the time

when they embraced unbelief.

Taunton wrote, “Without fail, our former

church-attending students expressed

[much respect] for those Christians who

unashamedly embraced biblical teaching.Michael, a political science major at

Dartmouth, told us that he is drawn to

Christians like that, adding: ‘I really can’t

consider a Christian a good, moral person

if he isn’t trying to convert me.’”

Eric Metaxas adds, “Much of what passes

for youth ministry these days is driven by a

morbid fear of boring our young charges.

As a result, a lot of time is spent trying to

devise ways to entertain them. The rest of

the time is spent worrying about whether

the Christian message will turn kids off. But

… young people, like the not-so-young,respect people with conviction—provided

they know what they’re talking about.”

In the last two years I have read 60 books

from the clearest thinkers in youth ministry.

I have studied summaries of 14 research

projects related to youth ministry. The

major themes that emerge are these:

‣ Teenagers are transformed primarily

through their relationships with adults

who themselves are deeply

transformed. Teenagers begin to live for

the glory of Christ as they walk beside

others who live for the glory of Christ.

Baptist Press editor and youth

volunteer Art Toalston recently tweeted,

“Even middle school boys drop their

silliness and tune in when Scripture

flows from our souls.”

‣ Teenagers are transformed through

heart connections. The stronger the

relationship is between a teenager and

an adult, the stronger will be the

transmission of transformation.

‣ Teenagers are transformed by the Spirit

through the truth and power of God’s

Word. Teenagers respect and are drawn

toward adults who joyfully proclaim with

full conviction, “Thus saith the Lord.”

The youth leader who spends 15

minutes preparing his Bible talk and

two hours on a creative video might

actually increase attendance by

reversing those time allotments.

I celebrate any church willing to spend a

million dollars on a youth building. It can be

a useful tool. But no one should assume

that’s the key to getting teenagers willing to

live or die for the cause of Christ for a

lifetime. The key is:

‣ Leading parents, youth ministers, and

disciplers to fall more deeply in love

with Christ and to transparently exudetheir passionate desire for His glory and

the coming of His kingdom on earth.

Who in your church is gathering parents

and youth leaders with the specific goal

of leading them into a deeper

relationship and walk with King Jesus?

How often do they meet?

‣ To equip parents, youth ministers, and

disciplers to know how to build deeper

heart connections with teenagers. Busy

adults can have life-on-life discipling

relationships with about three

teenagers. What is the adult-studentratio in your church’s Bible

teaching groups? Who is regularly

challenging adults to put down their

lattes, leave their comfortable adult

groups, and invest in the next

generation?

‣ To equip parents, youth ministers, and

disciplers to know Scripture, assimilate

Scripture, and confidently proclaim

Scripture to teenagers. When your

average dad pictures himself with his

family and Bibles open, does he feel

competent to share the Word? Who is

taking the lead in equipping him for this

role? When do they meet and how

often?

Churches that have depressing answers to

the questions above—BUT have some

great facilities, programs, and trips for

teenagers—should NOT expect most of

their teenagers to walk in faith for a lifetime.

Facilities, programs, and trips have a role

and they are a helpful supplement to

ministry, but they are not the core issues. If

we do not shift much more of our focus to

the core issues, we will continue to lose

most of a generation after high school.

By Dr. Richard Ross, Professor of StudentMinistry, Southwestern BaptistTheological Seminary

EMPOWER

HOW TO MISS A CHILDHOODHTTP://WWW.HANDSFREEMAMA.COM/2012/05/07/HOW-TO-MISS-A-CHILDHOOD/

By sharing my own painful truths when it

comes to the distractions of the modern

age, I have gained an unexpected insight

In the 18 months this blog has existed, I

have been privy to a new distraction

confession every single day.

Up until now, I never knew what to do wit

this unusual collection of painful

admissions from an overly connected

society. But today, in a moment of clarity,

knew. And a woman with 35 years

experience as a day care provider held th

key.

It came as a message in my inbox after th

woman read my post “The Children Have

Spoken” which included heart-breaking

observations from children themselves



Twitter

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https://twitter.com/arttoalston/status/375789298584272896

http://www.christianpost.com/news/learning-from-young-atheists-what-turned-them-off-christianity-99230/

https://vimeo.com/ibclrstudents

https://twitter.com/ibclrstudents

https://instagram.com/ibclrstudents



https://www.facebook.com/IBCLRStudents




























http://www.handsfreemama.com/?p=3213




http://www.handsfreemama.com/2012/05/07/how-to-miss-a-childhood/















about their parents’ excessive phone use.

As soon as I read the first sentence of the caregiver’s email, I

knew this message was different than any I had ever received.

The hairs on my arms stood up as I absorbed each word that

came uncomfortably close to home.

It was a voice of heartache, wisdom, and urgency speakingdirectly to the parents of the 21st century:

“I can recall a time when you were out with your children you

were really with them. You engaged in a back and forth dialog

even if they were pre-verbal. You said, ‘Look at the bus, see the

doggie, etc.’ Now I see you on the phone, pushing your kids on

the swings while distracted by your devices. You think you are

spending time with them but you are not present really. When I

see you pick up your kids at day care while you’re on the phone,

it breaks my heart. They hear your adult conversations. What do

they overhear? What is the message they receive? I am not

important; I am not important.”

In a 100-word paragraph this concerned woman who has cared

for babies since 1977 revealed a disturbing recipe … How to

Miss a Childhood.

And because I possess hundreds of distraction confessions,

including stories from my own former highly distracted life, I have

all the damaging ingredients.

All it takes is one child and one phone and this tragic recipe can

be yours.

HOW TO MISS A CHILDHOOD

‣ Keep your phone turned on at all times of the day. Allow the

rings, beeps, and buzzes to interrupt your child midsentence;

always let the caller take priority.

‣ Carry your phone around so much that when you happen to

leave it in one room your child will come running with it

proudly in hand—treating it more like a much needed

breathing apparatus than a communication device.

‣ Decide the app you’re playing is more important than

throwing the ball in the yard with your kids. Even better, yell

them to leave you alone while you play your game.

‣ Take your children to the zoo and spend so much time on

your phone that your child looks longingly at the mother who

is engaged with her children and wishes she was with herinstead.

‣ While you wait for the server to bring your food or the movie

to start, get out your phone and stare at it despite the fact

your child sits inches away longing for you talk to him.

‣ Go to your child’s sporting event and look up periodically

from your phone thinking she won’t notice that you are not

fully focused on her game.

‣ Check your phone first thing in the morning … even before

you kiss, hug, or greet the people in your family.

‣ Neglect daily rituals like tucking your child into bed or nightl

dinner conversation because you are too busy with your

online activity.

‣ Don’t look up from your phone when your child speaks to yo

or just reply with an “uh huh” so she thinks you were listenin

‣ Lose your temper with your child when he “bothers” you wh

you are interacting with your hand-held electronic device.

‣ Give an exasperated sigh when your child asks you to push

her on the swing. Can’t she see you’re busy?

‣ Use drive time to call other people regardless of the fact you

could be talking to your kids about their day—or about their

worries, their fears, or their dreams.‣ Read email and text messages at stoplights. Then tell yours

that when your kids are old enough to drive they won’t

remember you did this all the time.

‣ Have the phone to your ear when she gets in or out of the c

Convince yourself a loving hello or goodbye is highly

overrated.



Middle School Worship

October 2 !! Topic: Disciple Making Disciples (Leaving everything to

! ! follow Jesus--Luke 5:1-11)

! ! One Thing: Have you ever felt that Jesus interrupted

! ! your day to teach you something?

October 9! ! Topic: Disciple Making Disciples (Counting the cost of

! ! following Jesus--Luke 14:25-33)

! ! One Thing: Do you think you knew the cost of following

! ! Jesus before or after you became a Christian?

October 16!! TBD (The Gathering)

October 23! Topic: Disciple Making Disciples (Disciples do what Jesus

! ! did--Matthew 10)

! !One Thing: What is it like to acknowledge Jesus publicly! ! in your peer circles?

October2 Topic: Hurt--Suicide/DepressionOne Thing: Share your first experiencedealing with depression/suicide' personallyor regarding a friend.

October 9 Topic: Hurt--AddictionOne Thing: How have you seen God get Hisglory even with addiction? ?

October 16 Topic: TBD (The Gathering)October 23 Topic: Hurt--Social Outcast

One Thing: Jesus seemed to gravitatetowards the social outcasts of His day. Talkabout some ways that you have embracedsocial outcasts and/or ways to embrace socialoutcasts.

High School Worship






Follow this recipe and you will have:

‣ Missed opportunities for human connection

‣ Fewer chances to create beautiful memories

‣ Lack of connection to the people most precious to you

‣ Inability to really know your children and them unable to know

you

‣ Overwhelming regret

If you find this recipe difficult to read—if you find that you havetears in your eyes, I thank you, and your child thanks you.

It is not easy to consider the possibility that the distractions of

the modern age have taken an undeserved priority over the

people who matter in your life. In fact, when I admitted this

difficult truth to myself almost two years ago, I experienced an

emotional breakdown. However, that breakdown became a

breakthrough that propelled me to begin my life-changing “Hands

Free” journey.

Here’s the thing: You don’t have to follow the above recipe.

Yes, it is the 21st century. Yes, the whole world is online. Yes, the

communications for your job are important. Yes, at times you

must be readily available. But despite all those factors, you donot have to sacrifice your child’s childhood; nor do you have to

sacrifice your life.

May I recommend this recipe instead?

How to Grasp a Childhood:

‣ Look into her eyes when she speaks to you … Your

uninterrupted gaze is love to your child.

‣ Take time to be with him—really be with him by giving your

full attention … The gift of your total presence is love to your

child.

‣ Hold her hand, rub his back, listen to her heart beat, and

smooth his hair … Your gentle touch is love to your child.

‣ Greet her like you missed her when she was not in your

presence … Seeing your face light up when you see her is

love to your child.

‣ Play with him … Your involvement in his activities is love to

your child.

‣ Set an example of being distraction-free while driving

… Positive role modeling behind the wheel is love (and safety)

to your child.

‣ Create a distraction-free daily ritual … Consistently making

him a priority each day is love to your child.

‣ Focus and smile at her from the stands, sidelines, or the

audience … Seeing the joy on your face as you watch is love

to your chil d.

The recipe for “How to Grasp a Childhood” requires only one

thing: You must put down your phone. Whether it is for ten

minutes, two hours, or an entire Saturday, beautiful human

connection, memory making, and parent-child bonding can occur

every single time you let go of distraction to grasp what really

matters.

The beautiful, life-changing results of your “Hands Free” action

can start today … right now … the moment you put down the

phone.

My life changed the day I stopped justifying my highly distracte

life and admitted I was missing precious moments that I would

never retrieve. I imagined my daughter standing on the stage of

her high school graduation and asked myself: When she is 18

years old, will I wish I had spent more time on my phone/work/

social life? Or will I wish I had spent more time investing in her?

The answer was simple.

By Rachel Macy Stafford, Mom and Blogger



http://www.handsfreemama.com/?page_id=30















IBC STUDENT MINISTRY 501 N. SHACKLEFORD

LITTLE ROCK, AR 72211

O | 501.376.3071

WEB | WWW.IBCLRSTUDENTS.ORG



Documents

PLUGGED IN PARENTS NEWSLETTER (OCTOBER 2013)