Dear Parents,
This is a day later than normal; yesterday I was in Lincoln, Illinois with 4 of our high school seniors visiting Lincoln Christian College and Seminary for a campus visitation day. We had an amazing time. We slept in the dorms, took a campus tour, attended some classes...it was a very good time. We also got in some good laughs and ate at Monical’s Pizza in Peoria. There are some pictures available over here.
Ministry Team Update:
We are looking for a few adults who will compliment our ministry team and help our students on the journey of Christ. We are ever striving for a goal of 1 adult/5students for our Wednesday night small groups. Beginning this week, our current ministry team will be working on a “Sponsor Handbook” for our adult leaders. If you join our ministry team, we’ll work with you to give you the resources you need to minister to our kids. If you are interested in joining our team in September, I urge you to please speak with me soon, so you can be a part of our Fall 2009 planning.
Ministry Team Meeting:
Our ministry team meets monthly. February’s meeting is coming up on the 22nd. At the beginning of the meeting, we’ll be finalizing the details for our upcoming Kansas Mission Trip. If you have some thoughts about it, please come and share. Then, hang around for some discussion. We’ll be done by 1:45.
Upcoming Events: (please check the online calendar on the parent website for ALL dates)
March 28th- 10am-Noon
Parent/Student meeting for Kansas Mission Trip
April 22-
CIY Summer Conference Deposit and Registration Form Due
Upcoming Kernals Fundraiser Dates:
Date Game Starts Time we need to be there
Friday, April 10 6:35 9:30
Saturday, April 11 2:05 5:00
Friday, April 24 6:35 9:30
Friday, May 1 12:05 3:00
Saturday, May 2 6:35 9:30
Friday, May 15 6:35 9:30
Friday, May 22 6:35 9:30
Friday, August 28 6:35 9:30
Saturday, August 29 6:35 9:30
Finally, in next week’s letter I’ll have a list of ALL of the 2009 summer camp dates for North East Iowa Christian Service Camp.
I hope that you have a great week!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Parent Letter, February 9
Dear Parents,
Sorry for the length of this letter. It feels like Spring outside, but I think that we know better! Nevertheless, I hope that you can get outside for a few minutes today and enjoy the weather.
As was communicated last week, our New Sexuality lesson plan is on hold, probably until Fall. We’ll keep you in the loop. Here’s what the balance of the winter/spring looks like for lesson material:
Youth Group:
Beginning this week, we’ll have a 6-7 week study on 1 Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” Each week, we’ll be taking a look at one of the aspects of how our young people should be setting an example to one another. We’ll have one of our adults or leaders share during our big group time, and ten follow up with some discussion in our small groups.
After we are finished with 1 Timothy 4:12, we’ll be going through the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible, which will take us to summer.
Like we did last year, we’ll be taking parts of the Summer off, due to our various trips.
D-Group:
We’re currently answering the big questions of life. This week and next, the kids are researching “What is God’s will?”. We are having some amazing conversations, and the kids are really struggling with who God is. It’s great to be a part of it.
Beginning in April, to get us ready for our upcoming 30 Hour Famine Event and our d-group retreat, we’ll be reading the book My 30 Days Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski. This study will take us to Summer.
Upcoming Events:
February 15-16- Trip to Lincoln Christian College for high school seniors. We’ll leave by 3pm on Sunday, return early evening Monday.
February 26-March 2- National Youth Ministry Convention in Columbus Ohio.
Summer 2009 Schedule:
June 14-19 Middle School Camp @ NEICSC
For kids entering grades 6-8 for the 2009-2010 school year.
Location: North East Iowa Christian Service Camp, Bristow Iowa
Purpose: To connect kids with other Christians in the area in an environment where they can explore the Good News of Jesus Christ and learn how Jesus can transform them.
Music, organized games, small groups, campfire, daily free time, morning large group time and evening worship service.
2009 Theme: Thirst
Camp Deans: Hannah Burkle/John Mulholland
Cost for 2008 Camp: $175
June 28-July 3 Mission: Kansas 2009
We are currently determining the age group that we will target for this trip, and your opinion is greatly needed. Please join us at our February ministry team meeting (February 15-immediately following corporate worship-11:45-ish) to be a part of the conversation. Once the age group is determined, we’ll hold a meeting to cover more specific details of this trip.
Location: Morning Start Ranch, Florence Kansas
Purpose: To introduce kids to acts of service in an environment that they are not used to. While they will connect with other students, our daily devotional times will explore what service looks like in the Bible, and our days will be spent applying these things as we work.
Work and service opportunities, morning and evening group time, campfire, high elements course and the best “knock-out” court Florence Kansas has to offer.
Trip Leader: John Mulholland and other adult sponsors.
Cost for 2009: $150/student
July 5-11 High School Camp @ NEICSC
For kids entering grade for the 2009-2010 school year to 2009 graduates.
Location: North East Iowa Christian Service Camp, Bristow Iowa
Purpose: To connect kids with other Christians in the area with a heavy emphasis on providing opportunity to explore the Good News of Jesus Christ and learn how Jesus can transform them. We’ll be going a little heavy on the explore and transform.
Music, organized games, small groups, campfire, daily free time, morning large group time and evening worship service.
2009 Theme: Thirst, John 4
Camp Deans: Hannah Burkle/John Mulholland
Cost for 2008 Camp: $205
July 27-August 1 CIY Summer Conference-MOVE
For kids entering grade 9 for the 2009-2010 school year to 2009 graduates.
Location: Southern Illinois University, Carbondale Illinois
MOVE is a 5-day event designed to amplify the call of Christ on student lives to become Kingdom workers for the sake of the Gospel. Students will connect to God through song, art, film, and service.
Amazing music, awesome speakers and messages, small group time that will leave a mark. God speaks, you MOVE.
Cost: $269 by July 13, $304 after. $50 deposit due by April 22..
Trip Leader: John Mulholland and other adult sponsors.
Last but not least...fundraiser dates:
Like last year, we’ll be working at the Kernels stadium for our main summer fundraiser. The following dates are ours. Please mark your calendars now. We’ll need about 10-15 people per night, adults are welcome to help. On most nights, as long as the group we have is ready to work, this takes an hour and a half at most. The April 24 date will be a part of our 30 Hour Famine event, money raised that night will go towards a local mission.
Date Game Starts Time we need to be there
Friday, April 10 6:35 9:30
Saturday, April 11 2:05 5:00
Friday, April 24 6:35 9:30
Friday, May 1 12:05 3:00
Saturday, May 2 6:35 9:30
Friday, May 15 6:35 9:30
Friday, May 22 6:35 9:30
Friday, August 28 6:35 9:30
Saturday, August 29 6:35 9:30
Because Jesus is Lord
John Mulholland
Next Generations Minister
Eastview Christian Church
Sorry for the length of this letter. It feels like Spring outside, but I think that we know better! Nevertheless, I hope that you can get outside for a few minutes today and enjoy the weather.
As was communicated last week, our New Sexuality lesson plan is on hold, probably until Fall. We’ll keep you in the loop. Here’s what the balance of the winter/spring looks like for lesson material:
Youth Group:
Beginning this week, we’ll have a 6-7 week study on 1 Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” Each week, we’ll be taking a look at one of the aspects of how our young people should be setting an example to one another. We’ll have one of our adults or leaders share during our big group time, and ten follow up with some discussion in our small groups.
After we are finished with 1 Timothy 4:12, we’ll be going through the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible, which will take us to summer.
Like we did last year, we’ll be taking parts of the Summer off, due to our various trips.
D-Group:
We’re currently answering the big questions of life. This week and next, the kids are researching “What is God’s will?”. We are having some amazing conversations, and the kids are really struggling with who God is. It’s great to be a part of it.
Beginning in April, to get us ready for our upcoming 30 Hour Famine Event and our d-group retreat, we’ll be reading the book My 30 Days Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski. This study will take us to Summer.
Upcoming Events:
February 15-16- Trip to Lincoln Christian College for high school seniors. We’ll leave by 3pm on Sunday, return early evening Monday.
February 26-March 2- National Youth Ministry Convention in Columbus Ohio.
Summer 2009 Schedule:
June 14-19 Middle School Camp @ NEICSC
For kids entering grades 6-8 for the 2009-2010 school year.
Location: North East Iowa Christian Service Camp, Bristow Iowa
Purpose: To connect kids with other Christians in the area in an environment where they can explore the Good News of Jesus Christ and learn how Jesus can transform them.
Music, organized games, small groups, campfire, daily free time, morning large group time and evening worship service.
2009 Theme: Thirst
Camp Deans: Hannah Burkle/John Mulholland
Cost for 2008 Camp: $175
June 28-July 3 Mission: Kansas 2009
We are currently determining the age group that we will target for this trip, and your opinion is greatly needed. Please join us at our February ministry team meeting (February 15-immediately following corporate worship-11:45-ish) to be a part of the conversation. Once the age group is determined, we’ll hold a meeting to cover more specific details of this trip.
Location: Morning Start Ranch, Florence Kansas
Purpose: To introduce kids to acts of service in an environment that they are not used to. While they will connect with other students, our daily devotional times will explore what service looks like in the Bible, and our days will be spent applying these things as we work.
Work and service opportunities, morning and evening group time, campfire, high elements course and the best “knock-out” court Florence Kansas has to offer.
Trip Leader: John Mulholland and other adult sponsors.
Cost for 2009: $150/student
July 5-11 High School Camp @ NEICSC
For kids entering grade for the 2009-2010 school year to 2009 graduates.
Location: North East Iowa Christian Service Camp, Bristow Iowa
Purpose: To connect kids with other Christians in the area with a heavy emphasis on providing opportunity to explore the Good News of Jesus Christ and learn how Jesus can transform them. We’ll be going a little heavy on the explore and transform.
Music, organized games, small groups, campfire, daily free time, morning large group time and evening worship service.
2009 Theme: Thirst, John 4
Camp Deans: Hannah Burkle/John Mulholland
Cost for 2008 Camp: $205
July 27-August 1 CIY Summer Conference-MOVE
For kids entering grade 9 for the 2009-2010 school year to 2009 graduates.
Location: Southern Illinois University, Carbondale Illinois
MOVE is a 5-day event designed to amplify the call of Christ on student lives to become Kingdom workers for the sake of the Gospel. Students will connect to God through song, art, film, and service.
Amazing music, awesome speakers and messages, small group time that will leave a mark. God speaks, you MOVE.
Cost: $269 by July 13, $304 after. $50 deposit due by April 22..
Trip Leader: John Mulholland and other adult sponsors.
Last but not least...fundraiser dates:
Like last year, we’ll be working at the Kernels stadium for our main summer fundraiser. The following dates are ours. Please mark your calendars now. We’ll need about 10-15 people per night, adults are welcome to help. On most nights, as long as the group we have is ready to work, this takes an hour and a half at most. The April 24 date will be a part of our 30 Hour Famine event, money raised that night will go towards a local mission.
Date Game Starts Time we need to be there
Friday, April 10 6:35 9:30
Saturday, April 11 2:05 5:00
Friday, April 24 6:35 9:30
Friday, May 1 12:05 3:00
Saturday, May 2 6:35 9:30
Friday, May 15 6:35 9:30
Friday, May 22 6:35 9:30
Friday, August 28 6:35 9:30
Saturday, August 29 6:35 9:30
Because Jesus is Lord
John Mulholland
Next Generations Minister
Eastview Christian Church
Monday, February 2, 2009
Eastview Parent Weekly, February 1-7 2009
We had a great weekend with 5 of our middle school students this past weekend. The event itself was great, the hotel and pool awesome, and we managed to keep the Eastview tradition of eating at Don & Millie’s alive and well. We attended Sunday service at First Christian Church in Council Bluffs yesterday; there were at least 500 people there. We heard a great message that capped off the trip well.
A few things coming up:
We start “The New Sexuality” study material on Wednesday, February 18. This Wednesday night, each of our kids will receive your February newsletter. In it, you’ll find our topic list, dates that the material will be taught, a summer schedule of events, and the CYPU monthly Parent Page.
Sunday February 15:
Our monthly ministry team meeting. The initial topic will be our Kansas Mission Trip, and we’d like your thoughts.
Sunday February 15-16:
Trip to Lincoln Christian College and Seminary for our high school seniors. Cost is $30/student.
We hope to see your kids at youth group this week!
A few things coming up:
We start “The New Sexuality” study material on Wednesday, February 18. This Wednesday night, each of our kids will receive your February newsletter. In it, you’ll find our topic list, dates that the material will be taught, a summer schedule of events, and the CYPU monthly Parent Page.
Sunday February 15:
Our monthly ministry team meeting. The initial topic will be our Kansas Mission Trip, and we’d like your thoughts.
Sunday February 15-16:
Trip to Lincoln Christian College and Seminary for our high school seniors. Cost is $30/student.
We hope to see your kids at youth group this week!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Eastview Parent Weekly-January 25-31 2009
Dear Parents,
Websites and Articles of Interest to Parents:
Children’s Six-hour Screen Day
Walt Mueller Review of Christless Christianity
Self-injury
Upcoming Events:
GORF- Middle School Trip to Iowa/Nebraska Christian Convention
Lincoln Christian College and Seminary Campus Visit
Mission: Kansas 2009 June 28-July 3 2009
Have a great week!
Websites and Articles of Interest to Parents:
Children’s Six-hour Screen Day
Walt Mueller Review of Christless Christianity
Self-injury
Upcoming Events:
GORF- Middle School Trip to Iowa/Nebraska Christian Convention
- We’re leaving THIS Friday by 11am, and will return no later than 4pm on Sunday, February 1. Please be at Eastview by 10:30 so we can load and leave promptly at 11.
- We’re staying at the Holiday Inn Downtown Omaha, the site of the Convention. This Holiday Inn is also the home of “Coco Key Water Resort”, a 6000 square foot water park...make sure your kids bring their swim gear!
- We have 4 students going, Beth Frederick, Brianna Scott, Kyle Hoback and Tyler Wright.
Lincoln Christian College and Seminary Campus Visit
- Seniors only!
- We’ll leave Sunday after church (exact time to be determined), drive to Lincoln, sleep in the dorm and spend Monday checking out the campus. We’ll be home Monday evening.
- Cost is $30 for a few meals, and any spending money.
- Please let me know by the end of this week if your student is going.
Mission: Kansas 2009 June 28-July 3 2009
- We’ll be talking about our upcoming Mission:Kansas mission trip, and the possibility of making it a “middle school only” trip. Do you have an opinion on the matter? We want to hear it, and our February ministry team meeting is the place to talk about it.
- Camp season 2009 is right around the corner. This week at youth group, the kids will each get a handout with some specific information about their camp weeks. We’re doing this now because we want your kids to go to camp!
- CIY’s summer conference is just for high schoolers. We have 5 high school graduates for whom this will be their last chance to attend as a student, and at least that many new freshman (for 2009-2010) that can go for the first time.
- I can’t think of a better send-off for our senior or a better welcome for our freshmen than CIY. It is an intense week of spiritual challenge and growth. They won’t want to miss it.
Have a great week!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Weekly Parent Email-January 20, 2009
Dear Parents,
Thanks to all of you who came out for out annual parent meeting this past Saturday. We had a lot to talk about, there was great discussion and good questions asked. Here are a few things that came from the discussion:
The New Sexuality Study: We are working on a schedule for our New Sexuality study, to begin sometime in February. The groups will be separated throughout this lesson series, from beginning to end. As soon as we have it, you’ll know what topics we’ll be discussing and when we’ll be discussing them. The parents who attended the meeting all have copies of the each of the topics, as well as discussion questions we’ll be walking the kids through. If you’d like copy, please contact me and I’ll get one out to you.
Kansas Mission Trip: There was a lot of discussion about making this a middle school only trip this summer. If you have an opinion, we’d like for you to attend our February ministry team meeting. We’ll block time out early in the meeting to converse about it. Our meeting will be February 15, immediately following corporate worship. After discussion and hearing your thoughts, a decision by our team will be made.
Mexico Mission Trip: We also discussed the National Missionary Convention attendance requirement for the 2010 Mission Trip to Mexico. This week, I’m spending time putting the thoughts and reasons to paper, and I plan on visiting with you if you had questions and concerns about this. This document will also hit the parent website soon.
Speaking of the website, if you haven’t visited it lately, there are now links to all sorts of things, d-group lessons, permission slips, more and more documents will be stored there for your viewing pleasure.
A few things coming up:
GORF for middle school students- We’ll be leaving Eastview by 11am on Friday, December 30th, and return by mid-afternoon on Sunday, February 1. We will meet for d-group that night.
Lincoln Christian College and Seminary visit for high school seniors- February 16. We’ll be leaving EARLY that morning, and be back early evening. Cost will be minimal (plan on $20).
Some websites of note:
Long Term Effects of Hook-Up Culture
Teens, Cell Phones and “Sexting”
Parents and the Example We Set
Have a great week!
Thanks to all of you who came out for out annual parent meeting this past Saturday. We had a lot to talk about, there was great discussion and good questions asked. Here are a few things that came from the discussion:
The New Sexuality Study: We are working on a schedule for our New Sexuality study, to begin sometime in February. The groups will be separated throughout this lesson series, from beginning to end. As soon as we have it, you’ll know what topics we’ll be discussing and when we’ll be discussing them. The parents who attended the meeting all have copies of the each of the topics, as well as discussion questions we’ll be walking the kids through. If you’d like copy, please contact me and I’ll get one out to you.
Kansas Mission Trip: There was a lot of discussion about making this a middle school only trip this summer. If you have an opinion, we’d like for you to attend our February ministry team meeting. We’ll block time out early in the meeting to converse about it. Our meeting will be February 15, immediately following corporate worship. After discussion and hearing your thoughts, a decision by our team will be made.
Mexico Mission Trip: We also discussed the National Missionary Convention attendance requirement for the 2010 Mission Trip to Mexico. This week, I’m spending time putting the thoughts and reasons to paper, and I plan on visiting with you if you had questions and concerns about this. This document will also hit the parent website soon.
Speaking of the website, if you haven’t visited it lately, there are now links to all sorts of things, d-group lessons, permission slips, more and more documents will be stored there for your viewing pleasure.
A few things coming up:
GORF for middle school students- We’ll be leaving Eastview by 11am on Friday, December 30th, and return by mid-afternoon on Sunday, February 1. We will meet for d-group that night.
Lincoln Christian College and Seminary visit for high school seniors- February 16. We’ll be leaving EARLY that morning, and be back early evening. Cost will be minimal (plan on $20).
Some websites of note:
Long Term Effects of Hook-Up Culture
Teens, Cell Phones and “Sexting”
Parents and the Example We Set
Have a great week!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Wednesday, January 14
All evening activities (EKLUB, Youth Group) have been canceled tonight due to weather.
Monday, January 5, 2009
2008 Recap
This is hitting our Annual Report in a few days...
2008 has been an interesting year for our ministry team. We’ll look at our ministry from the following standpoints GROWTH, EVENTS, and CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES.
GROWTH
There are many victories in the growth category. We have seen numerical growth at all of our weekly events. For the last quarter of the year on Wednesday nights, most weeks we had more that 30 middle school and high school students come to youth group. We are seeing some students make the transition from Wednesday night to Sunday morning and even Sunday night. We saw 3 students come to Christ through baptism.
In September, we introduced the “Family Table” concept to a very skeptical group of kids (and adults). Each Family Table has a Table Parent (or 2). The kids sit at the same tables with the same adults each week; this has allowed them to develop relationships with Christian adults who are there to simply engage the kids and talk to them about their life. Within a few weeks, the kids fell in love with the idea, and it is now an integral part of our culture.
At the end of the 2007-2008 school year, we had a number of adults leave our ministry; Seth and Megan Clark left to have their first child, Sher Barns left to focus more on her ministry at school, and Laurie Thomas went to grad school at UNI. For most ministries, this would have been a disaster. BUT…in May we had a meeting for adults and we had 17 attend which is amazing. We found a place for those adults, while God alone deserves the glory for what is happening here, He is using THEM to accomplish His will.
EVENTS
2008 was filled with a wide variety of events. Our typical week consisted of 3 regular gatherings. Sunday mornings we met from 8:45-9:45 for Sunday School. At Sunday School, we use the Faithweaver material, which, over the course of 3 years, leads our students through an overview of the entire Bible. Sunday nights we met from 6:00-8:00 for D-Group. D-Group is a time of deeper Bible study, we covered a wide variety of topics from the Gospel of Mark, to the Biblical statements on government and war to a study on 12 core beliefs that Christians hold to. Wednesday nights we met from 5:45-8:pm. In this time, we ate a meal together, had a group fellowship/game time, and in our small groups, talked about the Person of Jesus.
We went and served food at the Saturday Evening Meal Program in
Downtown Cedar Rapids, and we worked with Mid-American Energy’s Housing Assistance Program during our 30 Hour Famine. We left Cedar Rapids on more than few occasions, our middle school kids went to Omaha for CIY Believe, our high school kids went to Omaha for a Nebraska Christian College event. We offered two mission trips; one went to Morning Star Ranch in Florence, Kansas, and the other to San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Add in there several summer camp weeks at North East Iowa Christian Service Camp, and our students were involved in the gospel everywhere…from here in Cedar Rapids, to the states of Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, and even in Mexico!
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
2008 was not without it’s challenges. The biggest growth piece for us as a ministry was learning that God can and will do more than we can ask or imagine. This manifested itself on our 2 mission trips and with our 30 Hour Famine service project. Adults and kids alike were challenged to grow, they got tired, hungry, cranky, selfish…and yet, God moved and worked. All of the work that we set out to do was accomplished, and that is what God does. We grew in numbers, while our building space shrank due to flooding in our basement. Our entire ministry team turned over and we had an entire new set of adults working with our kids. God accomplished His good and perfect will with us, through us, and despite us.
2009 will be a year of opportunity. We are looking to increase our partnership with parents. The majority of the kids that come to our events are NOT Eastview students. Because of this, we’ll need to work even harder to get with parents and adults. While we have seen numeric growth, we are asking ourselves as leaders the following question: “How can we get our students to examine their own understanding of Jesus?”. We’ll continue to evaluate our events…are we simply filling calendars and giving kids something to do, or are we creating an environment where they will hear God? May God help us to be about the latter.
-Student Ministry Team
2008 has been an interesting year for our ministry team. We’ll look at our ministry from the following standpoints GROWTH, EVENTS, and CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES.
GROWTH
There are many victories in the growth category. We have seen numerical growth at all of our weekly events. For the last quarter of the year on Wednesday nights, most weeks we had more that 30 middle school and high school students come to youth group. We are seeing some students make the transition from Wednesday night to Sunday morning and even Sunday night. We saw 3 students come to Christ through baptism.
In September, we introduced the “Family Table” concept to a very skeptical group of kids (and adults). Each Family Table has a Table Parent (or 2). The kids sit at the same tables with the same adults each week; this has allowed them to develop relationships with Christian adults who are there to simply engage the kids and talk to them about their life. Within a few weeks, the kids fell in love with the idea, and it is now an integral part of our culture.
At the end of the 2007-2008 school year, we had a number of adults leave our ministry; Seth and Megan Clark left to have their first child, Sher Barns left to focus more on her ministry at school, and Laurie Thomas went to grad school at UNI. For most ministries, this would have been a disaster. BUT…in May we had a meeting for adults and we had 17 attend which is amazing. We found a place for those adults, while God alone deserves the glory for what is happening here, He is using THEM to accomplish His will.
EVENTS
2008 was filled with a wide variety of events. Our typical week consisted of 3 regular gatherings. Sunday mornings we met from 8:45-9:45 for Sunday School. At Sunday School, we use the Faithweaver material, which, over the course of 3 years, leads our students through an overview of the entire Bible. Sunday nights we met from 6:00-8:00 for D-Group. D-Group is a time of deeper Bible study, we covered a wide variety of topics from the Gospel of Mark, to the Biblical statements on government and war to a study on 12 core beliefs that Christians hold to. Wednesday nights we met from 5:45-8:pm. In this time, we ate a meal together, had a group fellowship/game time, and in our small groups, talked about the Person of Jesus.
We went and served food at the Saturday Evening Meal Program in
Downtown Cedar Rapids, and we worked with Mid-American Energy’s Housing Assistance Program during our 30 Hour Famine. We left Cedar Rapids on more than few occasions, our middle school kids went to Omaha for CIY Believe, our high school kids went to Omaha for a Nebraska Christian College event. We offered two mission trips; one went to Morning Star Ranch in Florence, Kansas, and the other to San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Add in there several summer camp weeks at North East Iowa Christian Service Camp, and our students were involved in the gospel everywhere…from here in Cedar Rapids, to the states of Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, and even in Mexico!
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
2008 was not without it’s challenges. The biggest growth piece for us as a ministry was learning that God can and will do more than we can ask or imagine. This manifested itself on our 2 mission trips and with our 30 Hour Famine service project. Adults and kids alike were challenged to grow, they got tired, hungry, cranky, selfish…and yet, God moved and worked. All of the work that we set out to do was accomplished, and that is what God does. We grew in numbers, while our building space shrank due to flooding in our basement. Our entire ministry team turned over and we had an entire new set of adults working with our kids. God accomplished His good and perfect will with us, through us, and despite us.
2009 will be a year of opportunity. We are looking to increase our partnership with parents. The majority of the kids that come to our events are NOT Eastview students. Because of this, we’ll need to work even harder to get with parents and adults. While we have seen numeric growth, we are asking ourselves as leaders the following question: “How can we get our students to examine their own understanding of Jesus?”. We’ll continue to evaluate our events…are we simply filling calendars and giving kids something to do, or are we creating an environment where they will hear God? May God help us to be about the latter.
-Student Ministry Team
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