Many positive things have taken place within the student ministry over the last several months. In the summer, students participated in Centrifuge camp at Ridgecrest, led a block party that kicked off several summer outreach events, led a Vacation Bible School, and many students served in Sports Camp. The youth also led a very worshipful Sunday morning service and many students participated in the Summer Friends groups. Currently, many of our students and their leaders are heavily involved in preparing for Trunk or Treat. It is an encouragement and a blessing to have our youth so energetically involved in all levels of life at our church.
Several weeks ago we placed Kevin Egland as our new Student Ministry Team Leader. Kevin has been serving in this role for a few weeks. He joins an amazing team of parents and other volunteers who also have faithfully served for years. In addition to Kevin and his wife Jennifer’s past experience in student ministry, both here and in previous churches, Kevin has daily experience leading students as a teacher and spiritual life director at Richmond Christian School. We are grateful to have him serving with us.
Placing Kevin in this role is one step in a larger process of the Elders coming alongside the student ministry at BP, helping to focus the work and make it even more effective. We are currently in the process of selecting two students to serve on the Student Ministry Leadership Team. Earlier this week, we sent invitations to the students recommended for these roles, asking them to apply. Interviews will follow, similar to interviews that happen with new Elders and Deacons.
We also pray God will lead us to an Administrative Liaison for the Student Ministry Leadership Team. This could be someone already serving within the ministry or someone in the wider church body. If you have recommendations for this role, please email the elders at elders@bethanyplace.com or Kevin Egland at [eggcrew@yahoo.com]
Our vision at BP is to make disciples who make disciples. This is our instruction from the word of God based on Matthew 28:19-20 and 2 Timothy 2:2. The Matthew passage is more well-known but 2 Timothy 2:2 says, “. . . and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”
Applied to the student ministry that means this: we aim to so teach and lead that the faith will take strongly amongst the students, marking their lives in such a way that they will share the gospel with others who will, in turn, share the gospel with others. We always want to aim at that 4th generation in our teaching.
Sunday morning we continue the series Learning to Live in a New Country with a message from Colossians 3:5-11 called “What Not To Wear.” According to 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” Some passages are more obviously applicable at first glance. This is one of those passages. I urge you to read it carefully and then come ready for us to worship and seek God together.
In Christ,
Gene