Student Ministry Wraps Up the School Year

 At both middle and high school youth group, we’ve spent the past two weeks reviewing the year and celebrating the year!  All year, we’ve talked through a book that expounds on these 7 checkpoints: faith, spiritual disciplines, moral boundaries, wise choices, healthy friendships, ultimate authority, and others first. The students impressed us with their memory of various messages, and we were encouraged to hear the different applications that each student walked away with from this year. 

In middle school, the students had the opportunity to pray out loud and speak words of encouragement to their high-school leaders. Amanda was specifically touched as the 6^th and 7^th grade boys thanked their 12^th grade leader for his willingness to invest in their lives over this past year, and it was cool to hear and see the influence that this leader had on these students’ lives. These middle school students also took time to pray for their friends who are moving away from Kenya in a few weeks, and again, it was precious to hear the vulnerability and sincerity in these young students as they encouraged their friends.  These students wrapped up their year with lots of fun at the local water slides, then a sleepover, and then a game of human battleship...complete with jell-o and water bombs, squeals of laughter, and lots of messy clothes! 

The high school students ended their year with an all-nighter at our house, and then great Ethiopian food and fellowship! These students had the opportunity to speak words of encouragement for the seniors and others who are moving away from Kenya. Again, it was sweet to hear the affirmation and care that they have for one another. Many of these students are headed into the ‘unknown’ as they move back to the states, start college, and then are separated from their families. As a thank you for leading this year, Amanda treated the high school leaders to steak at our house. Everyone truly enjoyed this time together! These high school students have done a great job of pouring into the younger students as well as their peers.Please pray for these students, as many of them will spend these summer months away from their home and their friends. And, then many of these students will head off to college. Pray that they will continue to seek the Lord throughout the summer, and that they will continue to know and understand more of His character and love for them!

The 2010 High School Youth Leaders