Preparing for the Fall and 2013!

August is always a time when everyone is getting things ready for the upcoming school year and beginning to fall back into a steadier routine. The same is true for the Sunnyvale Student Ministry. As you move forward with us, please know and trust that everything we do is intentional in pointing students toward Jesus Christ and making disciples of every student in the SSM. Ultimately, as students graduate from high school and move on from here, we hope and pray that their faith would be strengthened for the rest of their life by what they experienced over the years in the SSM. If your student was here Sunday night, then he or she heard about several activities and events coming in the next several months. Allow me to give you a glimpse of what to expect and then be on the watch for more specific details over the next couple of weeks. This past summer was incredible and God moved in a powerful way!! Many unchurched students gave their lives to Jesus and others fell more in love with His plan for their lives. It is important that the SSM continue to provide adequate time for students to be discipled and mentored throughout the year. As we move into the fall months, we will once again give students the opportunity to be involved in RAD Groups. RAD groups will provide a time each week for students who are placed in grade and gender specific groups to focus on authentic discipleship. Together, each group will read through Scripture, serve locally, and engage in loving accountability. Students will be lead by an adult who loves Jesus and is equipped to mentor teenagers. The kick off date is tentatively set for September 16th. The COLLIDE Ministry has become a significant part of what goes on in the Sunnyvale Student Ministry. Adam West’s leadership was used in a great way while he was on staff at SFBC. As we move forward, COLLIDE will continue to be an area in the ministry where students are given opportunities to use their gifts and abilities to share the Gospel. We are currently organizing dates when students will be able to express themselves through singing, dance, and other expressions. As those dates are finalized, students will be notified and begin practicing at 4pm on Sunday afternoons as needed. Russell Shaw will be a huge help in this area. Now, here is the answer to one of the biggest questions over the last several weeks: YES, we are still planning to organize a COLLIDE show in the spring. The COLLIDE show has become a great event for our entire church. It provides an incredible opportunity for young and old to come together for a great cause. The tentative dates are March 2-3 and the show will continue to support missions as we move forward . We will spend five or six weeks prior to March using a great deal of energy and effort toward continuing the excellence that has been experienced during the last few years. The show will be a significant fundraiser for the SSM summer mission trip. Speaking of mission trip, details are quickly coming together for 2013 mission opportunities. The vision for missions in the SSM will look slightly different than years past but ultimately fulfill the same purpose of giving students an opportunity participate in the Great Commission by using their energy and gifts locally, nationally, and internationally. Moving forward, each student will have the opportunity to participate in an international mission trip before he or she graduates from high school. In order to make this happen, we will take students on an international trip in odd years (2013, 2015, and so on) and focus on destinations in the U.S. during even years. Obviously, the cost is higher for overseas travel so fundraising and prep will begin much earlier. Parents and students can expect full details in the next couple of weeks. Juniors and seniors will get the first opportunities to fill spots for the international trips and remaining spots will be open to sophomores. During the even years, age will not be restrictive of who participates in the national trips. Each year, students will also have an opportunity to go on the Mission Van Horn trip during Spring Break. Over the next few weeks, greater detail will be shared about specific trips and the next year including costs. Hopefully, by mid September, parents will know the total cost for all large events going on in the SSM over the next 12 months. As you think through the details you just read, please do not hesitate to contact Wes with any questions or concerns.