Hey volunteers! We’re off to a great start this year! Have we mentioned lately how much we love serving with you?

Here’s a few things coming up in our ministry . . .

ADD YOUR OWN DATES: OPEN HOUSE
If you know a family that’s new to our ministry, invite them to our Open House so we can introduce them and their teenager to our youth ministry! Get the details on our website.

ADD YOUR OWN DATES: VOLUNTEER KICK-OFF
Our big volunteer Kick-Off is coming up quickly and we need you there! We’ll be hanging out, eating good food, and casting vision for the new school year. Don’t miss it! RSVP by the end of this week.

ADD YOUR OWN DATES: ALL-NIGHTER
We’re kicking off this school year with an all-night event designed to help students connect with their small group, invite friends, have some fun, and hear a little bit about Jesus. Get the details on our website!

THROUGH THE FIRE: A 4-WEEK SERIES ON FRIENDSHIP
WEEK 4 BIG IDEA: IN THE FIRE, GOD’S FRIENDSHIP CAN BE TRUSTED

SERIES OVERVIEW:
If you tried to define “friendship” based only on what you see on Instagram, you might think #friendship was all about group hugs, selfies with your bestie, or tagging each other in your favorite memes. But real friendship isn’t so picture perfect. In this 4-week series, you’ll challenge students to build the kind of friendships that go beyond the surface – the kinds of friendships you’ll need when times get tough. You’ll look at three key friendships as Scripture, as well as the friendship God offers us through Jesus, as you help teenagers see that Godly friendships can shape us, heal us, and purify us – especially during difficult times.

DOWNLOAD THIS WEEK’S SMALL GROUP GUIDE

Okay, we know it’s still the beginning of the school year, but can we talk about longevity for a second? Because here’s the truth: youth ministry isn’t always fun or easy. So how do we “stay in the game” for the long-haul, even when this ministry thing gets exhausting? Here are 4 ways to battle ministry burnout, from Tommy Nixon of Urban Youth Workers Institute.

At least once this month, choose a volunteer to celebrate. Add their picture and a few sentences about what makes them awesome!

We might be a youth ministry, but teenagers aren’t our only priority. We’d love to hear how we can better serve you too. So we’d love it if you’d complete a quick survey so we can learn from you. [Attach or link to the Annual Volunteer Survey.]