Hey parents! Happy August! Can you believe a new school year is already here? You’re probably busy trying to enjoy the last few moments of summer, so we’ll keep this brief so you can get back to the beach.

Here are a few things coming up in our ministry . . .

ADD YOUR OWN DATES: OPEN HOUSE
If you’re new to our ministry (or you just want to hang out with us for a few minutes) we’d love to see you at our Open House so we can introduce you and your teenager to our youth ministry! Get the details on our website

ADD YOUR OWN DATES: ALL-NIGHTER
We’re kicking off this school year with an all-night event designed to help your kid 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

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.

Your teenager will probably never tell you this, but it’s true: you are the #1 most important person in their life. Hands down. No contest. We promise.

If you’re subscribed to Grow Your Ministry, now would be a good time to attach Parent Tip Video #1 from your Parents section.

Have you heard of The Culture Translator by Axis? It’s a weekly podcast and email and its goal is to help you gain insight into how pop culture, technology, and media influence your teenager. Check it out!

We might be a youth ministry, but teenagers aren’t our only priority. We’d love to hear how we can better serve you and your family, 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 Parent Survey.]