Revolution (Grace Vineyard Youth Group)

This summer we are going to doing some big things.  In fact, our plans are bigger than ever. Please read our April Parents Newsletter to hear all the details.

It seems strange to be talking about summer, but it is right around the corner.  Our summer is going to kick off with some big events even in May.  In May we will be:

 -Having a big All Parents Meeting on April 29th (OK---so it isn't May, but it is close.)
 -Taking part in this year's 30 Hour Famine. 
 -Leading worship in the main service on Sunday
 -Having a youth worship night and coffee house
 -Making some really cool changes to our mid-week program.

These changes to our midweek program are something that is going to take some adjusting to.  I have already heard a lot of comments.  Some were really positive, like "My friend wouldn't come before because the group was mixed." Others were less positive.  We value your input.  We aren't going to make big changes that will be bad for the group. 

I want you to know that there are a couple guiding principles that are most important to us.

1-We will do everything we can to preserve relationships within the whole of the group.  We do not want to split up into smaller and smaller segments that are specialized. We value the affect that High Schoolers have as an example to Junior Highers, and the life that Junior Highers bring to the group.  We will protect that.  We will still have many events that seek to keep these groups together in fellowship. That will not go away

2-We will not throw families into chaos by making them drirve their students to church twice in one week.  We know that life is busy.  We value your time.  We will be building a ride-sharing network for families tht have students in both groups.  We are sensitive to work toward whatever needs to be done to make this doable for your family.

3-Our youth group exists to Reach up to God in passionate worship, Reach in to each other in devoted service, and Reach out to the world in sacrificial love.  Sound familiar?  Everything we do should relate to those 3 things, and our measure of success is defined by those.  Lets look at them briefly:

-Reaching up to God: Our worship has been something that we've really developed over the last few years, but we are at a point where all of the students who want to be involved in worship cannot, because there are too many students who want to be involved, and not enough space/time.  We have very little opportunity to continue to grow in this area as things are now.

-Reaching in to each other: We have done a pretty good job of building relationships and not being cliquish.  But, there are real issues to address in this area.  Our High Schoolers are more often influenced toward decreased maturity than the Junior Highers toward maturity.  There are more Junior Highers than High Schoolers.  Many High Schoolers have expressed a desire for deeper discipleship midweek, which is difficult to do with the group integrated.  It is not just a matter of having a separated teaching time.  It is about having intentional relationships that are bringing each other closer to God.  This is not happening as things are now.  This is one of the most important areas for us to grow in for the year ahead.

-Reaching out to the world: This is something we could do more in.  This includes both evangelism and Christian service.  In terms of evangelsim, this happens with most people by inviting them to church.  Many High Schoolers are not doing this, because of the large amount of Junior Highers.  High Schoolers have left our group because of perceived immaturity in this regard.  Thus, our group (although growing) actually is at a net loss of students in High School.  Our evangelistic efforts are hindered, therefore.  Service projects can happen in increasing fashion when there are two groups to do these, as well.

When I first went to college, I immediately joined Intervarsity, a Christian club.  Although I loved that group, I was frustrated.  Their worship wasn't right.  It was different with what I was used to.  I didn't like their teaching.  They did it differently.  When I moved to a different university, I found myself really deeply missing Intervarsity.  As I thought about it, I realized that their worship wasn't wrong, it was different...but it was good!  The teaching was the same.

Humans have a tendancy to resist change.  We like things to stay the way we are comfortable with.  As your leaders, we have spent well over a year thinking and praying, discussing and strategising over this.  We believe that this is a good and very needed step.  Could it end up not being wonderful?  Yes, it could.  But we might be missing out on God's best for our group if we don't give it a chance.  Trust that your leaders have really prayed and prepared, and might know what is best for our group.  Pray for us during this time.