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This past summer, Corina Blue and her daughter Ava first came through the doors of Stonebridge. Being new to Iowa, moving from the West Coast, everything about their visit was new to them, including relationships.
When I first considered joining my men’s groups, I wasn’t sure I could fit them into my schedule. But after being part of a couple, I’d highly recommend anyone of faith who isn’t currently in a group or Bible study to reach out and join one. Now, instead of wondering if I have time for them, I make time.
Growing up going to Stonebridge, I always got to see the many different ways people served around me and how they were faithful to their calling from God. Having the privilege to serve alongside them throughout high school was a real blessing. It was these experiences that I had growing up that helped me to transition to help minister to others once I got to college in Ames.
Aging is mandatory and as hard as we try no one can avoid it. However, aging faithfully is optional. Getting older is one of life’s journeys all of us take and aging faithfully doesn’t happen by chance; it requires intentional work involving our heart; our head; and our hands.
When we first started coming to Stonebridge 10 years ago, I was a mom to a 3-year-old, 2-year-old, and newborn and my husband was only able to make it home a couple of days a month. As you can imagine, those days were long and challenging. One of the things that kept me going, was looking forward to church on Sunday. The hour of somebody else pouring love into my kids was much needed for them and me...
Taking risks is intimidating, but we can confidently move forward knowing that while we may be taking the risk, God ultimately opens doors and pursues hearts.
Creating opportunities and equipping young people to own different parts of ministry doesn’t come easy. Further, there is the temptation to overrun them while they are getting started in doing the work of the ministry. In general, every parent-guardian has a similar temptation with responsibilities they turn over to their young person at home. What might we do as young people are growing and learning through their initial experiences to encourage them in the journey rather than overrun their efforts?
The Athens Missions Team safely returned from Greece in mid-July. The team was able to see many sights and enjoyed connecting with Stonebridge Global Partners, Larry and Jill Couch. Most importantly, they were able to experience God working in them, and in the people they connected with and ministered to.
Over the last year as we have been discussing intentional discipleship churchwide there has also been pause and consideration what specifically does this mean for student ministry. The “what” we do and “why” are important given the limited time each week we have with students.
This past week I've had a front row seat to another student stepping out in faith to lead his fellow peers during our Sunday night high school Bible study. I have been continually encouraged by the willingness of high school students to learn and grow in leading their peers. What is behind this and how do we get behind them?
For last week’s equipping spotlight I shared about our experience at Morgan Creek park as “doers of the word” in some practical prayer, care, and share ways. I also noted that what we learned from that experience, including suggested changes from the students, would then be applied again this past week. This second time at Morgan Creek park included some new and welcomed experiences and even more learning in our journey to engage others in spiritual conversations.
I didn't fully know what to expect for Challenge 2024. Being a "newbie" attender to the conference, all I had to go off of was the testimony of those leaders/students who attended in the past, including my own kids. The feedback historically has always been positive. However, as first-timers to the conference, Jill Louzek and I, the 2 adults that accompanied 21 students, can confidently say that we'll promote the Challenge conference in the future.
When it comes to sharing our faith, no matter what that looked like in the past, it becomes clear when we re-engage in that activity just how long it has been since our previous times of sharing. Through our first few Wed pm meetings in July we have been talking about serving those outside the church family, including serving them by sharing the truth of the gospel of Christ. This past week it was time to be “doers of the word” (James 1:22)!
I recently heard a friend speak about law-filled shepherding versus grace-filled shepherding. In speaking about these concepts from the letter to the Galatians he used the analogy of one carrying a backpack with bricks (i.e., burdens), with a law-filled approach adding to bricks and a grace-filled approach taking them away. For the young people, who are being trained in the ways of the gospel of Christ, are you a person who adds bricks or takes them away from their backpack? How would you know?
Currently, the first student that arrives on Wednesday night thinks of a “check-in” question to write on the board. Then those who arrive after write down their answers. This week the question was “What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?”. There were a variety answers that students provided describing their initial steps to “get ready” or prepare for the day. What about preparing to connect with those outside of our church family with the hope of engaging them in a spiritual conversation? What might be involved in the charge to “get ready”?
Being with students for a full week has been an extreme joy. I mean that! It is a privilege to have parents hand over their youth to our care for 5-6 days for this recent trip, the Challenge conference
When the Bible uses the word “learn”, it generally is referring to knowledge gained through teaching/instruction or experience. So why learning? To answer that, let's review a few common references in God’s word that help shape a Biblical worldview of “learning”.
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