Update...

Hi there,

Just wanted to let you know a few things.

• Yesterday, after a time of praise and worship and breakfast together, we broke the students up into small groups to discuss community.  Within that context, we  asked for the kids to give us ideas of events that they would like to do, events that they would actually come to.  I haven't seen the list yet, but I've heard that they came up with some really creative ideas.  We want to provide events in this ministry that the kids just HAVE to come to because they don't want to miss out.  The reason: it builds community.  The events that we have done have not brought a lot of students as of late.  The ones who have come have gotten pretty tight (which is the goal of the events), but we want the whole high school ministry to impacted by this.  This is where you come in: if you have any ideas we would love to hear from you as well.  Go ahead and email your ideas to Ashey Copenhaver (acope88@gmail.com) if anything comes to mind.


• This Wednesday night we are finishing up our series called, "Moxie".  The topic is being bold to go and share the gospel.  We are also having baptism this Wednesday night.  If you or your teenager have not been baptized, I would like to challenge you and/or your high schooler to follow Jesus in this step of obedience.  If you are able come, I would love to see you come and worship with us this Wednesday night (7pm in the main worship center).


• This Friday night we have "Dancing With Friends" at the Pomona Valley Workshop.  We go and help throw a dance for those who are devel0pmentally disabled who work at the Pomona Valley Workshop.  I invite you to join the group as they ministry to this group of people.  This is a great time and a great opportunity to serve with your high schooler.  If you have any questions, email Ashely (email is above) or call her at 909-938-4737.


• MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!! Ignite 2010 is coming.  October 23, 2010 from 5-8pm.  This is a worship event that God has put on my heart to start and lead.  If you want to see what it's all about, click here.

Thank you again for allowing us to partner with you as you raise your teenagers to love Jesus.

Update for this week...

Here are some things to know:

1).  On Tuesday night we are going to an Angel game.  The sign-ups for this event are closed but I wanted to let you know the info.  We meet at the church at 5pm and get back by 11pm (hopefully sooner).  Should you have any questions about this, call Ashley at 909-938-4737.

2).  This Wednesday night, we are continuing through our three-part series called, "MOXIE".  Last week we looked at the topic of boldly being the church (click here to watch the message from last week).  This Wednesday we are looking at the being bold to come to God and to come together.  Please come and worship Jesus any Wednesday night that you are able to.  If you can't make it, you can watch it live online (click here).

3).  Beach trip.  Thursday, August 25.  Have your high schooler at the B-building at PFB by 4pm.  We'll be back by 10pm

That's about it.  Thank you for allowing us to partner with you.  We don't take it for granted.

Update...

Just wanted to give you a quick update.  This Wednesday night we are starting a new series called, "Moxie."  It's a three-week series on boldness.  I am so excited about this series.

This past Sunday morning I shared with the students about the direction that we are going in the Next Generation department with regards to hiring our next team member.  You should have received a letter in the mail about it.  If you haven't, please let me know and we can get one out to you.

That's a real quick update.  Thanks for letting us partner with you as you raise your kids for Jesus.

Update from Wednesday Night...

Thank you for praying.  Last night we finished up our series called, "The Resistance."  We finished by looking at the topic of victory—that we have already won because of Jesus.  It was a powerful evening.  We set up a table with pens and paper off to the side of the worship center.  We invited people to go up to the table and write down anything that has been holding them back or something that they feel that they are in bondage to.  After writing that thing down on the paper, they were invited to walk up to the cross we put in the worship center and rip the paper up and put it at the foot of the cross signifying that they were done with whatever that thing was.  There were a lot of pieces of paper at the foot of the cross.

The worship singing time was powerful.  It was incredible to hear the people singing out to Jesus.

Thank you so much for allowing us to partner with you as you raise your kids for Jesus.

An Update...

Hi there,

I just wanted to give you a quick update about some things coming up.

1).  This Wednesday night we are finishing up the series called, "The Resistance."  We will look at the victory that we have in Christ to overcome our own sinful appetites and the the devil.

2).  Next Wednesday we will be starting a three-week series titled, "Moxie" - which means boldness.  We will be looking at the boldness that Christ has called us to with regards to coming to him, going for him, and being the church that he has called us to be.

3).  Be looking in the mail for an update about the search for a new team member to join the next generation ministry at PFB.  A letter from me will be mailed out to you on Wednesday.

That's it for now.  Thank you so much for allowing us to partner with you as you raise your teenagers for Jesus.

HANG IN THERE MOM AND DAD!

This morning I was spending time with Jesus in his word.  I read 2 Kings 21 and 2 Chronicles 33, both chapters telling about the life of one of the most evil kings to ever rule Judah.  How bad was he? "Manasseh led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem astray to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the people of Israel" (2 Chronicles 33:9, ESV).

Manasseh started reigning as king of Judah when he was 12 (a junior higher).  He reigned for 55 years.  And for most of it, he was a bad a kid.  And here's the part that scared me as a parent: "And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel.  For he rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed..." (2 Kings 21:3, ESV). Hezekiah, Mannaseh's father, did what was right in the eyes of the LORD.  He tried to follow God in everything that he did.  And yet his boy came along and did completely the opposite.  I stopped there and wrote these words in my Bible:

"My loving Christ does not guarantee that my kids will love Christ.  Jesus, my prayer is for my kids to surrender to you and adore you—to serve you with a love and faith that convicts me of my lack of both.  Show me what I can do to lead them toward you."

Some of you are at the same stage I am: little ones at home that you are trying to figure out how to point to Jesus so that they will hear his call and surrender their lives to him.  Some of you are wondering if your son/daughter is Manasseh come back to life.  You're broken and hurting.  You are at a loss.  And if I stopped here in this blog you would feel like there is no hope.

Click here to see the hope and be encouraged.  HANG IN THERE, MOM AND DAD!!!

What a ride,
Brian