Welcome to new 6th grade parents, students, our congregation and youth parents & people in our community, to a new school year and the beginning of a new year in the Youth Ministry at Mt. Haley. There’s always excitement and anticipation with the arrival of a new grade level for our students, whether they’re making the transition from elementary to middle school, middle school to high school, becoming a “Senior,” or just moving up one more grade.  Then there are the transitions to adult life or college with all the challenges that await some of our recent graduates.  It’s always a fresh start with new resolutions, goals and dreams.  There’s always an expectation of doing better, making a team, finding a job or becoming involved with a new interest.  With this same new determination in our student’s educational growth we all share as parents, we encourage you to have this same excitement in their spiritual & church life as we train them up to be disciples of Jesus and giving God the glory for their lives.

Mt. Haley Youth meetings begin on Sunday, September 7th at 6:00 PM with the series “Becoming a GREAT Youth Ministry” through 360 Evangelism & Knowing  “Who is God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit.”  Our youth meetings are for 6th graders through one year out of high school.  On Sunday mornings @ 10:00 AM will be the topic, “InTune with God Through Purpose, Purity, Power & People,” with our high school students.  We will be also adding a special new group/class on Sunday nights at 8:00 PM beginning on September 14th for recent high school graduates who are either in college in the area or working.  This will be called “Grads @ Grahams” and will rotate between meeting at Mt. Haley or the home of Pastor Jerry & Connie.  They will be receiving details of the new start-up and we will be determining our course of action for the new group.

We have a wonderful ministry in our church where we partner up people in the church with students praying for them on a daily basis as they live their walk of faith at home and in school.  We will be reorganizing, adding students, and letting go of people who have moved into adulthood (although they still need prayer) this month.  If you would like to join our prayer warriors for students let us know and we will work you into this ministry.

Summer was an extremely exciting time for the Youth Ministry with the International Youth Convention, our trip to Ludington, baptisms, and the Detroit Mission.  Our Detroit CSM mission went extremely well despite some variables in who was going & schedules but God knew what he was doing because he sent exactly the right amount of people to accomplish the mission. The general theme was believing in the HOPE of Detroit and all the ministries that are promoting the rebuilding and meeting the challenges of this great Michigan city.  Our first evening after a wonderful Polish dinner we spent time traveling around the city on a prayer tour learning and praying for various sectors of Detroit.  On Saturday, we worked at Gleaners Food Bank, a Thrift store and serve meals at the Detroit Rescue Mission.  We were then treated to dinner at the “Sonshine Café” which featured a banquet of “Soul” food.  Sunday morning we all worshiped at the New Hope Community Church and were extremely blessed by the people and the service.  Finishing off our weekend at a Thai restaurant we then returned home Sunday afternoon.  It was a powerful, serving, God-filled weekend and we will go back again with more kids.

Our Scripts gift card sale went very well and we thank you for the support and hope you enjoy your gift cards.  On Saturday, September 20th, 100 Mums of various colors will be delivered to Mt. Haley in the Fellowship Hall.  You may order plants from students for us to reserve or come on Saturday (1:00-4:00 PM) or Sunday after church.  The plants are $9.50 each or 3 for $26.  The choice of color is first come, first serve.  We would like to get all of them out the door and sold, so we do not have very many to return to Kutcheys.  Pre-order will provide for particular credit for individual student’s accounts or you can designate a student to receive the profit upon the sale.  Thank you for supporting this fundraiser for our students.  The next big event where students need money is Winter Retreat at CranHill Ranch on the weekend of January 9-11, 2015.  (Money due in December)

The Guatemala Mission Trip dates have been set for this year and registration is this month. The cost for the mission per person is $350 with a $150 deposit due by Sunday, September 21, 2014.  Plane ticket transportation could vary from $400 – $800 contingent on the best deal we can obtain.  The designated dates arranged with our missionary, David Beam, are Thursday, February 5, 2015 through Thursday, February 12, 2015. Dates can be a slight variable contingent on plane fares. (Please pray for this!)  Upon your registration for the mission team, there will be a monthly 2-hour meeting in preparation in October, November, December, and January. Dates and times for meetings will be determined after we have a team. We request that you attend all meetings. Our goal is to have our churches & teams pay $5000 to help in the cost of construction of a family’s house. Beginning this year that cost will come in proportion to the number of people on the team and the church they attend. We will obtain the needed funds through contributions and fundraising.  If you have any questions contact Pastor Jerry.

New 2014-2015 Parental Medical/Permission Release Forms were mailed to each family during August.  We NEED to have these forms completed and turned into Pastor Jerry by Sunday, September 28, 2014.  Please help us have this necessary paperwork done for the year by this date so students can attend meetings, ride in the church van and attend any youth event.  Thanks for your help!

We want everyone to know that our ultimate goal is to bring glory to God as the youth of Mt. Haley accept and develop a relationship with Jesus Christ and grow spiritually every day of his or her life. We have adapted seven spiritual growth principles (adapted from Andy Stanley) that we will work to develop in our youth.  They are:

1.    Authentic Faith:  Are our kids trusting God with the critical areas of their lives?  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

2.    Spiritual Disciplines:  Are our kids developing a consistent devotional and prayer life? (Romans 12:2)

3.    Moral Boundaries:  Are our kids establishing and maintaining Godly moral boundaries? (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8)

4.    Healthy Friendships:  Are our kids establishing healthy friendships and avoiding unhealthy ones? (Proverbs 12:20)

5.    Wise Choices:  Are our kids making wise choices in every area of their lives?  (Ephesians 5:15-17)

6.    Ultimate Authority:  Are our kids submitting to the authorities God has placed over them?  (Romans 13:1-2)

7.    Others First:  Are our kids putting the needs of others ahead of their own? (Philippians 2:3-11)

Parents and church, your prayers, support and encouragement are greatly appreciated and we look forward every week to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with our students through interaction, study, fellowship and relationship.  Thank you for sharing your son or daughter and our congregation for holding the youth up in PRAYER.

Love God, Love People, Live It!

Blessings,

Pastor Jerry  

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