THINK global...

Teens think global. They get that they are a part of a bigger picture. They understand how blessed they are to live in a nation like the United States and they want to be a part of the solution when it comes to addressing global conflict, poverty and injustice. Who better to call this generation to action that those of us who follow Jesus? This summer we are asking Relevant Student Ministry to Think about the difference they can make in one country...Kenya...while helping kids there get an education. Want to know more? Check out this video...make plans to give what you can at REMIX united or use the Text THINK to 50555 plan talked about in this video! We can start a revolution of hope in one country and Relevant Student Ministry is joining the cause this summer. Watch this video and sorry it cuts out some of the video, just double click on the video itself and it will take you to Youtube or click on the graphic above and you can see the video at www.thinkbigstuf.com!

RELEVANT bigstuf camp // video update 2

What matters most at a bigstuf camp? We love what the amazing worship experience and speakers but if you ask our team they will tell you having 5 days to connect one on one with students is the most important part of camp. That is 5 days to THINK about Jesus, life, direction, and possibility. 5 days to laugh. 5 days to dream. 5 days to yield ourself to God. All of that is relational...between God and each other. So thankful for these 5 days. Check our our second update! Nate Edmondson did some filming here so there is no telling what might happen.

RELEVANT bigstuf camp // video update 1

First 2 days here at bigstuf camp have been next level. No, the oil is not here...yes we are blessed to have clean water to swim in...yes our students are having an amazing week. Big props to the bigstuf camp staff...BEST YEAR YET! Here we go! Video update 1, check it out.

LIVE from bigstuf camp this week!

All week I am going to be blogging here from Bigstuf Camp...the most amazing place you can bring a group of high school students for a week! I just want to let you in on what is happening by posting three video updates over the next three days so you can experience what is happening in the lives of our students. What you may see on the video is the incredible experience our students are having! What you will not see are the relational connections happening in small groups. You will also not see what God is doing in the hearts of our students. I can't explain it but there is a sense in my heart that God is going to do some next level things in the hearts of our students this week. We are going to be asking each other to slow down and THINK this week in every worship session, quite time on the beach, and all the small group times. Life is so busy that it pushes us to not THINK about why we are here, who we are, where are we headed? The less we THINK the further we move away from intentionally allowing Jesus to shape our lives! Last night Jared Herd, one of our our speakers, focused on this verse, check it out...

² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 (NLT)

That verse lets us know that transformation is a product of changing the way we THINK not embracing guilt over our past failures. If we expect high school students to move in a different direction...to move toward the heart of God...to be come more like Christ...then we better help them THINK DIFFERENTLY. What could God do in our lives as we strive to think different? Pray for us the entire week and check in for video updates!

headed to BIGSTUF Camp!

Monday morning at 6:30 AM we head for Bigstuf Camp with high school students from Relevant Student Ministry! My blog has been dominated by camp updates the past week and we are getting ready for more from the beach. Bigstuf is a week where we can get high school students out of their normal routine and take them to the beach for one reason...to invest in their lives! We have 4 years with high school students and we want to set them up to spend their life going after the BIG STUFF in life, the stuff that matters and that is what this week is about. We can't wait to see how God works through the relationships that are built, the worship sessions, the teaching, and the alone time these students have with God. Here is where we are headed...yes it is an amazing week!

RELEVANT middle school camp // day 4 video update

Wow...the end of middle school camp. After 4 hours on a van, a stop at backyard burger, and tons of mountain dew we made it through the final day of camp. It was all worth it...seeing this group of students connect with each other and with God was worth it. Thanks to the parents for letting us invest in your kid for a week. Thanks to our small group leaders for mentoring these students all week. Thanks to Student Life for an amazing partnership again this year. Here is our final video update for middle school camp 2010...big plan for next year to be announced later in the fall!

RELEVANT middle school camp // day 3 video update

Day three is over and done and we are right in the middle of our final day here at Relevant Middle School Camp. I think the best part of everyday has been watching our small group leaders (Chelsea, Lauren, Nate, and Grant) invest in these students. At the end of the day what matters most in our time with teens is the job we do mentoring them...not just talking about Jesus but living it out with them. Camp gives us that chance to be preset for a week in a kids life. The investment pays off! Here is the day 3 update...

RELEVANT middle school camp 2010 begins!

Really it's not summer until we hit Middle School Camp and on Saturday morning we load the vans and head to Shocco Springs Conference Center in Talladega, Alabama for an amazing week at Student Life Camp with some crazy middle school students from RELEVANT student ministry. We made the choice the first year of Relevant three years ago to make sure we had a separate Middle School and High School camp experience. We love partnering with Student Life for Middle School camp and Bigstuf for High School camp because of the amazing experiences both offer students. Both High School and Middle School camp weeks are next level and allow us to connect with some amazing students and watch God work in all our hearts. We are excited about the week ahead. Look for daily video updates here on the blog and on FB so parents and the peeps back at Grace Community can see what is going down!