The SPdL Youth Ministry

First, a Few Words to Parents

The highest priority to pursue and the greatest investment you can make in your youth is to encourage, teach and model a faith relationship with Jesus. As the primary bearer of that responsibility for your family, please know that the Youth Ministry at Second-Ponce is committed to serving you in the faith development of your youth. It is my prayer that your family will thrive during these years of change and not just survive them. Together we can make a difference.

To make this happen the Youth Ministry needs your involvement. Here is how you can help:

1. Pray daily for your church staff, the volunteers in the Youth Ministry, and the youth.
   
   
2. Parents please step forward as the primary youth minister for your family.  This will make the greatest impact on your youth's faith development.
   
   
3. Encourage, expect and model faith development in your family as the highest priority. Each event is designed with specific spiritual goals - these are not simply extracurricular activities. How you handle your youth‚s time commitments will quickly communicate whether your youth's relationship with God is a vital part of his/her life.
   
   
4. Volunteer and be a minister.  In the Youth Ministry we will use close to 100 volunteers this year. We need volunteers to help with teaching Sunday School, coordinating That Youth Thing and Sunday Night activities, hosting and co-hosting Disciple Now, chaperoning our trips, and much more. This is such a priority this year that I am asking each parent to commit to being a part of the Youth Ministry at some level as a volunteer. Whether as a chaperone at an event or as a committed, weekly Sunday School teacher, this must be a priority for the Youth Ministry to maintain traction as a thriving ministry.

For the Kingdom,

Jonathan Barlow
SPdL Youth Minister

Work Phone Number: 404.591.4363
Cell Phone Number: 601.310.6867
E-mail: JBarlow@spdl.org

The SPdL Youth Ministry Mission Statement

Our Youth Ministry exists to reach out to those around us, to come together as one family,
teaching those who are committed to knowing the promises of Christ, ministering to others by doing God's work, and expressing our love for God by creative methods of worship.

2008 Year in Preview

SPDL Youth Ministry: Together we are reaching out, teaching, ministering, and worshiping God.

Sunday School

The purpose of our Sunday School Ministry is to reach those who are not a part of our ministry with the Gospel, to connect youth with other Christians within their age group, and to grow the youth in their faith and knowledge of the Bible.

It is important that the youth know the stories of the Bible. Last year all of the Bible studies came from the Old Testament with an emphasis on some of the stories that may have been missed over the years. It is our hope that Sunday School challenges the youth to want to read and discover more about the Bible, to deepen their faith and learn how to apply it to everyday life.

Our Bible Studies are interactive and feature video, handouts and discussion questions. This approach gives youth a break from the (sometimes boring or tedious) lecture style teaching they already receive five days a week during the school year. The idea is to engage the youth so that they feel connected to the material. This is the hope of our Sunday School.

We ask parents to encourage their youth to make spiritual growth a priority by regular participation in Sunday School and encourage them to bring their Bibles.

Mission Projects

Mission Projects are an opportunity for the youth to be the hands of Christ to the outside world. The Youth Group takes mission projects on an average of one every two months. Be on the lookout for chances to help your youth live out their faith by participating in these events.

All Day Sunday

All Day Sunday happens about once a month. This is a time when the youth hang out in the youth area from the time that the 11:15 service ends until after The Core. Sometimes the youth go off to Lenox Mall and other times we just order pizza and hang around. It is a great way to fellowship.

Weekly Activities

That Youth Thing

This is our Wednesday Night Bible Study. We use movies, the Internet, stories and studies to learn about God in our everyday lives. It meets in the Youth Area in the basement from 6 until 7 p.m. Changes may be coming soon.

The Core / The Cafe

This is Sunday Night Bible Study. We meet in the youth theater to sing praise and worship songs, play games, pray, and hear a short devotion. The Core meets from 6 until 7 p.m. 

Youth Choir

Led by Charley Snell, the Youth Choir meets on Sunday afternoons from 4:45 until 5:45 p.m. It is a time for the youth choir to sing songs and prepare for upcoming Youth Choir events. It meets in the choir suite. Bring $2 for dinner.

Major Events

Middle School Retreat

Youth in 6th, 7th and 8th grades will be going to Simpsonwood in Norcross. This weekend is an opportunity for our middle schoolers to grow in their faith. The weekend will be geared directly at middle schoolers with Bible study, worship, hiking, games and ice skating. It is a one-night away trip in the Atlanta area to help get middle schoolers ready for longer trips that are farther away. 

Cost: $85 
Dates: September 21-22, 2008

Camp Jabez

Camp Jabez is the Fall Retreat for the Youth Group. Located in Morganton, Ga., Camp Jabez is located about two hours outside of Atlanta in the north Georgia mountains. The weekend consists of Bible study, worship services, outside games, ropes course and paintball. It is a great opportunity for the youth to connect with one another and grow in their faith. 

Cost: $100
Dates: October 19-21, 2008

Senior High Ski Trip

This trip will be to Winterplace in Ghent, W.V. Planned for 9thˆ12th graders, this will be a four-day trip with two days of skiing. We must have 15 people signed up (with deposits paid by October 31, 2008) in order for the trip to proceed. 

Cost: To be determined (between $350 and $450)
Dates: December 29, 2008-January 1, 2009 

March Mission Madness

This year the Madness will take place in Macon, Ga., and involves an entire weekend of working at different mission sites and worshiping God. The MMM staff pulls this great event together every year so that youth groups throughout the state can serve and praise God.

Estimated Cost: $85
Dates: February 29-March 2, 2008

Disciple Now 

D-Now is designed to give students a chance to mature in their faith by being involved in small group Bible study at host homes with a small group leader. 

Cost: $60
Dates: April 11-13, 2008

PassWays Camp

This summer camp at Wingate University in North Carolina gives youth in 6th through 12th grades an opportunity to grow in their faith through creative Bible study, worship and mission projects. 

Estimated Cost: $350
Projected Dates: Mid-July 2008

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