|
| | | 
Forum Expert
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 5/18/2008 1:36:50 AM
Posts: 276, Visits: 6,756 |
| | This subject just never gets easy for parents and most adults to address but is so very important. My daughter has a friend who is expecting the end of October. She grew up a devote christian who even exclaimed that she would wait. She made that committment as a teen. I believe she is now 20 or 21. What happened? She enterred a relationship that was headed toward marriage. People have to learn that engagement does not give them a green light but so often they say to themselves, "It is o.k., we are going to get married. This is the person for me." The couple is still living together but the wedding plans are off. My daughter also has another friend who turned 17 on July 3rd and gave birth on July 4th. Know the song "Stupid Boy"? I think of the dad every single time I hear that song. They are not married but living together and all though the baby is only 2 1/2 months old, the "Stupid Boy" has kicked them out of the house. After a day or two they go back. This was a situation where the girl's mom knew she was spending way too much time at this boy's home (and overnight) - what did she think was going on? Any way, my daughter (one day older than the girl) is the Godmother of this baby and is doing a fantastic job helping watch and take care of the infant. So, our children still need tools to use to help make good choices. And these tools need to be reminded of often. Like the first girl who everyone thought was on the right track, it is easy to fall in the moment when the world is saying, "but you will be married soon - he is practically yours already - go ahead." And the 2nd girl who probably never had tools past that 1st school talk of the birds and the bees (what grade is that given?). The most important part is that these people (moms and dads also) need to know that they are still God's children. It is not for us to judge them and make them feel their guilt but for us to remind them that they are still important to God. Just because their mistake is more visual than ours, they are no more guilty of sinning than we are. I would guess that in close to all cases, when a child is in this situation, they do not have the tools to raise a baby so need all the help they can get in that area also. The young lady in the first post must be feeling the acceptance of your group or she would not keep returning. That is good. Ask if she has made plans to baptize the baby (if your church does infant baptisms). Find out who the baby's godparents/sponsors will be and if they will truly be involved in the baby's life as my daughter is. Maybe as a group, your youth can throw her a baby shower, come out in full force for the baptism and make sure to include her and the baby in special celebrations in all areas of the church.
- Adrianne
|
| |
| | | 
Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/22/2008 11:31:19 AM
Posts: 11, Visits: 21 |
| http://plus.xdrive.com/XDRequestDispatcher/ppp?action=Download&seqs=XFS-1716575176&types=xfs&rec=3076386|cGFzdG9yZGFtb243OEBhb2wuY29tfE96elBYa2FyaUhJZ3N8MTE5MjEyMTE3MTk0MnxldD0xMTkyMTI0NzcxOTQyfGlwPTY1LjIyMS42Ny4zfE1Dd0NGQkt4VXF4eUxtZVVzSUhhN3dtZFVDZ2t1THN2QWhSWUdjeWxCK1UyL2VPR2Q1Z3BxdWV0akt0bFRRPT0=
This is a folder of a series I did called Passion, purity, and for Wednesday nights. It was quite successful. Especially the fashion night fer girls. We set up an all you can each chocolate bar with a chocolate fountain. We had about 70 girls show. Over ahlf of them were first timers!!!!! Let me know if you have anyquestions
Behold...Blue Steel |
| |
| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 10/15/2007 8:53:54 AM
Posts: 1, Visits: 3 |
| | We do a series every other year for our jr high group (7th & 8th graders). We're coming up on our 4th time doing it this coming February. What makes ours a little different is that we do it on 4 consectutive Sunday nights, and include the parents. We do a video, and then break out for discussions...girls separated from boys, and parents in a separate group. We give them homework and they must make up any session they've missed. We've tweaked it each time we do it, so it's not the same each time. The first year we did a video series Song of Solomon (Teen version) by Tommy Nelson. It was ok, but it targeted senior high students, not jr hi, so some of the stuff was a little too dry for them. So, we add and subtract some different material each time. We've used stuff by Joshua Harris and the Every Young Man's Battle video. We've done a girls session on wardrobe and modesty, and a boy's session on ography. I make available a list of resources for parents, and I draw on a ton of other material that I've become familiar with. At the end of the 4 weeks, we have a really nice purity ring ceremony where their parents present their student with a ring. It's a dress-up affair, complete with white table cloths, worship, skits, finger foods (served by our singles ministry group and past teen participants), and lots of cool decorations (like hundred of balloons. The girls wear dresses, the boys wear shirt/tie. We make it a very memorable and very special time for the students, thier parents and the youth ministry team. The first time we did it in 2002, we had 19 students participate. In 2004, we had 54 and in 2006, we had 98. Planning the weekly sessions was a lot of work, and planning the banquet was like planning a wedding, but it had sticking power. The kids remember it, and it was a serious spiritual marker in thier lives. It was a blast. I'm looking forward to it this coming February and March! So are the students & parents. |
| |
| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/13/2008 2:45:55 PM
Posts: 3, Visits: 13 |
| | Ok, so I'm new on here but this topic immediately grabbed my attention. I'm almost 16. I know this is a difficult subject for people to discuss, especially in church. But it can NOT be ignored. A poll once showed that the average girl gave up her virginity at age 13! How crazy is that? I've always believed that one is not supposed to give that most precious gift up to anyone that they aren't married to and that you only have one partner, so to speak. So I beg you, please talk to your youth. Please. If you haven't heard the song 'Wait for Me' by Rebecca St. James, then you need to. How can we be physically unpure and be right with God? How can we go out partying on Saturday nights and be right with God? Howww?! I have promised myself and my future spouse that until I saw "I Do", it won't happen. In fact, I will not date anyone who isn't a Christian. I said "Christian" not "Church person". There is a big difference. God will provide "My Prince Charming" when HE is ready. "Not My Will, But Thine Be Done"
A Soft Answer Turneth Away Wrath; But Grievous Words Stir Up Anger. |
| |
| | | 
Forum Expert
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 1:06:04 PM
Posts: 1,175, Visits: 3,375 |
| Welcome to the Group Message Boards! Your response is awesome! I totally agree with it. I'm a youth myself serving in the church with VBS, Youth Ministry, etc. Feel free to e-mail or PM me. God Bless, Josh T. in Ohio
 Group's Crocodile Dock VBS 2009  June 15-19, 2009 |
| |
| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/12/2007 12:04:22 PM
Posts: 1, Visits: 5 |
| | Hello, I have no experience with the TLW curriculum, but I have heard about it and I know it comes highly recommended. I have been in Youth Ministry for 22 years and my wife has worked with me in that for the past 11 years. Since you asked about other cirriculum, I'll mention that we have recently come across an event/curriculum called "The Silver Ring Thing". You can visit their site at: http://www.silverringthing.com/ Their live events look interesting and we are trying to get our youth to one of the events. Students who make a commitment to abstinence may purchase a sterling silver ring as a symbol and reminder of their decision and they'll receive 40 e-mails over the following 4 months to encourage and equip them in their commitment. They also have a curriculum called "SRT 434" that is DVD based and can be used either stand-alone or after an event to reinforce and bring it home. You can see it at: http://www.silverringthing.com/shopcategory.asp?catID=14 Just a thought that might help... UthWorker... |
| |
| | | 
Forum Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 1:19:16 PM
Posts: 47, Visits: 142 |
| We used the books, "Every Young Man's Battle", "Every Young Womans Baattle" and "I Kissed Dating Goodbye." Split the boys and girls during Sunday School so Wednesday night was still the youth group. The youth guy is 26 and I am 53 so we offered perspectives from both ends of the battle. It was good. The parents appreciated it and the kids showed intrest. I think it had a positive impact.
 http://sundayschoollessonconnection.com/ Help and encouragement for Christian Youth Leaders plus free lesson plans to download. |
| |
| | |
Forum Expert
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 1:06:04 PM
Posts: 1,175, Visits: 3,375 |
| | I've read the book "Every Young Men's Battle" in a Bible Study and it was pretty good. It didn't really impact me a whole lot though because I have made the decision to not date and wait for God to give me the wife He wants for me. God Bless, Josh T. in Ohio
Group's Crocodile Dock VBS 2009 June 15-19, 2009 |
| |
|
|