The End of the Spear

Sunday night at Ikon we watched the Movie "The End of the Spear". This movie is a true story about 5 missionaries who gave their lives to reach the Waodani tribe in Ecuador in the 1950's. these men were willing to give the ultimate sacrifice because they believed spreading the Gospel of Jesus was worth the risk. what they gave ended up having a huge impact on the Waodani people and changed their way of life.

Right now in Ikon we are in the middle of a series on giving. Stories like this show how a a true faith in God can lead us to a desire to give to others no matter what the risk. I pray that God continues to open the hearts of our teenagers and that they would be willing to give whatever God asks of them to help others and bring people to Christ.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Peter

NEXT Parent Connection for November 19

Hey Parents,
Last night was our last Wednesday night meeting until after the holidays. It has been a great fall semester. We have the lock-in coming up this Friday and the Christmas dance on Dec 12. More info on the dance will be up on the website soon. It will be for all 6-8 graders from the church and/or school. If you have any questions please let me know. Here is the final parent connection for 2008:


Grapple Question:
Why Can’t We Just Get Along

Kids Learn:
They Need to Forgive Others

Dig Into the Bible:
Matthew 6:9-13; 18:21-35

When junior highers are hurt or wronged by someone, they find it hard to not hold grudges, seek revenge, or foster resentment. When resentment and anger stew, they eat at the hearts of our kids, who become cold and hostile. Forgiveness is a healing process not only for relationships between people, but also for the person who’s been fostering resentment. This week discuss a time when you had a hard time forgiving someone. Then talk about how forgiving that person was more for you than for that person. Share with your junior highers how your resentment and anger hurt you more than they hurt the person you were angry with and that Jesus wants all of us to be free from the pain caused by the anger we have against others.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Peter

Ikon November 16

On Sunday we began a series on Giving. we talked about giving as a response to what God has given us through the sacrifice of his son Jesus. The next few weeks we will be talking about how to give of your time, treasures, and talents. Small groups will also be planning service projects to do as a group. please pray that God will move their hearts and inspire our Youth to serve.

Peter

Next Parent Connection for November 12

Grapple Question:
Why Do I Get the Blame?

Kids Learn:
They Are Responsible for Themselves

Dig Into the Bible:
Exodus 32:1-6, 19-26; Micah 7:9

It’s very easy for junior highers to point fingers at other people and blame them for how certain things turn out in their lives. "It’s not my fault; my parents raised me this way. I got a bad grade because my teacher didn’t teach that part correctly." It’s even easier when kids hear their parents blaming other people instead of taking some responsibility for their actions. This week try to be especially aware of what you’re saying around your kids and who you’re blaming.

Also, the Middle School Youth lock-in is coming up on November 21-22, 8:00PM-8:00AM. Kids can sign up at the Youth Center or at TLS up until Wednesday, November 19. The cost is $5 per person (bring cash the night of the lock-in. those who paid for the corn maze, which got rained out, last month won’t need to pay) I could use some parent help during the night to ensure that it is as fun and safe as possible for your kids. Please let me know if you would be willing to come in during the night for a couple of hours to help out.

Have a great weekend!

Peter

NEXT Parent Connection for November 5

Grapple Question:
Why Should I Butt In?

Kids Learn:
They Are Responsible for Others

Dig Into the Bible:
Genesis 3:1-13

We’ve been taught to keep our opinions to ourselves, to mind our own business. Friends may get angry when you stick your nose where it doesn’t belong. This week remind your kids how important it is to care about the choices our friends make. Share with them a story of a time you didn’t step in for a friend and what happened in that situation. Assure your kids that our friends’ lives are worth risking making them angry.

Have a great weekend!

Peter

Ikon November 2

Last night we finished up our "Devotion Promotion" series. We had a low turnout last night due to the congregational meeting at the North Campus, but the kids who were there seemed to really be in to what we were doing. It was really cool this last month to see the youth get more comfortable reading and talking about scripture. I hope this series is a springboard for them to help them in their own devotional lives.

Ikon will be off next Sunday. Please pray for us as we travel to Indy for the District Youth Gathering.

God's Blessings!

Peter