home from snow camp.  the temperature worked for us, and the snow was a little scarce but still 19 students (8 from evo and 11 from 3 other churches around Ohio a great weekend.) hung out at our favorite adventure spot phoc.

the theme for our time together was “community“.  Students were challenged to think about 3 friends who they need to invite into God’s Story by inviting them to youth group and other connecting events. The teaching over the weekend looked at the account of the paralytic and his 4 friends in Mark 2. Thinking about how much those 4 friends went through to get their paralyzed friend to Jesus. We also looked at the account of Ananias & Barnabas reaching out to Saul who becomes Paul, and Peter when he joins Paul in helping the church at Galatia.  The big idea for the weekend was…

think faces…our three friends who need to know about Jesus
think dates…those events/opportunities to share and invite others to experience Jesus
think the CROSS…its all because of what Jesus did for us that calls us into action.

Offered the examples of other teens who are changing the world by literally raising millions of dollars and awareness for global issues:   Our pal Austin Gutwein is impacting on the conversation about HIV-AIDS

and Zach Hunter is a modern day abolitionist who is working against the global issue of slavery.

This year worship was led by a cool and talented Malone graduate Mike Coates. Mike currently lives in Nashville. Mike brought lots of energy and passion as we sang. he’s got some amazing talent. he’s got some cool viral videos on youtube.

outside adventure is always part of snow camp.  like the past couple of years a short roadtrip to snowtrails for snow tubing is a highlight.  Back at camp some time on the zip line wrapped up a full day.  At night a modified version of sardines and charades was a great ending to a really full day.

here’s the wrap up video.

• Loudonville Jr High School
• Loudonville High School
• Hillsdale High School
  
• West Holmes High School

Please indicate “Dare 2 Share” as your “My Connections”.
.

we’re taking 35 meat loafs, 70 lbs of mashed potatoes, lots of green beans and corn….and home baked rolls.

we’re meeting up at the church at 1:00 pm and will then head north to the near west side of  cleveland.

if you’re going, please download a travel waiver from the link in the upper right hand corner here… ——->

or you can pick up a form at the church.

more details here.

we launched out with a new series called HAPPY.  that ties in with the church-wide campaign that has just stepped off.  We began the night with everyone taking their creative energy and making some placemats for the upcoming boy’s epiphany weekend at indian river juvenile correction facility in massillon.

epiphany is a three-day spiritual formation  retreat that takes place inside a juvenile corrections facility. the placements are a form of “agape” to encourage the boys that there are people on the outside who care about them.  the placemats are always a mind blower.   after the placemets were finished we introduced the adult leaders.  there’s several new faces this year and it was great to hear the excitement of the students as each adult shared who they were and why they were investing their time.

the big idea: was showing that we basically have two choices on how to live life -I can pretend I’m God, or I can trust that God is God and I’m not.  in small group we looked at the Beatitudes from Matt. 5:1-10.  This first week was focused on being happy because we are poor in spirit…and how we need to depend on God for our everything.    great conversations…and we’re thinking the best is yet to come.

EVO: Mission Detroit- 1 by Youth – 9.11.10 from nhloud video messages and media on Vimeo.