August 5-7 
7:00 – 9:00
Three nights of intense games, food, preaching, and a whole lot of fun!

We could not have asked for a better day at Six Flags. Perfect weather and short to no lines to wait in. Although it is hard to get pictures of teens riding a roller coaster, I did manage a few pictures.

Here are the final pictures from camp! Just a reminder in the morning service this week (June 28) we will be showing a video of the week of camp, and after the evening service we will be showing a longer version of the video. Hope to see you there.

Wednesday was a full day of fun. Free Time, Tag-a-lot, services, and fun time filled the day. Thank you all for your prayers during this week, and please continue to pray.

We have made it to camp and our first night! Here are a few pictures of the start of the weel

Here is all the information that you should need to be ready for camp!

Times:
Monday, June 15          6:00 AM          Leave from Grace Baptist Church
                                             3:00 PM           Arrive at Northland Camp
Saturday, June 20        9:30 AM          Leave Northland Camp
                                              8:00 PM           Arrive at Grace Baptist Church

Note: Please be at church on time Monday morning. Getting to camp on time is essential to starting off the week on the right note. Also, since this is the first time that we will be making this trip as a youth group, the arrival time on Saturday evening is an estimate. If it will be later or early than the time planned, we will call you.

 What to Bring:
Bedding, towels, jacket, Bible, extra clothes, camera, shoes for athletic type activities, swimsuit (one-piece for girls), sunscreen, and insect repellant.

What to Leave at Home:
Skateboards, magazines, CDs, MP3 players, laptops, and electronic games       (because of the long trip your teen can bring some electronic games for the trip, but to follow the camp’s request all these items must be left with Pastor Luke for safe keeping during the week).

Contact:
Northland camp requests that teens not bring their cell phones with them. They would like camp to be an escape from the many distractions that the teens have on a daily basis. If you would like updates throughout the week, feel free to call me on my cell (820-1021), or leave me your number, I’ll get in contact with you.

Dress:
Please note that Northland strives to maintain a conservative standard for dress and conduct. Please choose modest clothing as you pack for the week. Northland Camp states that they reserve the right to request a change in any clothing or behavior that they deem inappropriate.

Guys: For daily activities, tank tops are not permitted, and shorts must reach the tops of the knees. Long, casual pants (no jeans) and collared shirts must be worn to each evening service.

Girls: All clothing worn for daily activities must reach the tops of the knees. Loose-fitting pants are acceptable for recreation. Knee-length skirts or dresses must be worn to each evening service.

Money:          
The camp recommends that each camper bring money for spending throughout the week for activities such as the rifle range, snack shop, paintball, mini-golf. Most activities at the camp are included in the cost of camp and don’t cost extra money. Also, we will be stopping for a fast food lunch on Monday (your teen may bring a sack lunch if he would like) and Saturday, so your teen should bring money for that as well. The Saturday supper on the trip home will be a pizza supper provided by the church.

Praying much for this week,                                               
Pastor Luke Love

You’re sitting their staring at that page filled with questions that desperately need answers. Unfortunately for you your mind has gone blank, or maybe hasn’t been filled. It makes no difference, because either way you know you’re going to receive a big red F on another test. The pressure mounts as you stare at the paper longer, hoping that magically the fill in the blanks will no longer be blank.

You’re faced with enduring the next 30 minutes as you attempt to form some sort of random pattern through your multiple choice questions and reword the same phrase then times through your essay. Or maybe you could just stretch a little, just enough to see a few answers on your neighbor’s paper. Just a few answers-only enough to get your mind flowing again. Only one test our of hundreds.

Teenagers often find themselves in this situation between mid-August and May. Many of us would assume that teens choose to do right, but a recent survey reports that 64 percent of high school students admit to cheating on a test in the past year.

Those responding to this study are giving several explanations to explain the results. The teens are placed under so much more pressure these days than in past years. Technology has made cheating easier. There’s not enough funding in the school system. These teens are busier than past generations. The teens are just following the example of corrupt business men and politicians.

Although these explanations may have some effect on the situation, we do a disservice to the teens if we allow the conversation to continue without placing the blame on those that chose the act. Shifting the blame away from the guilty party is nothing new in the world. Adam attempted to place the blame of sin on Eve and God. If the blame is removed, the guilty has become the victim instead of the sinner, and if one is not guilty there’s is no need to repent.

The problem becomes deeper when the study reveals that 93 percent of students are satisfied with their personal ethics, and 77 percent agree with the statement “when it comes to doing what is right, I am better than most people I know.” These results are even more disturbing than the first numbers, because if students don’t believe they did anything wrong, there’s no need for change. To magnify the problem, if there is no sin, there is no need for a Savior.

Here are some pictures of the some of the guys playing for their basketball teams.

The question why can be very annoying when we are trying to get things done. A seemingly simple task like sending kids to bed can set off a never ending chain of whys. Why do I have to go to bed, why do I need sleep, why can’t I get another drink of water?

Sometimes though the question why can be very important because the why reveals the purpose. The purpose is foundational for any activity, project, or even life. Without a thought out purpose we lose meaning.

In the youth group at Grace Baptist we attempt to have a purpose behind everything. Each event, lesson, and activity should have a thought out purpose that helps us reach our overall purpose of glorifying God by making disciples. Some of our purposes are easy to see, like why we study the Bible or pray as a youth group. Some purposes though are not as clear.

The why behind the youth group’s monthly activities is often misunderstood. It would be easy to see the purpose of an activity like the upcoming Pizza Scavenger Hunt as fun, food, and fellowship. But a youth group activity has a more significant purpose than simply eating pizza and laughing.

So why do we have teen activities? The activities give the teens an opportunity to build godly friendships with other teens that will encourage them spiritually and not tear them down.

Each activity also gives the opportunity for the youth leaders to build relationships with the teens. A relationship is vital to ministering to a teen. A relationship builds trust with the teens. It shows that we care about them; it also shows that the youth leaders are approachable. 

So the next time you see an activity on the calendar—ask yourself why. Hopefully your answer means you will encourage our teens to be at the next youth activity as we seek to reach our main purpose of glorifying God by making disciples.

 

 

Welcome to a brand new site that is here for the youth group of Grace Baptist Church and the teens of Taylorville, IL