FAMILY NIGHT LIVE SERVICE NIGHT!!

I truly believe that NOTHING builds relationships like serving together! This Sunday night is another FAMILY NIGHT LIVE, but this one is gonna be a little different.  This time, we're gonna serve together! There will be two groups. One will cook and serve dinner at the Salvation Army in Bentonville, and one will sort and prepare clothes at the Potter's House in Fayetteville. It's gonna be great night of serving and growing together! Don't miss it!

Here are the details:

WHO?  RAVE teens AND parents!
WHAT?  A chance to serve those in need AND grow together as FAMILY
WHEN?  Sunday afternoon/evening, Jan. 26, from about 5 till about 7
WHERE?  Potter's House: 2703 N Drake St, Fayetteville
                 Salvation Army: 3305 Southwest I St. Bentonville
WHAT DO I BRING?  Just a servant heart!

NOTE: Space is VERY limited on the Salvation Army team. The space can only hold about 10 people, so PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP if you want to be on this team!!
                  

1st ANNUAL PARENTS' CLASS!!

Ever feel like your home is one big awkward family photo??

Can't BEGIN to express how excited I am about this, folks!  It's time to dive headlong into equipping parents to be the best spiritual leaders they can be, and in the process, power you guys up to be the engaged parents that this youth minister will THRIVE on!!

Beginning this year, and continuing once a year, we're going to have a 6 week parents' class during the spring quarter. It will be divided up into 2 IDENTICAL 6-WEEK SESSIONS, so as to not disrupt other classes' teaching schedules, and to keep from pulling you away from other classes you love.

The first session will begin at the start of March and run midway through April, the second session will pick up there and run through the end of May.  This is REALLY going to be some quality content, so DEFINITELY make plans to be with us during one of the two sessions.  IF YOU TEACH, you may want to coordinate with another parent and split the quarter with them so you can both be in there without putting the pinch on the class you teach. IT WILL BE WORTH THE EFFORT!!!

With future classes, they'll be much more focused on one topic. With this first one, we're going to cover a wider array of things, but here are the main things we'll dive into:

1. The NEW approaches to youth ministry that you've seen happening (and will continue to see) at Robinson Avenue and HOW you can be as effectively engaged as possible
2. How to be the spiritual leaders in the home that God wants you to be
3. Things you should know about the EVER CHANGING WORLD OF SOCIAL MEDIA
4. How to be connected with and encouraged by other parents going through the same things you are

Like I said, this is DEFINITELY going to be something that you want to be a part of. Come have some coffee and some GREAT conversations about raising teens in this crazy world!  You WILL be glad you came!

***SIGN UP FOR THE SESSION YOU WANT ON THE BOARD BY MY OFFICE!!!***

CHRISTEENS 2014!!

This is, without a doubt, and event that is ALWAYS top notch!  This year is shaping up to be one of the best yet!  It's going to be all about our MISSION FROM GOD, and the lineup of speakers (SOME OF THE BEST AROUND THIS YEAR) looks AMAZING.  This is also a GREAT weekend for getting closer to each other, and as we move into this new era of parent engagement (rather than simply "chaperoning") this is a WONDERFUL trip for parents to join up on.  We stay in host homes and have lots of time for men to be with the boys and ladies to be with the girls.

CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE HERE to see more details on their end, but here are our basics:

WHO? ALL RAVE TEENS & PARENTS!! (Parents, DO NOT wait until I invite you personally!)
WHAT?  A FANTASTIC youth rally with worship, classes, awesome speakers, and more
WHEN?  Feb. 21-23, 2014
WHERE?  Russellville, AR at the high school performing arts center
HOW MUCH?  $35, plus $15 for a shirt (Christeens always has REALLY good shirts, just FYI)
WHAT DO I BRING?  BIBLE. Weather appropriate clothes, sleeping bag, pillow, and toiletries
   Also a little eating money for inexpensive meals (dinner Fri., lunch/dinner Sat., lunch Sun.)


THE SIGN UP LIST IS ON THE BOARD BY MY OFFICE SO SIGN UP AT CHURCH, OR JUST EMAIL ME NOW AND I'LL SIGN YOU UP MYSELF!!

A DIFFERENT KIND OF NEW YEARS PARTY!!

What's a "different kind" of New Years Party, you say?  I'm so glad you asked!!

Two things, really.  The first is this:  It's my observation that what these teens need this New Years is to CHILL OUT and relax more than they need a throw down non-stop bash.  Of course that's not universal, just on the whole.  So here's the plan:  We're gonna kick things off around 8:00 on the 31st and have a night of games (for example, a SPADES TOURNAMENT, tables full of board games, the volleyball net set up, etc.), some worship time together to bring the new year in the right way, and showing ALL the videos from 2013 on the big screen as we go through night (there's easily a couple hours worth!).  We'll count down the new year and then head on home after that.

What also makes this a little different is that we would REALLY love for this to be a family affair!  PLEASE COME JOIN US!!  It'll be a blast of a night, and a great chance to have some fun, easy family time!  (Not to mention, who would you trust more to get your kids home than you!)

So here are the basics:
WHO?  ALL RAVE TEENS AND FAMILIES
WHAT? A new years party that gives everybody a chance to relax and have a good time!
WHEN?  8:00 pm on New Years Eve till 12:30 AM
WHERE? Rob Ave youth hall and gym
WHAT DO I BRING?  Just bring your favorite snack food and board games, and I'll get the drinks there!

It's gonna be a great, relaxing night!  COME JOIN US!

CLOTHING GIVEAWAY!!

It's time once again for one of the most beautiful things we do at Robinson Avenue!  This is such a wonderful opportunity for our teens to come serve people in amazing ways.  There are so many jobs to be done, from stacking and arranging clothes, keeping tables neat, passing out bags, and bringing out new inventory to serving pancakes, cleaning tables, bringing around coffee, etc.  There's SO much to be done, so EVERYBODY is welcome and needed to come pitch in!

Here are the details..

WHO? YOU AND YOUR TEENS!!
WHAT? A wonderful morning of giving clothing to the naked and food to the hungry...hmm, that sounds familiar..
WHEN?  Saturday, December 13, from 7:30 to around 11:30
WHERE?  Robinson Avenue Church of Christ Family Center
WHAT DO I BRING?  Just a servant's heart!

NOTE: There is NO BETTER WAY to connect with your teens spiritually than to SERVE ALONGSIDE THEM!! Please don't miss this opportunity!

CHRISTMAS PARTY!! (NOW WITH PICS!!)

Well now that the ice is melting away and the roads are clearing a little, it's time to have our Christmas party!!  You probably know most of the details by now, but here's a rundown just in case you've missed them!!

WHO?  ALL RAVE TEENS, their friends, and you're more than welcome to join us!!
WHAT?  A Christmas scavenger hunt, party, gag gift exchange, and new this year: CAROLING!!
WHEN?  Saturday evening, December 13 beginning at the church at 5:30 where we will begin the  scavenger hunt, which will end us up at the POULOS HOUSE at 6:30 where the party will commence and wrap up around 9!
WHERE?  Begins at church, but mostly at the POULOS HOUSE (see above)
WHAT DO I BRING?  A $5 (max) GAG gift, some Christmas cookies if you can, and WEAR A CHEESY SWEATER!! (See the picture above for examples)

There are some surprises being planned by our gracious hosts and crew, so don't miss out on this awesome night!!

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Folks, we had an AWESOME NIGHT Saturday night!  A HUGE thanks to our SCAVENGER HUNT DRIVERS (Darren Jones, Stacey Smith, Keith Kilmer, Darren Haskins, Rhonda Asencio, and Shannon Bowman..with her partner in crime, Karen Mayes!), Bonita Holroyd and Susan Poulos for coordinating food, plus ALL who sent food for an AMAZING meal, and of course our gracious hosts, Susan and Pano, for opening up just about every inch of their home to the crowd we had that night!! And thank YOU helping us make that night a great one!

Here are some pics from the night!

100th POST RIGHT AT THREE YEARS!!

This is my 100th blog post AND we've just crossed over three years at this church! Three years of planning these things out paid off just right. I'm kidding. You guys know my planning skills aren't quite on that level..

But seriously folks, I could sit here and write for hours about the past three years if I had time.  This past week, on Dec. 1, I celebrated three years at Robinson Ave. You guys have been a family to my family and me since we walked in the doors on Dec. 1, 2010.  I have no doubt in my mind that we are exactly where God wants us to be.  I could go on and on about that subject alone. There are so many reasons I believe that. So many ways I've looked back and seen God's hand in bringing us here, tracing back for years.  Things have worked out just right for so long, and in so many ways.

I hope you all know how much Rachel, Grace, Coop (and soon-to-be Abigail Layne...or Lane...the jury is still out) and I appreciate each and every one of you. We are so thankful for this place. You have been so supportive and generous. We couldn't imagine being anywhere else.

THANK YOU FOR THREE AMAZING YEARS!