Dear Parents,

      God is doing amazing things in our Student Ministry. Each month, Collide continues to be a major night in our ministry. It has been fun to watch students reach out to their friends who do not know Christ and see them respond to the Gospel when it is presented each month.  Our Connect Groups are exploding. We have moved many Connect Groups to the church on Wednesday nights and these groups are growing like crazy. It is a great time to be a student in the Student Ministry at Biltmore.

           The anchor of our ministry continues to be BBC Students Live, which is the main gathering of students on a weekly basis.  Each Sunday at 9:15 and 10:45 students come to the student center to experience worship, teaching and other interactive elements to keep students attention. At BBC Students Live, we teach through different series. These series give us a theme to develop and help keep students engaged in weekly Bible study.

           Beginning February 21st, we will begin a series that I need to make you aware of so that you are clear on what we are teaching. The series will be called Sexology. In this five week series, we will teach students what the Bible says about sex. The first week we will look at “selfish sex.” This will deal with many of the pressures students feel from the culture. We see from Scripture how immorality devastates our spiritual life. The second week we will teach students how to be a man of God. The third week we will unpack for the ladies what Scripture declares as a woman of God.  On March 14th, we will clearly define “sacred sex.” To close this series, we will have a panel answering pre-screened questions that students have about sexuality. Students will be made aware of a place to submit questions in advance that will be answered on that Sunday.

           Each week, families reach out to our ministry to help their high school or middle school student who has fallen to the temptation to become sexually active. The culture is teaching students how to think about sexuality and for the most part, the church is silent. Our desire is to equip your student with Scripture to make biblical decisions in this area of their lives.

           We hope that they will attend the Sexology series. However, if you do not believe your student is ready for this subject, we will provide an alternative Bible study class for them to attend so that they will not feel excluded from the Student Ministry. If you wish your student to attend this alternative class, please instruct your child to remain in the student café when BBC Students Live starts and tell the adult volunteers that they want to attend the alternative class.

           Please join us in praying that God will use this sensitive subject to transform many lives and rescue students from making unwise decisions. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us here at the church.  As always, it’s a joy to serve your family and minister to your student.

For HIS Glory,

John Mark Harrison

Pastor of Students

How to be a great student ministry volunteer:

Often we are asked what it takes to be a great Student Ministry volunteer. Its not rocket science, but it does take a person prioritizing certain things… Read this list and see if you would be a great student ministry volunteer:

 1. Be Spiritually Fit – take care of your spiritual life first

 2. Honor God in your family – you will not be an effective minister if your family is not serving God

 3. Support the vision/leadership of your pastor and student pastor

 4. Be relational – students do not care how much you know until they know   how much you care

 5. Be prepared – do not shoot from the hip… have something substantial to say when you are called on to teach.

 6. Be dependable – to earn the right to be heard, you must be there!

 7. Be Flexible – things change… roll with it with a good attitude

 8. Be authentic – you do not have to be a know it all… be real.

 9. Do not promise confidentiality – you cannot always keep things    confidential, so don’t promise it. Tell students you will not tell, “if you can” and then outline things you cannot keep as a secret.

 10. Have a heart for ministry – you must not be a volunteer to protect your children from the evil influences of the world.  You must volunteer because you believe in teenagers and desire to minister to them and equip them to make a difference in the world.

Called to Ministry 20/20 Conference

Students who are feeling called to ministry are invited to go to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary to experience the 20/20 Conference February 5-6, 2010. The cost is $60 and covers conference expenses, transportation and one night in a hotel. Below you will find more information about the trip, as well as the program for the conferencer that you can download. It lists all the available "Breakout" sessions and the students will have to choose three in which to participate. You can also go to www.sebts.edu to find out more. 

The weather messed up our registration day, January 31, so if you plan to attend, please call 828-651-6213 ASAP to reserve your spot. You can pay on Wednesday night or Friday as we leave. 

Called to Ministry 20/20 Conference February 5-6, 2010

We are going to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC to attend the 20/20 conference. This is a conference that will challenge students to think theologically and walk them through many sensitive cultural dilemmas. 

What to bring:

Bible

Pen

Notebook

Backpack

Small suitcase

Toiletries

Money for resources and two meals 

What not to bring:

Anything that will embarrass God, your family or our student ministry

Bedding 

Towels

Important Information:

• Students will be responsible to be on time to all scheduled events.
•  Students must choose three breakout groups to attend from the list provided.
•  We will depart BBC at 3:15pm on Friday. We would like to leave ASAP after school. Please come straight to the church from school so that we can get on the road.
•  We will return to BBC by 10:30pm on Saturday.
•  We are staying at the Hampton Inn. 12418 Wake Union Church Road. Wake Forest, NC 27587. 919-554-0222.
•  Every student must complete a medical release form attached with this info packet.

 Please call the number above if you have any questions.

It is always fearful to begin to write and know that you do not have the answers to the questions you are raising. So, I’m admitting that I am raising a hard question, but one that needs to be asked so that we can evaluate and re-align our lives around biblical principles.

I sit with students and their families often who walk into my office and share a story similar to this…

The student had been growing in their faith and attending church faithfully. The family was experiencing peace and the joy of the Lord in their home. Everything was great. Then, for one reason or another, the student is encouraged or decides to on his or her own accord get a job. When applying for jobs the supervisor tells the student that they will offer flexible scheduling. After the student takes the job, they are asked to work on Sundays and are not able to be in church.  When the family gets to this part of their story, they usually say something like, “We thought it would be temporary” or “we noticed attitude changes” or even, “our family just thought that life had changed and we were in a new stage.” The next thing the family shares is that the job turned into an every Sunday thing where their child was never able to go to church. Then, through tears, they tell me the blow up in their home that finally caused them to reach out for help. Some of the blow-ups have been pregnancy, realization of drug and alcohol use, or withdrawal of the teenager from the family.

My heart breaks for these families because often the damage that has been done is not repairable and their lives are forever changed.  I am all for students working. I think all students should pull their weight in the home. I think we must develop within our children a good work ethic. I also think there is a parenting responsibility to ensure the spiritual wellbeing of your child.

Lets look to the Scriptures:

Deuteronomy 6:4-9:

“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. “You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. “You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

This verse is telling us to teach our children the commandments of God that should be in the parents’ heart.  Unfortunately, many times even the parents model that money and success are more important than taking time for spiritual things. We have bought the lie that we don’t really need to be in a community of faith and fellowship with believers walking through same life stages and experiences. This passage is helping us understand that as parents, we should model to our children the commandments of God and teach them diligently or continually. We must communicate the priority and truth of Scripture to our teenagers always.

Proverbs 22:6:

Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.

This verse gives parents instructions about their role as training their children for Godliness. How will a child know that placing their job as a higher priority than spiritual growth is sinful unless they see it and hear it from their parents? We can teach them at church all we want, but until they see it and hear it at home will they truly comprehend how to prioritize their spiritual life above all else.

It’s humorous that we wonder why research tells us that over 85% of students graduate high school and also graduate from church. Could it be that truthfully, when they got a job, they graduated from church? Possibly, when they still live at home, parents push them to keep up their appearances at church, but now that they are out of the house, they do what they wanted to do anyway and choose not to be involved in the body of Christ because of their work and busy schedule.

There are many other verses we could look to for these principles, such as Ephesians 6:4, Matthew 6:19-20. The point is not to lecture about what might be going wrong. The purpose is to begin a conversation…

So the question is, “How do parents prioritize their child’s spiritual development while teaching them the responsibility of having a job?”

Please leave comments of your thoughts and lets see if we can learn from each other… more to come on this topic!

On January 10, 2010 over one hundred and fifty parents grabbed lunch in the student center and participated in Parent Day. During the luncheon, we gave many important dates for the new year and then Dr. Alvin Reid, from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, addressed the parents about Growing a Gospel-Centered Family. Since many of you were not able to attend the luncheon, we wanted to post the notes:

DNOW – This weekend event happens every March. This year it will be held March 26-28. Students will stay in host homes and participate in a conference at the church for the weekend. The cost for DNOW is $55.

Beach Week – This year, we are taking students who have completed 7th-12th grades to Beach Week in Pawley’s Island, SC. We will run a separate track for High School students and Middle School students. Each evening, they will worship together. The cost for Beach Week is $280 before May 2 and $295 after.

Survival Camp – This camp is for all students who have completed 5th and 6th grade. This will be a wonderful week of camp that immerses students in age appropriate content so that they can grow in their walk with Christ. The cost for Survival Camp is $185 if registered before June 6 and $200 after. It will be held at Camp Cedar Cliff in Asheville.

Collide - Many times we get questions about when the next Collide is scheduled and who the guest will be. Here’s a list of the Spring Collide schedule and guests:

January 13 – Addison Road
February 14 – Justin Lookadoo This is a Sunday. Collide will happen at 9:15 and  10:45 am during the regular BBC Students Live time.
March 3 – Fee Band
April 14 – Clayton King
May 5 – Unhindered
**Collide will begin at 6:15 p.m.and end at 8 p.m.**

One of the questions we commonly receive is, “What about the fundraisers?”

We are not going to do any fundraisers. We have worked hard to lower the price on all of our events and want to use the funds we have received to reward students who are actively involved and who are doing all they can do to accomplish the Great Commission. Look for scholarship money to be available to students who are growing in their faith and who invite unchurched friends to these special events.

__________________________________________________________________

Dr. Reid addressed the gathering of parents and challenged them to grow Gospel-Centered families.

Listen to Dr. Reid below:


Deuteronomy 6:4-9

To grow a Gospel-Centered family, parents should:

• 1.Demonstrate a HUNGER for God (6:4-5)

“What you are speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you say.” Emerson

3 things parents must demonstrate in the home:

• 2. EDUCATE in Godliness (6:6-7a)

Practical lessons for today’s home:

“Leadership is defining Reality” Reid - God is calling parents to lead their children and develop them into Gospel-Centered followers of Christ. God has given each parent a Bundle of Eternity. Parents must take responsibility for what they have been entrusted.

• 3. PARTICIPATE in Gospel Living (6:7b-9)

A Gospel focus is caught more than taught

Gospel-Centered means that the Gospel guides our lives

Keys to a Gospel- Centered family:

Parents Day was a great time of encouragement, information and training. The Student Ministry at Biltmore desires to partner with you in the journey of parenting a teenager. We cannot replace the vital role of mom or dad. We cannot do anything that will replace the void of an absent parent. Parenting teenagers is difficult, but not impossible. If you are having a difficult time or need to talk about some struggles you and your teenager are facing, feel free to call the office for an appointment. The student staff will be happy to sit and offer any assistance available. Your teenager is worth it.

Join us on Sunday, January 10 at 12:30 p.m. in the Student Center as Dr. Alvin Reid speaks to parents on raising Great Commission homes. Lunch will be available at a cost of $7 per person. Childcare will be provided, but you must register by January 6. Also, please provide a packed lunch for each child that will be in childcare.

Alvin L. Reid serves as Professor of Evangelism and Student Ministry at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, where he has been since 1995. Reid has written extensively on  evangelism, missional Christianity, spiritual awakening, and student ministry. Alvin’s passion is to equip leaders for the coming generation who will change the world for the glory of God and the sake of the gospel.

To register for lunch, please sign-up on our website at www.bbcstudentsonline.org. January 6 is the deadline for registration. If you would like to attend and opt-out of the lunch portion, you may do so at no cost.

 The secret to Collide is that students invite their unchurched friends. Each month, students ask God who they should invite to Collide and then work hard to have that individual at Collide. Its fun to watch our students be so excited when they are blessed by watching God work in the lives of their friends.

 The goal of Collide is to provide students a relevant environment where they are proud to bring their friends and encounter Christ. We value the trust we are developing with students where they know we are not going to embarrass them with our antics or try to entertain them. Basically, we’re not doing “youth group,” but we are working arm and arm with students to reach their generation for Christ.

 Once a student attends Collide, we can follow up with that student to make sure they have a church home and if not, connect them to our ministry on Sunday and eventually into a connect group.  This makes Collide more than a monthly event, but a strategic moment in the spiritual development of our students.

 If you’re a student who has not attended Collide, I strongly encourage you to be here on December 16th for the last one of the year! If you’re a parent who has not experienced Collide, stop by and be encouraged!!

 Check out these photos…

You may be not be aware that we have started supplying students with devotional thoughts for the week based on the lesson each Sunday.  As a part of the REBELS series students will be sent home with a handout with these thoughts. Here is a look at the coming days, so that you may follow along as well. Have a blessed week!

 Thursday, October 29 - Reflect on how God used the suffering of Paul to advance the Gospel. Why does God allow suffering? Read 2 Corinthians 12:10

 Friday, October 30 - Read 1 Peter 4:12-19 and see how God blesses those who suffer for the Gospel.

 Saturday, October 31 - Read 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 and notice how Paul does not hold onto anything that he thinks he is or deserves so that others can come to know Christ. Ask God to make you this unselfish today.

 Sunday, November 1 - Read Phil 2 and reflect on how a rebel is humble.

 Monday, November 2 -  Read Phil 2:5-11 and thank God for sending Jesus as a humble  servant so that you could receive eternal life.

 Tuesday, November 3 -  Read Phil 2:19-24. Paul sends Timothy to the church in Philippi. What had Timothy done to qualify for such an assignment and what do you need to do to qualify for an assignment like this from God?

 Wednesday, November 4 -  Read Romans 12:1-2 and discover what our attitude and focus should be as we follow Christ.

 Thursday, November 5 -  Read 1 Peter 4:12-19. Identify what your attitude should be during suffering.

 Friday, November 6 -  Read Psalm 147:6. What does God promise the humble?

 Saturday, November 7 -  Read 1 Peter 5:5-6. List the things that are instructed to younger people.

 Sunday, November 8 - Read Philippians 3:1-11. List reasons why it is important to pursue Christ with our lives.

Last Sunday, we began a new series in BBC Students Live called Rebels. We’re encouraging students to live a counter-cultural life. This is a study of the book of Philippians. I’m giving the students quiet times that go along with each week’s passage and connects the gaps from week to week. We could stay in Philippians for many weeks, but have decided to only sit in the book for six weeks. Here’s how the next few weeks line up:

• October 25 – A Rebel advances the Gospel (1:12-18)
• November 1 – A Rebel is humble (2)
• November 8  - A Rebel is convinced to pursue Christ (3:1-11)
• November 15  - A Rebel understands how to purse Christ (3:12-21)
• November 22 – A Rebel is content (4:10-19)

 I cannot wait to see how God moves through this series.

 BBC Students Live Volunteers Needed

On Sunday Mornings we have a great crew of parent volunteers who staff the student center during BBC Students Live. We are working to put these parents on a monthly rotation so that they can still participate in their Connect Group. The tasks are very important, but do not take a lot of preparation. We will ask you to work in the Student Café, the Hub and Game room. Each location has a specific set of instructions that will be given to you in advance.  Please help us ensure a safe and fun environment for our students by helping out once a month as a volunteer. You will not regret it! If you are interested, please contact Audrey via email: alwilliams@biltmorebaptist.org.

Dear Parents,

These are very exciting days at our church. God is moving throughout our Student Ministry and the entire church. We realize there has been a lot of transition as we have grown, so we have developed a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that hopefully will help you understand how you can get your student connected in the Student Ministry.

1. Is there anything for students on Sunday nights?

After Vertical>>, we do have a talk-back time for students who attend Vertical in the Back Lot (new Children’s Gym). This talk-back time includes discussion about the sermon from the worship service and activities in the gym; this will take place from 7:15 - 8:30 p.m.

2. What is the Wednesday night schedule?

We have a monthly student worship service called Collide. The dates for Collide this fall are October 14, November 4, and December 16. Spring Collide dates will be announced in a few weeks. This worship service is the focal point of our Wednesday night efforts as we use every available resource to try to reach the students of Western North Carolina with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Collide begins at 6 p.m. and is not over until 8 p.m.

We also have a monthly prayer gathering called Thirsty. Thirsty is Wednesday before one of the Collide services. This time is special for the students of Biltmore to gather together and ask God to use them to bring as many students as possible to Collide the following week. Thirsty begins at 6 p.m. and ends at 7:30 p.m.

The other weeks of the month, we have two University LIFE classes that meet in the Student Center. One is a Biblical Foundations Class that is great for any student who desires to have a firm grasp on the foundational elements of the Christian faith. The second class is our Student Leadership Class. This class is the training ground for students who desire for God to use them now to make a difference for Christ. These University LIFE classes begin at 6 p.m. and end at 7:30 p.m.

3. What hour should my student attend on Sunday morning?

We have transitioned both hours of BBC Students Live (9:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.) so that they are identical. Your student can attend either hour of Bible study. Our hope is that your family can worship together and then attend their age appropriate classes. 

4. What is the best way to get my student connected into the Student Ministry?

Our Connect Groups are the best way for students to build relationships and become apart of what God is doing in our Student Ministry. Connect Groups meet at the church and in homes throughout the community. The groups are separated by gender and age so that the students can work through the difficult issues of being a teenager.  You can find out more about Connect Groups by visiting the web site>> or stopping by the HUB in the Student Center.

5. When are the special events for 2010?

• DNow weekend is March 26-28
• Beach Week is July 19-23 at Litchfield Beach Resort, for all students who have completed 7th-12th grades
• 6th Grade Camp will take place late July or early August at Camp Cedar Cliff
• We are also looking towards a major international mission trip for students who have completed 10th-12th grades in mid-June.

6. Will there be fundraising opportunities for students this year?

We will not have the Christmas Tree Sale or the Auction. We are working very hard to make each trip affordable for students. Some need-based scholarships will be available.

7. What’s up with all the texting talk?

We’re very excited about using technology to our advantage to engage students so that they can hear the gospel. From time to time, we have a text message poll that gives great insight into the spiritual lives of students.  We communicate with students that they do not have to participate and that standard text messaging rates do apply. Each poll is very useful in appropriately communicating the Gospel to students.

8. What is going on with the awnings at the end of the Student Center?

As our church has grown, the typical entrances to the building are getting overcrowded, especially the Education Center entrance. We would like to ask all students to enter the Student Center from the parking lot end of the building at the HUB instead of through the children’s hallway. These awnings mark the spot and give some shelter in bad weather.

9. Is the Student Center open throughout the week?

The Student Center is open from 3-8pm on Wednesdays. On Collide nights, it will be open until 8:30pm.

10. How can I best contact a student staff member?

Email is the fastest way to get a response from a student staff member:

                  John Mark Harrison>>

                  John Leathers>>

                  David Wiggins>>

                  Kate Williamson>>

You can also call the Student Ministry Office at 828-687-1111.

We hope that you have found these FAQs to be helpful. It is our sincere desire that your student feel welcome and become involved in our ministry. BBC Student Ministry exists to lead students to reach up, reach in and reach out so that every student in Western North Carolina can connect with God.