Wednesday Nights

OK, so it has been a really long time since I have posted anything on here! I am not sure you all still view these, but I will start up again when I find time. Let me post some encouraging things that have been happening as of late. First, I have had three different people call me and tell me they want to get baptized (how awesome is that). I haven't even promoted our teen baptism this summer yet and we have three already (SWEET)! Second, I was able to hand out 30 Live Bibles three weeks ago and challenge the teens to take a reading plan on start reading it daily. I have had many teens tell me that they are actually reading them and getting good stuff out of it. Third, I have had more than 5 teens email me with questions after reading their Bible. I have been able to answer their questions and help them along in their Spiritual Journey. Fourth, we have been averaging around 78 teens on Wednesday Nights and had 98 two weeks ago (this is the most we've had since I have been here at FMC)! Fifth, we have 7 RAGE groups that continue to meet weekly and have consistent members. Finally, we have a RAGE group going down to Winter Jam with Wendy this weekend and Wendy has planned this entire trip on her own. The is encouraging to me because I love to see things happen without my involvement. FOCUS Factor Ministries is what it is today first because of the LORD's blessing and next because of the great Youth Workers we have. Thanks guys.

-Joel

Some Reminders

Hi everyone! I thought I would post since it has been almost 2 months from my last one. I am not sure how many of you use this or read them, but I think it is a great way for me to communicate with you all at one time. First, I wanted to remind everyone of the YWT Christmas party that is coming up on Friday December 12th. We will meet in the Casa at 6:30 PM and eat dinner together. If everyone can bring a dish to pass that would be great and Karolyn and I will take care of the meat. Your spouse and children are encouraged to attend as well. Remember to bring a $10.00 or less gift along with you to participate in the "white elephant gift exchange". They should be gender specific and if you don't want to participate that is ok. Your children will not be part of this, only the adults (talking about age not maturity)! I am looking forward to this, as this is always a great time to connect and fellowship. If you have any questions please call me or email me.
Next, I am kind of worried that I won't be able to make it to 3DYC this year due to some uncontrollable circumstances. This would mean I have to find someone to take my place. Dave Capkovitz and Wendy have been there 4 years in a row so he would know what to do, but I would need another male to stay in my room so we have the correct adult/student ratio! Just pray that God works everything out so that I can go! I hope you all enjoyed your holiday and stay warm.
-Joel

Some Thoughts From Joel

OK, so last night brought some ideas to my head that I wanted to share with all of you as well as some good stuff that happened. We are still just learning together how all of these RAGE groups are going to work and we are hitting some bumps in the road, but nothing we can't fix! Last night I was able to lead a girl in our group to the LORD!!!! She felt the LORD was calling her to receive Him and that was awesome. I want to make sure she doesn't "fall through the cracks" and we disciple her on this new journey. I have a little booklet that I (or someone else) would be able to go through with her (it is six weeks)! I just don't want to pray the "prayer" with her and let her go; I want to make sure we help her along this new journey. Second, God is doing some awesome things in the lives of our teens and Satan is fighting hard against it. I am asking for your prayer in some decisions that need to be made, not only on a leadership level, but also some decisions that teens need to make.
I can't say I had a vision last night, but I can say that the LORD impressed something on my heart so strongly that it took me a long time to fall asleep and I couldn't stop thinking about it. Karolyn and I are going through "The Truth Project" right now with some people in our church. We had to make a committment to meet every Thursday Night from 6 till 9 PM (and that is huge for us with everything else we do). We have only had two classes and all I can think as we sit there and watch the video and discuss is how much the teens need this stuff (it is awesome)! The thing about this video series is that you can't just buy the materials and take people through it until you have gone through it yourself. My dream/vision was that after Karolyn and I were done with the class that we would lead a small group at our house of the RAGE groups leaders (since it will be good for you as well) and then when we were done the RAGE group leaders could take all of their teens through it. The material is meant to be done in a Small Group setting. I will talk more about this at our next YWT meeting that is on September 23rd from 7 till 8 PM at our house. See you then!
-Joel

YWT Meeting

Hello everyone, it has been a long time since I have posted anything on this blog and I think it is time to start again! The summer has been hectic, crazy, busy and fun. I enjoyed seeing a lot of your around for at least some of the summer and spending some time with your teens. This summer was a lot of fun and went way too fast like always, but I feel we did a good job of making sure we stayed focused on Discipleship but included plenty of time for fellowship. I think my favorite event that we have ever done was two weeks ago with our Back 2 School Bash! Your help with that event was amazing and it was successful in doing what we wanted it to do. This week for our first "normal" Wednesday Night we had 63 people, which is way more than we have ever had before. I am excited to see what happens with the RAGE groups and with our Wednesday Night format that we have right now. I look forward to talking through these things with you all at our next YWT meeting. We will be meeting at our house the Greenwood's house on September 23rd at 7 PM! The meeting will only last one hour and there will be time to hang out afterwards if we want to. Thanks for serving and helping.

YWT Party

Hello everyone, I just wanted to remind you all of the YWT Party that is Thursday Night on June 19th from 6 till 9 PM! Karolyn and I are providing the meat and drinks. Please bring a side dish to pass or a dessert. Your children are welcome to come and when you bring a dish please plan on 30 people. I hope that we have good weather and I am looking forward to having fun with you all. You have been a great help this past year and I hope to have you all next year as well as more still. We will have little business to deal with, but I will be talking with you informally about the Back 2 School Bash and some of the times I am going to be gone in the near future. Our first Tuesday Tennis was very successful in that it brought 30 teens, which brings us to the point that we need more drivers and helpers or even a bus. I am excited as Small Groups get closer and closer but I am still looking for a name to call them other than Bible Study groups because that is not Teen Freindly. I wish you all a good day and I will see you soon.
-Joel

7th Grade Party

Karolyn and I had the new 7th Grade party at our house yesterday and it went really well! There are a lot of new faces coming up into the ministry this year and I encourage all of you to get to know them and say hi when you see them upstairs. We will need to try and plug them inot a small group (those that want to) where they will fit in or possibly start some new groups. Judging on all of your responses for the Back 2 School Bash the Inflatables won the vote by quite a bit including with the teens. I have great news though. I am going to contact Jay Riemersa who was an offensive lineman for the Michigan Wolverines and he speaks for free so we may get both. I also want to remind you about the Youth Worker's Team Party at our house next Thursday Night on the 19th of June! Your children are more than welcome to come. If you call all bring a side dish or dessert that would be great. Karolyn and I will take care of the meat and drinks. I hope you are all enjoying the warmer weather. Have a great day.

-Joel

The Back 2 School Bash

Well, I know this isn't the best time to be thinking about a Back 2 School Bash since there are three days left before everyone is out of school, but we need to plan ahead if we want this event to be successful! I was talking with Karolyn last night about it and I have a question that I want to ask all of you. Obviously, the goal of this even is outreach and to kick off the school year. We want the highest possible number of teens to show up so we can promote our Bible Studies and Wednesday Night time. I have three things that we can spend the biggest junk of our budget on and I am not sure which would be the best. I have sent an email to the teens asking their opinions, but now I seek yours. Here are the three options

1. Speaker (like someone from surivor or a college football player)

2. A Band (we only have $1500 so it wouldn't be a super well known band)

3. Blow up toys (Joust, Huge slide, Fly Wall etc.)

4. Something else I haven't thought of.

Obviously, there will be more going on that night besides just this like a Madden Tournament, music, food, bonfire and other stuff. Now keep in mind we can pray for a nice night, but the weather may not cooperate for the outdors! That could play a big factor in this. I am open to suggestions and input. Thanks for everything you guys do.

-Joel