Vol.1 Spring 2009

Have you seen spring? No...thats not the name of a student I left at the winter retreat! Its this brief season were supposed to have after winter and before summer...but I seem to have missed it. At any rate, I really hope youre enjoying this early sum-mertime weather! Life doesnt always go as planned, does it? Sometimes thats the result of our decisions that didnt pan out like we imagined they would, while at other times it is a direct re-sult of choices that others made that affect us. Often the results are quite comical and make for good story-telling; equally often the outcomes are not comical at all and were left to figure out how to put things back together. Well, what about seasons of life when we expect things to go awry and only the de-tails catch us by surprise. Take the teenage years, for example. Our culture expects that tweens and teens (tweens usually refers to 8 to 12 year-olds (some say 10 to 14 year-

olds)) are supposed to go find themselves, or simply check out for any lengthy period of time (often years) and that parents, usually feeling helpless, should just be glad when they return (if you will) or, worse, if they return as the child we somewhat knew them to be...with some character and personality modifications. Whats more disparaging is the multiple millions of dollars spent targeting these tweens and teens. So whats a parent to do when nearly everyone around says that youre supposed to expect this, ride it out and hope for the best, knowing that mil-lions of dollars and many, many people are quite literally against you? What are your unexpected circumstanc-es: whether because of your or anothers choice (family, friend, acquaintance, whom-ever)? What hard decisions must you make as a 21st-century parent? May I suggest that you not do it alone;

may I suggest that you find a few like-hearted parents and other adults that need your assistance as much as you need theirs? Equally yoke yourself with others. Thats what the Roots Youth Ministry is all about! We certainly dont have it all figured out, and we are learning every day. One thing we know for sure: these tweens & teens are wonderful creatures (yes, creatures at times) who God designed...i-n-d-i-v-i-d-u-a-l-l-y...to be part of the greatest work on earth...now...while theyre tweens and teens. And since He knit them together (Ps. 139), He best knows how to navigate these tough times. He means for us to use His Word, the Spirit and each other (a three-fold cord) to co-navigate!Join us as we traverse this season! More than allowing your teen(s) to attend (which we greatly appreciate), share the expected, the unexpected, and together lets experi-ence the faithfulness of God in our, and your tweens/teens, lives!

Introducing the Roots Youth Par-ent Newsletter. Yes...I had the same thought...not a great name! So Id like your help creating a name. Everyone likes a little friendly competition, so were gonna have a little contest...thats right: A CONTEST!

CONTEST DETAILSThe newsletter name should creatively connect the newsletter and the Roots

Youth vision and roots systems.The winning name will be chosen by

the Roots Youth staff and pastoral staff.The person/couple who submits the winning entry will receive a $50 date night, compliments of Roots Youth!Up to 5 submissions per couple must

be made by e-mail to Pastor Matt (mattm@rootsyouth.org) before

11:59pm on Monday, July 01, 2009.

In Revela-tion 3:15-22, Jesus Christ speaks to the church at Laodecia, exposing their hearts and where they stood in relation to Him; The Lord says, I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarmneither hot nor coldI am about to spit you out of my mouth. Then, out of love Christ says in verse 19, Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be ear-nest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.

Continued inside, bottom-right

GRASSROOTS

JH Sunday SchoolBrenda Breitz, Mike & Danielle FortiniJH Weekend Youth GroupZach & Lauren Collier, Colleen Fer-guson, Pete Klimek, Stacie KottJH Parent Support Team LeadersGreg & Brenda BreitzSH Sunday SchoolWendy Bentson, Carl Grossi, Chris Niehoff, Elaine Rinaldi, Matt SeelandSH Weekend Youth GroupWill Davis, Cherilyn Magee, Ethan Mindrebo, Tim Landrud, Tim & Lydia MyhrenSH Small GroupsWill Davis, Elizabeth Jones, Cherilyn Magee, Ethan Mindrebo, Courtney Morrison, Tim & Lydia Myhren, Jaime RobbinsSH Parent Support Team LeadersBob & Noemi Davis

that youve been through enough of life to experi-ence something...okay many things...that I have not. Especially given that Cherilyn and I are just now expecting our first child. So...parents in our church family should anticipate the day that we come knocking on a few doors to ask our fair share of questions. My hope is that that will continue throughout our parenting season. Paul encourages the Corinthians with these words in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. A primary aspect of our philosophy for parenting in community is this: God al-lows both good seasons and incredibly hard seasons to help make us more like Jesus. As God comforts us, He in turn teaches us how to comfort others. The reason? That we can point them to Jesus. I believe it is also safe to say that we can replace the verb, comfort, with any other means of grace we receive from God and are, therefore, expected to show toward others (encourage, exhort, love, etc.). When we live like this we are both receiving from God and extending His grace to others. The Roots Youth Parent Support Team is much more than you might think when judging a book by its cover. Their mission is to undergird and complement the vision of Roots Youth. They aim to accomplish this by sharing the administra-tive load, cultivating an interdependent parent community and reaching out to the un-churched parents of teens who visit Roots Youth. Godly interdependent relationships require vulnerability, commitment, humility and Christ-like love . But they begin on very simple common ground which might look (or sound) like this: Hello. My names ___________, and I have a teenage child. Ahhh...the beauty of common ground to break the ice. This is the basis for our open-house dinners this spring! Hosted by folks like you who care about your teens and want the very best for them. Simply stated, we want to provide a relaxed environment for you to get to know other parents in your area who have tweens and teens and attend SEFC. Theres no trick...no meeting, ex-cept to say that we want them to know you and you to know them. Were trusting God with the rest. You are cordially invited! (Locations & times coming soon!)

Gear up your teens for a great New York City missions trip this summer! This JH & SH missions trip is open to

all current 7th through 12th grade students. Our trip will involve a variety of ac-tivities, ranging from cleaning a camp, working with children at Camp Hope/Camp Joy (for underprivileged/handicapped children), evangelizing on the streets of NY, performing dramas, puppetry, music, and praying for NYC in Central Park. Be sure to get your teens application in soon. You dont want him/her to miss this trip which will prepare them for the rest of their JH/SH career. Sign up today!

Did you know:

In 2011 (less than two years) the cell phone will be the greatest distributor of pornography for kids?

Sexting is the new craze reported by CBS news (April 1)? 1 out of 5 kids have received an unwanted text photo of someone naked on their cell phone? And 50% of Junior High boys will have at least 1 photo of his naked or partially-naked girlfriend?

12-million people in America participate in self-injury (mainly cutting) each year, most of whom are young people?

At least 1 Sussex County High School uses a sex-ed curriculum called Sex, Etc. developed by teens, for teens?

No, not because I am one anymore, but because Im raising some now. Ah, youth! Their vitality, beauty, exuberancetheir strength, talent and tenacity. Youth! The envy of the ages.I dont think they always feel that way, though. No, they have struggles and pain like

you and I. Isaiah 40:30 says, Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall. More than simply surviving the teen years, we want Jesus to be exalted in every aspect of our teens lives. Its why the vision for our youth is that they would actively engage Christ in their world.

Join us in praying together for our youth. Everyone is welcome! The prayer band meets every Wednesday in the Library from 6:30 - 7:30. Jesus said, ...my Fathers house shall be called a house of prayer (Matthew 21:13). And Acts 1:14 tells us, They all joined together constantly in prayer... (emphasis mine) and in Colossians 4:2 we are exhorted, Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

That our youth grow in the grace and love of our Lord Jesus, and that they are passionate in their prayers and their faith.

That they are led of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Ephesians 3:16 says, I pray that out of His glorious riches He

may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being. For Pastor Matt as their spiritual shepherd, that he guide

and support them in all truth and righteousness. And, for Cherilyn, his wife (now pregnant and feeling very ill), that the Lord will give her a healthy

pregnancy, healthy baby, and great joy in this time of expectation. For all the volunteers on the youth staff that help serve on a

weekly basis and the parent support team. Ephesians 6:18 encourages us to Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (by Nancy Kempf)

(Cont d from pg. 1: Will Davis, Youth Intern)If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.Two years ago the Lord spoke these very words to my heart and rocked my soul, -and I had to evaluate the direction I was headed. Was I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God (Gal 1:10a)? Although by Gods grace I was saved at the age of 13, I was never fully gripped by the greatness and holiness of God. My life revolved around myself and I penciled God into my daily schedule rather than allow the Lord to guide my every step and what He had predestined me to do. Finally, my focus adjusted and my path made straight, I was able to study for the past two years at Word Of Life Bible Institute. There the Lord stretched, disciplined and renewed me. I am currently a student of Liberty University (online) where I am pursuing my bach-elors degree in youth ministry and the Lord has called me into the ministry. My desire and passion is to disciple and instill passion and excitement of Gods absolute truth and redeeming grace in the lives of young people, so they, in-turn, can reach others in their generation. Ive recently been working under Pastor Matt, and Im grateful for the blessing it has been to be able to work with these remarkable young people and become part of the youth staff here. Im looking forward to what the Lord has in store and beginning an internship under the influence of the godly men God has put in place at SEFC.

WARNING: what you are about to read is, and should be, quite disturbing...and still, you need to read this. So ask God for a discerning mind and read on.

that the youth approached Pastor Matt

and asked him if they could have a day

of prayer and fasting, and to meet weekly

before Bible study for a time of student

prayer (all are welcome, Wednesdays at

6:00), so the Lord would move among

them and do mighty deeds. Wow! Par-

ents, help them fan into flame the gift of

God. And watch these youth, their pas-

tor, and their leaders. Encourage them,

support them, and pray, pray, pray! Ask,

pray! Jesus will answer. All glory to His

beautiful name!

experience a growing relationship with CHRIST

know Christ by knowing Gods WORD

understand Gods design for your FAMILY

pursue and invest in godly FRIENDShips