All of the Student Ministries teams are coming off of great, life-changing, momentum-building camps from this summer: Junior High at Houseboats and High School (in partnership with a serve team of College students) at Lost Canyon. Student Ministries is taking on its next season with exciting changes, to both program and personnel.

As the Student Ministries pastor, I’ve been wearing “two hats” for the past several years as both the High School pastor AND the Student Ministries pastor. In this next season, I’ll be initiating the search for our next High School pastor, so that I am able to focus on the big-picture success of all of the Student Ministries teams: Junior High, High School and College. In the meantime, I’ll continue to serve in my dual role throughout the transition process.

As for Junior High: the more I talk to parents and students about Jared Kirkwood, our new Junior High pastor, the more I am convinced that he is well-poised to lead our 6th-8th graders into their next steps of faith. And, as we look to strengthen the college-age ministry, Cole Beshore is laying-out big and courageous dreams for the collegiate community in our area. From a Student Ministries standpoint, there is more be energized about in this coming season than ever before. (To read more about the exciting changes coming in Fall, CLICK HERE.)

Please join us in praying for all of the key players in this process, the ministries, and our volunteers as we continue in our mission of connecting students with God, their church community, and their unique purpose.

- Jeff Maguire
PASTOR TO STUDENTS

For the last few years, we have held both a midweek in-home program (747) and weekend services. The student that can participate in both of these programs every week, is in the minority; it is more often the case that he or she will make one, but miss the other due to homework, sports, or a variety of extra-curricular commitments. Our student population becomes increasingly busy each year, giving them less and less free-time during the week. Our response to this, in an effort to make connections with God and with each other more accessible to a larger population of students, is to unify our programs.

Beginning Sunday, September 12th, the High School Ministry will launch our new Sunday Night service (in lieu Sunday Mornings and Wednesday evenings). We will meet in Room One from 5-7pm: 45 minutes of group worship and teaching, followed by an hour of small group discussion.

What’s different about the new service? What will it look like?
Why did you make this change?
What hasn’t changed?
How does this help?
What about Sunday mornings?
What is going on during midweek?
Grouping students by neighborhoods/schools was great. What’s happening with that?
Why have a high school service when there is not a main service?
What if Sunday night does not work for my family?
How does this help the high school ministry embrace the church’s ROOTED initiative?

What’s different about the new service? What will it look like?

Our new weekend program will take place Sunday nights, from 5-7pm in the Student Center. This service will encompass group worship, teaching, and conclude with small group discussion.

Why did you make this change?

Each year, more and more is being asked of our students by schools, sports teams, and other extracurricular commitments. Holding a weekly 2-hour gathering on a Wednesday evening represents a significant challenge to a highly impacted schedule. In talking with a number of parents, Sunday evenings were the rare gap in the weekly calendar of events.

What hasn’t changed?

It has always been our goal to help students connect with God and each other. We believe the message of Jesus Christ can dramatically change the lives of high school students. Every event, activity, service, and Bible study has this goal in mind. Wherever a student may be on their journey of faith, we want to help them take their next step — a step closer to God, a step toward a life of worship, and steps toward meaningful relationships. From time to time our programs change, but the goal, the mission, does not, has not, and will not change.

How does this help?

Aside from the scheduling/time issue…

Our goal is help students connect with God and each other. Countless numbers of students (and parents) are longing for a way to connect in meaningful relationships. While the weekend gatherings have a “relational feel” in the present format, students aren’t able to make the relational connection they need. In the new format, every student who enters our service will have a small group connection opportunity.

What about Sunday mornings?

Mariners upholds the biblical principle that leadership and serving are inextricably linked. There are a variety of ways to serve at Mariners during the weekends — foremost among those opportunities is with our Children’s Ministry (Port Mariners) and more than ever there is a need for more students to serve in this capacity. Helping students to develop a heart for service in high school will redirect their heart for future service and leadership.

One of the critical challenges facing a youth ministry lies in assisting students as they make the transition from “youth group” to “big church”. For the bulk of their childhood and teenage years, students are told that the main church services aren’t for them… And then, they graduate, and are told the opposite. Many students have a hard time taking their next step because they’re unaccustomed to both adult services and serving the church community alongside adults.

What is going on during mid-week?

In the Sunday Evening service we’ll gather for teaching and worship and then break for small groups.

One of our guiding ministry values has always been (and will continue to be) connecting students with caring adult leaders. All students will get the same great small group experience they’ve counted on from the high school ministry in the past (the only difference being — small groups will take place here on campus).

Often the most significant impact adults have with students occurs in the in-between, in the casual meetings, and in the unplanned conversations. This is the new face of midweek — the one-on-one coffee at Starbucks, the bike ride on the peninsula, or the slice of pizza with someone looking to chat. It’s our hope to free up volunteers and students for more of those impromptu-type gatherings. We are deeply committed to creating environments for students to be heard by, to pray with, and to learn together with adult volunteer leaders.

Grouping students by neighborhoods/schools was great. What’s happening with that?

Clearly, in a centralized church experience, the area campus ministry has to take on a new shape. We still believe that connecting students in the relationships that will help in carrying them through their high school experience is valuable. Students will be connected in small groups with students from their school/neighborhood. We want to help each student retain the valuable school identity and relationships that will help them thrive in high school.

Why have a high school service when there is not a main service?

We recognize that a second trip out to church on a Sunday represents a sacrifice for a number of families. Helping students to connect with God, with caring adult leaders, and with each other is a difficult but important task. It’s our hope that by combining our 2 major programs (weekend worship services and small group community) into one night, we actually free up more time for families on other days/nights of the week. For further reasoning, please see FAQ number 5.

What if Sunday night does not work for my family?

In talking to students and parents, we determined that Sunday nights were the most convenient time for the most people. It’s always been a value to make our ministry accessible to all and we’re also aware that settling on a perfect time for everyone is more fantasy than reality.

How does this help the high school ministry embrace the church’s ROOTED initiative?

Students will be led through the ROOTED experience at the onset of small groups, beginning Oct 10. All ROOTED curriculum and included events (praying, serving, evangelism) will be offered to students in small group community.

Here is a brief run through our 12-day Kenya Adventure…called Mabadiliko (Swahili for ‘change’).

The team of 8 High School students from Mariners Church traveled for more than 30 hours to get to Nairobi, Kenya. When we arrived, we were greeted with cheers and singing…the 8 students from our partner church, Mavuno, had come to the airport to welcome us to their hometown. “Karibu Kenya!” {Welcome to Kenya!} These students were accompanied by their three youth directors (whom we quickly came to love) and a group of videographers who would document our adventures for the next 10 days.

The students from the two churches became one team almost immediately. We roomed one American and one Kenyan to each room and, within minutes, found how much we have in common with our roommates.

We began our days with morning devotions, lead by our leaders, and some worship songs, lead by a few of our Kenyan students. Each day, it was so obvious that God was at work in the hearts of our team members. As we closed each of our days with team debrief, we heard stories of how He had spoken to them, used them to speak to others or moved in their hearts during our days of serving together.

During our trip, we visited several ministries of Mavuno Church. One of them, Bawa La Tumaini (Wing of Hope), was started by a woman after a visit to a local IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) Camp with her church small group. While she was there, she saw the talent and skill possessed by the women and men living in the devastating conditions of the camp. She told us, “I had two choices: I could feel sorry for them, or I could do something to help.” With that, she formed Bawa La Tumaini. Several men and women (called ‘producers’) create jewelry that is sold in the community…and all proceeds go back to their families.

We had the opportunity to visit the home of the woman that began the ministry. A few of the producers were there working and our team spent the morning talking and working alongside of them in the backyard.

Mavuno Church also has a ministry that works with Chamarecc Primary School in a slum that is near the church. Our team spent two days helping to refurbish the classrooms.

Chamarecc before:

It is difficult to keep 16 students engaged in a work project while there are dozens of neighborhood children running around. Periodically, our leaders and students would set-down their hammer or paintbrush and spend a few minutes spinning, chasing or loving on the kids.

This is Freddy…Freddy was everyone’s favorite.

Chamarecc Children’s Centre after:

Our days were filled with great activities…and, often, a lot of manual labor. It was very common to arrive back at the hotel, after dinner, with a van-full of sleeping students.

We know that these 12 days were life-changing. God broke our hearts and opened some deep-seeded wounds in each of us. We returned back to normal life with quite a bit to wrestle with. Thankfully, technology allows us to continue to build on our international friendships and help each other (even from across the world) walk through life.

**As a team, our collective support raised did not meet the total cost of the trip. If you would be willing, we would appreciate any additional funds you could contribute. Contributions can be made through Mariners Outreach: . Any contribution is both tax-deductible and appreciated.

Here’s the itunes link:
Tardycast on itunes

Or, you can access Mp3′s, right here