—
Scott’s Thoughts
Prayer is such an incredible asset.  Never should it be our last resort to a troublesome life, rather, it should be a natural overflow of our grateful hearts.  As a pastor, I feel as though I’m supposed to have my prayer life together, that my daily life should be filled with chatter with God when i’m not chatting with teens…

If only it were so…

But a few weeks ago, as I was bunkered down, praying for theMIX, God simply rocked my world.

With the rained-out sports driving our teens all over the county and the youth fair encompassing most of the remaining students, we found a few weeks in theMIX where we were slightly down in our attendance.  We had great weeks, great times of worship, and God challenged several students through the course of those nights.  I wasn’t disappointed by any means…

So Wednesday morning, I found myself bunkered in the student room, praying for our worship service that night, asking God to simply overwhelm our students with HIS word!!!  As I was praying, I was startled with a soft, simple voice, encouraging me that we will have students for every chair in this room tonight… Unfortunately, I simply laughed in disbelief, figuring that was just wishful thinking on my part.  That night, as I stood up to teach our students, I was overwhelmed with emotion as I found every chair out except a small stack of 4… and we had a crowd of about 15 students sitting on the floor in the back of the room…

For the month of May, Pastor BJ will be walking our church through an incredible series on the importance and the power of prayer within our personal lives as well as within the lives of the church.  But the beauty of prayer, the takeaway from my simple time of prayer that crazy Wednesday morning was not about the students as much as it was about God realigning my heart with His, about God connecting with and encouraging my weak little heart.  Prayer is our connector to the heart of God.
—
Having said that, I’m going to ask you a favor.  Would you devote your Wednesday to pray for our student ministry.
- Praying for our weekly services, that God would captivate the hearts of our teens.
- Praying for our summer, that God would transform the hearts and minds of each and every teen that participates.
- Praying for you, the parents, that God would continue to give you wisdom and discernment to direct your teens.

—
theMIX Moveup
Wednesday Night is the NIGHT!!!
Incoming 9th Graders (class of 2016) are invited to theMIX the whole month of May!!
We have an exciting lineup in May at theMIX that they will not want to miss out on…
–
Cafe Opens at 4p  ||  theMIX is from 7p-8.30p
–
May 02  ::  Welcome Party for all incoming 9th graders at theMIX featuring Fight the Fade in Concert
–
theDASH can be a very intimidating environment for all our new freshman.  This year, we want to warm them up to our high school ministry. Allowing them to get a first hand look at theMIX as we wind down our spring semester!!!

—
Graduation Sunday
Its Not TOO Late to RSVP!!  Please do so SOON!!
Sunday May 6th
Breakfast 9.30am  ||  Recognition 11.00am
RSVP  ||  melissa@gfcfamily.com  ||  940-969-2427
–
We are collecting Senior Pictures.  If you could get me up to 4 pictures of your graduate for a recognition slide show.  You can either email, facebook, or even bring them into the office.

—
Summer Lineup

June 03
// Moving Up Sunday.
// All Grades graduate to their 2012-2013 Grades.

June 04-07
// theDASH High Camp

June 18-21
// PZ Kids Camp

June 25-28
// Game’d Junior High Camp

July 09-12
// San Angelo Mission Trip

July 14-20
// Mission Galveston
// Please Note, we have been given the opportunity to leave a day earlier, so that we can be in attendance at the church we will be helping with, Coastal Community Church.  Please let me know if this hurts your summer vacation plans…

–
Scott Johnson

Student Pastor
Grace Fellowship
940-782-9588

http://twitter.com/ttocsj

Championing Students To Take Their Next Step With Christ.

April
27- Kick’it at the Movies (5th-8th Graders||6-9p||$5)
—

June
04-07- theDASH HS Camp ($60)
25-28- Game’d JH Camp ($60)
—

July
9-12- San Angelo Mission Trip (JH)
15-20- Mission Galveston (HS)
—

2012 Summer Schedule

Summers at GFC are the BEST!!!
Top 10 Reasons why This Summer is Gonna Rock!

Here are the DATES:

June
Sunday, June 03
Moving On Up!!
School has released… And now you look so much older!!!
All Grades Graduate to the Next Grade.

June 04-07
theDASH High School Camp
Open to all INCOMING 9th Graders through Graduating Seniors (’12)
$60

June 25-28
Game’d Junior High Camp
Open to all INCOMING 5th Graders through 8th Graders
$60

July
July 09-12
San Angelo JH Mission Trip
Open to all students who have COMPLETED 6th Grade through 8th Grade.
$75

July 14-20
Mission Galveston (HS)
Open to all students who have COMPLETED 9th Grade through 12th Grade.
$100

August
Saturday, August 11
X-Fest 2012
12noon-10pm
Tickets start at $10

TOP 10 REASONS WHY THIS SUMMER IS GONNA ROCK!!

10. Water day at HOF
9. Whirly Ball All Night Long
8. Back on the Island
7. Hunting for Scavengers
6. The Franco’s Invasion
5. Burgers on the Beach
4. Back Flips and Belly Flops
3. The HOF Staff
2. DJ, CJ and PY are going to bring it.
1. Seeing Jesus Captivate our Teen’s Hearts

the DASH: be WeiRD
hs camp
June 4-7

Speaker: CZ
Worship Band: Planning Yesterday
DJ Promote 

Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, instead, be transformed by the renewing of your mind… Be different, be WeiRD.  In today’s society, standing up for Christ is rare, being bold for Him is almost unheard of.  But, God’s challenge for us is to be WeiRD!!
—

Who Can Go To the DASH?
Incoming Freshmen thru Graduating Class of 2012
—

COST??
$60 for the entire week (t-shirt included) by MAY 14
$75 after MAY 14
Scholarship applications available upon request.
—

What does each night look like?
Doors open at 6:00 pm
An action packed night that includes dinner, worship, an intense message geared at the high school heart followed by a late night activity that will leave your student thirsting for more.
—

 Late Nights
Monday – Scavenger Hunt
Tuesday – Block Party
Wednesday – Mountasia
Thursday – Whirly Ball/Laser Tag Lockin

Online Registration

GAME’d: the Avengers
jh camp
June 25-28

Speaker: Aaron Lutz

When it comes to our everyday, ordinary life, we often times are oblivious to the incredible power God has given us!!  As you look through the Bible, you find incredible men and women of God that lived incredible lives.  You find some awesome guys and girls who were more than super heroes… who were more than avengers… they are the example for us!!

We are more than conquerors in Christ who gives us strength.
(Romans 8.37)
—

Who Can Go To Game’d?
Incoming 5th – 8th Graders
—

COST??
$60 for the entire week (t-shirt included) by MAY 14
$75 after MAY 14
Scholarship applications available upon request.
—

What does each night look like?
Doors open at 6:00 pm
An action packed night that includes dinner, worship, an intense message geared at the high school heart followed by a late night activity that will leave your student thirsting for more.
—

 Late Nights
Monday – Scavenger Hunt
Tuesday – Bowling (7- / Swimming (5-6)
Wednesday – Swimming (7-8) / Jump Extreme
Thursday – Kick’it

Online Registration

San Angelo Jr. High Mission Trip
Open to all students who have completed 6th, 7th, or 8th Grade
House of Faith Ministries in San Angelo, TX

San Angelo Registration
You must also fill out the Mission Trip Application that can be picked
up in the Student Cafe.

Application Must Be Turned In By JULY 01

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST??
$75 includes your stay, your food while in San Angelo,
your transportation, your fun, and even a t-shirt!!

Do I need to bring EXTRA Money??
Yes- you will be responsible for the 2 meals that we eat while traveling to San Angelo and from San Angelo.  You might also want to bring a few extra dollars for the night we go to Ghatti town if you want to play extra arcade games. A $20 bill should be plenty!

What are the Dates??
July 9-12
(Leave at 10.00a on Monday, July 11th.
Arrive at 8.30p (give or take 2 hours) on Thursday, July 14th)

What do I need to Pack??
Bible, Journal, and a Pen
Comfortable, Modest Clothes (No Sofee Shorts or tank tops)
It will be hot and many elements will be outside…
Tennis Shoes
Shoes you can get wet in!!
Toiletries- (soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc.)
Towel and Washcloth (2 sets- minimum)
Air Mattress, Sleeping Bag, and Pillow
Servant’s Heart and a Servant’s Attitude.

Where are we Staying??
The First United Methodist Church is extremely gracious, and allows us to stay at their facility!  We will have a place to sleep, a place to eat, and even a place for fun!!!

What are we doing?
We will be assisting the House of Faith Ministries with a children’s day camp!  We will see between 80-100 elementary aged kids come down and spend the afternoon with us!
The day camp is typically broken up into 4 parts: Play Time, Bible Study, Craft, Lunch.  Each kid will rotate through the four stations during the time period.

Free Time??
Monday night- We will be eating at Franco’s Mexican Restaurant!  Great Food!!!!
Tuesday night- We will have game night with the House of Faith Staff… They are GREAT people!!!
Wednesday night- We will be eating at Ghatti-Land!  It is a crazy Mr. Ghatti’s, after eating pizza, we will have $5 worth of tokens to go and play in the arcade, ride the bumper cars, or just try to win as many tickets as possible!!

Typical Schedule??
8.00a- Wake Up
Breakfast Prep
Time Alone with God

10.00a- Leave for House of Faith
Daily Camp Meeting
Lunch

12.30p- Day Camp Starts
Daily Recap
Go Back to Methodist Church

5.30p- Dinner Time
Church Group Time
Free Time

11.00p- Lights Out

Who is the House of Faith?
House of Faith is a neighborhood based non-denominational organization targeting children and youth considered high-risk for substance abuse, delinquency and gang involvement.  Rather than wait for young people to become involved in our churches and youth groups, they simply take Jesus to them.
Modeled on the ministry of Jesus, where he came to our world with the message of God’s love and kingdom, we go to their neighborhoods with the same message every week.
Through backyard bible clubs and neighborhood parties, they make it very evident that they are available to help and encourage each and every student, no matter who the kid is!!  During the summer they have several day-camps that meet at their facility for these students to help them keep contact with the students year round!

Questions, feel free to email Scott

X-Fest 2012
August 11th
12noon-10pm
Ticket Prices start $10-30

X-FEST was started by Ten Talents Ministry in 2011 as an annual INDOOR festival in the North Texas area featuring 10 incredible rock bands!

2012 line-up includes Disciple, House of Heroes, Children 18:3, Philmont, Silverline, Submission Red, Don’t Wake Aislin, Fight The Fade, This City Awaits and One Soul.

Follow X-Fest on Facebook

Mission Galveston (HS)
July 15-20
$100

Register Online

Who Can Go To Mission Galveston?
You must have completed at least one year of high-school.

Dates and Times?
Departure: Sunday, July 15th after 2nd service.
Arrive Home: Friday, July 20th around 10pm

Coastal Community Church
This summer, we have been given the incredible opportunity to partner with a new church plant in Galveston, TX.  Over the course of the week, we will be assisting them as they host their first ever Summer Kids Camp… Think PZ KIDS CAMP on the Beach!

Along with that, we will also be putting our incredible muscles to the test as we will be helping members of the community restore and rebuild after IKE devastated the community.

What to Bring?
Your Bible, Journal, Pen
Personal hygiene items: towel, soap, shampoo, razor, etc;
Work clothes
Casual clothes (tennis shoes, jeans, t-shirts)
Night clothes – pajamas, appropriate night clothes
Sleeping bag or twin sheets, pillow
Bathing suit and beach towel
Bug spray, Sunscreen, Water Bottle
Money ($20-30 for souvenir shopping)