Golden Central Student Ministry

“Alive Again in 2010”

2010-01-03T16:44:00.000-06:00

Parents and Students,
Belmont School FCA will be presenting a day of music, drama and a God filled inspiring message (Saturday January 9th, 1:00-5:30pm). This event will consist of music from the BSU Praise Team, Torn Curtain, & Ohio Avenue. There will also be skits from the NEMCC BSU Drama team and Fuel & Fire. Guest evangelist will be Dale Hathorn (http://www.standingtallministries.com).

The event is free. Tickets have been available at Belmont High School offices since December 1st. Please pray for this special time for the students in our area.

The support needed for the event is $4700 -$5000. Donations to help fund this are greatly needed and greatly appreciated. Tell your friends and family they can donate through their local church or take donations to the BHS office. Be sure it is addressed to “Belmont FCA.”

This will be a great time for the community to come together and support the task of encouraging our students to live for Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas! / Xtreme Conference Schedule

2009-12-25T20:14:00.008-06:00

Parents and Students,
I hope you have enjoyed Christmas with family and reflected on the birth of God's Son. I am looking forward to worshiping with you this Sunday. Below is our schedule for the Xtreme Conference. We will be leaving Tuesday mornign @ 5:15am (I encourage you to be at the church at 5:00am).

TUESDAY 12.29
2:00 - 6:00pm • Xtreme Registration
7:30pm • Xtreme Evening : Brandon Heath, Tony Nolan and Flyleaf

WEDNESDAY 12.30
9:30am • Xtreme Morning : Stellar Kart and Ergun Caner
(Afternoon - Free time exploring Gatlinburg!!!!)
7:30pm • Xtreme Evening : Kutless, Matt Pitt and Casting Crowns

THURSDAY 12.31
9:30am • Xtreme Morning : Johnny Hunt and Newsong

We will head home after Thursday's session. I plan being back home by 9:00pm. Pray that this is a special time and that those who don't know Jesus would come to know Him on this trip.
Thanks,
SB

December News

2009-12-02T13:44:00.002-06:00

Parents and Students,
I hope you enjoyed the Thanksgiving holidays. I sure did! It was a great time with family, eating some good food, and watching some great football games! Now...everyone is gearing up for Christmas and it won't be long before the students get their Christmas break.
With that said I want to remind you of our big trip coming up to Gatlinburg, TN for the Xtreme Conference. I have waiver/medical release forms available in the youth room. These need to be completed, notarized, and returned to me by Dec. 20th. We will be leaving on Tuesday, Dec. 29th at 5:15am so I encourage you to be here at 5:00am. We'll need time to load luggage and verify everyone is present so its important to be on time.
I also encourage you to pray for us as we travel. This is our biggest group we've taken on a trip and I want it to be a great time for all involved. We want the Lord to bless it. Also, pray for our attitudes as we are on this trip...we want to bless the Lord and those around us too!

The January 9th FCA rally "Alive Again In 2010" will be here before we know it so please consider how you can give to this area wide ministry event. Your support is greatly needed.

Ephesians 2:10,
Shannon

P.S. I want to thank all of my Adult Student Team Members and Sunday School teachers for all that they do. You are the heros of our student ministry and I couldn't do what I do apart from your wisdom and support. May the Lord bless you and shine upon you this Christmas season.

BSU @ Refuge / Ed Newton @ the Well

2009-11-18T09:09:00.003-06:00

Parents and students,
These last few weeks have been busy, but also very exciting. Lastweek we had the opportunity to have Northeast Mississippi Community College's BSU group to lead us at Refuge. It was a great time of drama, music, and testimonies. Lord willing, we will have them back in the spring.

The College and Career group traveled to Florence, AL to Highland Baptist last Tuesday night to attend the Well. It is an area wide collegiate worship gathering that meets every Tuesday night. Ed Newton was the guest preacher and the message was from Romans 12:1-2. It was awesome. As a matter of fact some of us drove back this week to hear him again! He preached on Daniel 1. It was a great time of music and preaching. Be sure to plan on going back in the spring as he plans to preach through the book of Galatians!

Be sure to be saving money each week if you plan to go to the Xtreme Conference in Gatlinburg. You'll need lots of money for those three days.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving,
Shannon

What to Do Once You Have Messed Up

2009-11-12T14:27:00.000-06:00

Students,
Below is something I want you to read. It is from a college student that attends Refuge and is a part of our faith family. Think about what is being said and how you can apply this to your life. Read on...

So you screwed up in a big way. You didn’t wait. Didn’t let God control what was supposed to be a beautiful thing. And you’re wondering what to do now. How do you keep it from happening again? How do you live it out for Him and Him alone? How do you make Him the center of your life?

Repent
The first thing you need to do is ask God for forgiveness for what you have done. Repentance has the idea of turning away from the path you were on that caused you to sin. I John 1:9 says that if we confess our sins He will forgive us our sins. God holds nothing against us once we give it over to Him. Romans 8:1 says “Therefore there is now no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus.” We just have to ask for forgiveness and turn from the path we were on and start walking the path with God again.

Read
Actively read your Bible. Study it. Memorize verses that apply to the struggles you are having in your life. God has given us the very breath of life on paper and most people won’t take the time to open it. Open it and wear your Bible absolutely out. Underline stuff that you find particularly meaningful. Highlight verses that mean a lot to you. Write verses down on post it notes and put them around your house to remind you to live it out for Him.

Pray
Talk to God about your day. He loved you enough to send His only Son to die for you. Don’t you think He cares enough about you to listen to you and see how you are doing? There are two hundred billion billion stars in the sky. Isaiah says that God knows them all by name. Doesn’t it make sense that he would know your name as well? And even more so, knows your desires by name? Tell Him your hopes and fears. Take your concerns to Him. Take your desires to Him. Ask Him to create the appropriate desires in your life. Take your struggles to Him. He knows what you are going through and how best to get you out of the situation you are going through. Remember. He has been there before and He knows all the answers. Who better to ask for advice?

Be Mindful of Your Time
Get busy doing something for God. Get active in your church and your youth group. Don’t let yourself have idle time if you feel that you can’t control what you are going to do. Do something productive. Do something that would honor Him. Work for God. Attend church and small group meetings. Get plugged in and stick with it. Do something to help others. Go visit the sick. Rake leaves for a neighbor. Just do something to benefit others. Honor God with your time and you will honor Him with your life.

Set Limits in Your Relationship
Don’t give yourself the freedom to mess up again until you are absolutely certain it won’t keep happening. Don’t be alone. Don’t be together if you can’t trust yourself. Learn boundaries and stick to them. Don’t push the line, but stay well away from it. Remember. It’s there for a reason. Once it’s set, do not move it no matter how much you want to. The final reward of a marriage that honors God is so much better than a moment of passion.
She goes on to say, "None of these things are easy without God’s help. With God’s help and guidance and following these practical steps, you can do it. You can have a relationship that honors God.

I appreciate the opportunity to post her thoughts. There is a lot students, and us adults, need to learn about boundaries, regret, trust, and learning to embrace His love.
Thankful He's Still Changing Lives,
SB

Upcoming Events!

2009-11-03T10:55:00.001-06:00

Parents and Students,
There are some upcoming events I want you to know about. I have listed them below. Please keep these in mind when you pray for the Student Ministry of Golden Central.

November 7th – “The Station” – This is a worship gathering geared toward reaching students in Tishomingo Co. It is hosted by New Salem Baptist Church and is a great time of drama, music, videos, and Bible study. Be on the lookout for this ministry to grow and gain a big audience. It starts at 6:30pm. For those interested in going we will leave the church parking lot at 5:30pm and be back by 9:45pm. Check it out http://www.thestationnews.wordpress.com

November 10th – The College and Career group will be going to “The Well” in Florence, AL hosted by Highland Baptist Church. This is a collegiate worship gathering targeting young adults. It is on Tuesday's @ 7:30pm so we will leave at 5:30 in order to have plenty of time to eat. Ed Newton will be preaching at this gathering! For more information check it out at http://www.thewellflorence.com

November 11th – the NEMCC Baptist Student Union’s Drama Team and Praise Team will be leading us in worship at Refuge. Bring a friend and enjoy this special time!

December 29th-31st – Xtreme Conference at Gatlinburg, TN. We have sixty people going on this trip! We will leave early that Tuesday morning and be back late that Thursday night. More details to come.

January 9th – FCA Rally @ Belmont High School’s old gym. This event will consist of music from the BSU Praise Team, Torn Curtain, & Ohio Avenue. We will also have skits from the NEMCC BSU Drama team and Fuel & Fire. Our guest evangelist will be Dale Hathorn (http://www.standingtallministries.com). Several youth pastors in our area have got together, along with the BHS FCA, to plan this event. Donations to help fund this event are needed and greatly appreciated. Please contact me if you would like to be a sponsor. More details to come.

One last thing, I want to express my appreciation to our church family for allowing our students to renovate the old sanctuary into a youth room. The students are very excited and our college & career group have been phenomenal in leading our volunteer team in this endeavor.

Sincerely, SB

School Activities and Amazing Shots

2009-10-30T11:49:00.000-05:00

Students and Parents, These last few weeks have been busy! I know we are still in the football season, but after attending "Meet the Lady Cardinals" this week I wanted to post a video of some pretty amazing basketball shots. Enjoy. -SB

Community - Plugging Into The Church

2009-10-23T10:58:00.000-05:00

Plugging Into the Church
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin

Leah threw her hands up in exasperation.
"I don't know what body part I am," she said. "I feel like I'm the tonsils or the appendix. Something you don't really need."

The six people sitting around the table — all in their 20s and early 30s, all single — nodded.
Our dinner conversation had taken an odd turn from amusing workday anecdotes to our feelings about church.

Leah, 30, who was incinerated by her last church, described what drew her to the cult-like legalism she experienced there. "I decided I was going to make myself indispensable," she said. "I was there every night of the week. I got involved in everything."
That strategy did not end well. "When my husband and I started having problems and eventually divorced, I became an outcast," she said. "The pastor lived on my street but never talked to me again."

Jake, 29, nodded. "I haven't really been part of a church for three years. I just don't fit anywhere." This from an outgoing guy who grew up attending church and worked for a Christian organization.

The other stories around the table were similar. The pastor's daughter looking for authentic community where she can be open about her struggle with an eating disorder. The well-spoken young professional who can't find a place to exercise his gift of teaching. The 28-year-old bachelor who wonders if someday soon people will cast a suspicious eye on him for working in children's ministry. And, me, in my early 30s, having fully expected to have had a family by now, and wondering what it looks like to serve the church — like this.

Yet despite the longing to fit in, there was deep camaraderie among us over our struggle for belonging in the church. Beneath the solidarity, was longing. Longing for a spiritual oasis where people truly care about our needs, help us sort out our confusion and reassure us that we are not alone in our fears.

Getting There
The conversation that night stuck with me. Partially because this was a group of young adults that from the average evangelical perspective would be considered the cream of the crop.
Most of us attended church from infancy and were reared by godly parents who taught us to follow biblical principles. We had all been active in our churches and served in vital ministries. And yet even we felt awkward about engaging with the sacred entity that Christ established as His physical presence on earth.

A couple of months ago my pastor asked everyone in the congregation who was between ages 18 and 30 to stand. About one-sixth of the congregation rose. "I have to confess," our 40-something pastor said, "I don't know how to reach your generation. I don't understand you. You will have to be the ones to reach your generation."

I understood the pastor was being very honest, but his words weighed heavily on my spirit. How? I thought. How can I reach my generation when you are essentially telling me I'm on my own? My generation already struggles to get on board with a spiritual organization that seems incongruent with many of our values — authenticity, relevance, community.
When it comes to what motivates me to brave the pews, it's the comfort of knowing someone will know my name and save me a seat. I desire to belong and be valued.

Unfortunately, the message I've sometimes received from the church is that there is not an integral role for me to play. That my best ministry is to simply show up, and if I'm extra ambitious, evangelize my peers.

Instead of "I don't understand you," I longed for my pastor to say, "I want to know you. I may not understand you now, but I suspect that if I got to know you, I would discover that you have something incredibly important to contribute."

Something I've learned is that the church is not always going to be effective at reaching out to me. And yet, over the last decade, I have had an overwhelmingly fulfilling relationship with my church. Here are four ways to plug in:

1. Remember God's purpose for ALL believers within the church.

Those who truly desire to follow Christ recognize that the church is something special. Deep down we know that the very thing that seems inhospitable to us is the solution for the isolation and restlessness we feel. There is undeniable beauty in the idea of a group of humans demonstrating the unity of the Godhead and doing His work on earth.
If the church is Christ's bride, it must be something remarkable. If He loved the church enough to give His life for her, she must be far more valuable than we comprehend. And when we discover what that is all about, we will be caught up in something wonderful.
The first Christian churches were characterized by intense community, selfless giving and overflowing love. People of all ages and stages in life came together to revel in the power of the gospel and worship God. It didn't seem to matter if you were on your own. In fact, they seemed to care for you more if you were a widow or orphan.

2. Become involved in the life of the church.

A few years ago when I felt disconnected attending Sunday morning services, I signed up to teach fifth grade Sunday school every week. Something remarkable happened. Twenty kids and their parents began to recognize me at church and come over for hugs. Once the children's ministry staff learned that I had 10 years of experience teaching children, they sought me out for my ideas and expertise.
Getting to know children and families in my church made all the difference. Suddenly I wasn't alone in Sunday morning service. I had little friends waving to me, smiling and telling me I looked pretty.

3. Start Something.

A lot of young adults complain that their church offers nothing for people in their life stage. This was the case for me and some of my friends. So at the beginning of this year, we decided to start a 20-something Bible study. Obviously the need was great. The first day we announced the group, 30 people signed up! [Note: Most of you know I also ended up falling in love with and marrying my co-leader.]
Around the same time, we began a Facebook group and organized a monthly get together. Sometimes we met at someone's house for lunch after church. Other times we went bowling or out to a movie. A little organization provided great community time and an opportunity to make new friends.

4. Get to Know Your Pastor.

Pastors struggle to balance ministry to the senior saints of the church, families and singles. By spending time getting to know your pastor, you give him the opportunity to understand your needs.
Last year, I made an effort to talk to my pastor almost every week after church. We graduated from the same small Bible college, so that gave us some common ground. Each week I would tell him something I liked about the sermon or share a story about my kids' Sunday school class. Soon he knew my name and would approach me and ask how I was doing.
When I became engaged to Kevin earlier this year, my pastor told me he had been praying for a godly spouse for me. This meant a lot, since I go to a church with 1,200 members. Most pastors want to get to know the people in their churches. But they may need you to take the first step.

Loving Your Church
Like Leah, our generation is looking for a cause worth investing our whole lives in. Twenty-somethings have a lot to offer. Generations X and Y are deeply spiritual, concerned about their neighbors and willing to take big risks. We resonate with Christ's challenge that a man "take up his cross and follow me." That is passion that is well-spent within the church.

When we plug into our congregations, we can reap the full benefit of what the Body of Christ was intended to be. The truth is, the church needs us as much as we need it. We must discover what body parts we are and how we can help the church take motion. Then we can feel more like hands than tonsils.

Change & Growth

2009-10-20T11:58:00.000-05:00

Parents and Students,

It has been a crazy couple of weeks! Our faith community has been so kind to us and have allowed us to begin renovating the youth sanctuary. I want to thank our church family for giving us permission to do this and I want to thank the students, college folks, and young adults for taking ownership of this project. It has reinforced the burden on my heart that our churches are full of students that are just waiting to be involved and excercise their God-given abilities for His glory. These opportunities are building blocks for growth and change. As a youth minister I don't want to just keep and contain students, but to unleash them and provide avenues for them to grow in their relationship with Jesus. It has been overwhelming for me to see it happen and the momentum is increasing. Come get in on the action!

Details for upcoming events:

- Xtreme Conference: All the spots were filled and the deadline has passed. If you want on the waiting list in case a spot opens let me know.

- Fall Festival: Be thinking about ways you can serve our community at this year's outreach event.

- Refuge: Invite friends to our Wednesday night Refuge gathering. We will be looking at "What Is My Testimony?" "What Is My Role?" & "How To Impact My Friends" over the next few weeks.

Grateful,

Sunday School & UpComing Events

2009-09-15T17:13:00.000-05:00

Parents and Students,
We are well on our way into the new Sunday School year. I appreciate all those who have attended a small group these last two weeks. Be sure to make Donnis and Shelia Martin feel welcomed as they get settled into our teaching team. They are great folks and we are blessed to have them with us.

This past week we talked about the fact that the Holy Spirit is God and He is our Empowerer. It was a great lesson from Acts 1. I am so glad that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit work in such a way to lead us to salvation and equip us to live out that salvation. The Holy Spirit will never draw attention to Himself, but always point to Jesus. This is never more true than in the great passage on being missional, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to ME in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Needless to say I am excited for our students as we continue our journey through the early Church. Below is a practical (and somewhat humorous) video that I have used with the students to describe the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Check it out.

Also, I want to give you a "heads up" about some activities coming soon. September 26th the student group will have the opportunity to go to New Salem Baptist Church for their bi-monthly youth service called "the Station." It starts at 6:30pm so we will probably leave out @5:35pm. October 10th is YOUTHQUAKE and we will be going to it as well. Check it out @ http://www.youthquake.com/ The cost is $10 plus food. We will leave @11:00am and be back by 12:00pm. More details to come about other AWESOME stuff!

-Shannon

P.S. If you can't wait go to http://www.xtremeconferences.com/ !

I Stand Amazed

2009-08-26T09:14:00.000-05:00

Parents and Students,

A few years ago Chris Tomlin revamped the old hymn "I Stand Amazed" and as I reflect on this past Monday's Youth Night I stand amazed. I want to thank Bro. Mickey for bringing Ed Newton and the Orchard praise team to Golden Central. It was AWESOME. The band was great and it was good to meet up with Rick and Dena Pike again. Ed's message was "on spot" for our people young and old.

I want to thank my Adult Student Team and other volunteers for helping with drinks, serving pizza, setting up extra tables and chairs, and cleaning up afterwards. I want to say a big "thank you" to all the students who stepped up and promoted the event. The Lord blessed us with a great turn out and it was a huge witness to our faith family and to the community. You ROCK!

I also want to thank the leadership of Belmont High School for allowing Ed, Mac, and I the opportunity to hangout with the students during one of the lunch breaks. It is amazing how a high-five, a pat on the back, and a hello will encourage others. Our young people need to know that there are adults that care for them. If people know you care they will care about the message you want to share. Love God Love People.

Be Blessed,

Youth Night - August 24th

2009-07-27T10:12:00.000-05:00

Dear Parents and Students,

I want to remind you of an awesome event coming up soon. August 23rd &24th Ed Newton will be preaching at our church. That Monday night will be our "Youth Night" and we want to invite as many students as possible so bring a friend and tell other students about it too.

Ed Newton is a full-time evangelist who strives to present the timeless truth of Scripture for abundant life change. God has uniquely gifted Ed with an ability to connect with various age groups, personally and corporately. His communication style can be summarized as "passion with content" while seeking to inspire people to daily preach the Gospel to themselves, Die to Self, and live Missional/Intentional lives. He and his wife, (College Sweetheart) Stephanie, and their three daughters, London, Lola, and Liv reside in Lakeland, TN. Their desire? It is to leave a "fat dent" on the planet for the glory of God. http://www.ednewton.org/

Rick is the Worship Pastor for The Orchard. He is originally from Red Bay, Alabama. While in college he met the love of his life, Dena. They married in 1996 and have two sons, Jonah & Isaiah. Rick has been blessed to have the opportunity to serve in the music ministry for several years before joining The Orchard in Tupelo, MS. In fact his original song "Noah" landed on the Brothers Keeper album entitled, "Beautiful One" (haloproductions.net) . Rick loves football- can you say "Roll Tide"?- French Fries, the color blue and his favorite singer is none other than, Dena Pike.

We will have a pizza fellowship prior to the service @6:15 so students can have some time to "hangout" before the worship gathering starts. Make plans to attend this great event.

His workmanship,

P.S. Below is a promotional video for you to hear Ed share his heart. Check it out.

Game Night & Canoe Trip

2009-07-14T18:16:00.001-05:00

Parents and Students,

As I write this post I am thinking of how much fun Game Night is going to be tomorrow night. I'll give you some clues as to what you can expect. It will involve chocolate syrup, marshmallows, shaving cream, water balloons, lipstick, ice, marbles, shoes, and a few other things! It is going to be a blast. Bring your cameras! Also, don't wear anything nice. Hahaha

The canoe trip is this Saturday, July 18th. We will leave out at 7:15am and be back by 6:30pm. The cost is $15 and you'll need to bring snacks for breakfast and lunch plus money for supper. Wear old shorts, t-shirts, and stuff like that. Old shoes would be great too. Don't forget suncreen!

Psalm 18:2,

Shannon

Summer Is In Full Swing

2009-06-29T11:04:00.000-05:00

Parents and Students,

Summer is in full swing! I was hanging out with some of our students yesterday after church and it was mentioned that we are already at the mid-point of our summer! I can't believe how fast the month of June has passed!

Summer Camp in Shocco Springs was once again an amazing time. Myself, our adult leaders, and our students all had a wonderful week. I appreciate those that were able to stand up and give testimony to our church family about the camp experience when we returned home. It is hard to put into words what camp was like. I hope you can go next year with us!

I was also able to spend some time with our College & Career group Saturday, June 20th. We were able to go to Memphis to visit my good friend Randy Odum at Memphis Athletic Ministries and then we went to the zoo. Although it was extremely hot we had a great time. Our C&C group is made up of some wonderful folks and I was privileged to spend that Saturday with them.

The month of July will be a bit slower. We will be going thru a series in Refuge titled "Redefining Normal" in connection with materials from WayFarer Ministries. We started last week and it is going to be good. As far as special events, there will be a CANOE TRIP Saturday, July 18th. The cost will be $15 bucks plus money for 1 meal on the way home. We have 20 students signed up already. If you or a friend are interested in going the signup sheet is in the Student Sanctuary. It will be a great time so plan on going with us.

August will be an exciting time for our youth as well. Our students are very excited to hear Ed Newton again. He was our camp pastor last year at StudentLife and was phenomonal. You will not want to miss our worship gatherings during this awesome time. Pump it up and invite all your friends.

Before I end this post....I have an idea for a trip in August to encourage our students since they will be getting back to the grind of school. What will it be???? More details to come soon.

Psalm 18:2,

Shannon

Graduation - A New Horizon

2009-05-24T08:13:00.000-05:00

Parents and Students,

Below is an article from http://www.boundless.org/ on the subject of graduation. I encourage you to read it. Any comments are welcomed. Enjoy your holiday weekend and show love and admiration to the families that provide and protect our freedom.

Be blessed.

Shannon

Commencement
by J. Budziszewski
For some years, the churches near "Post-Everything University" have held an unofficial graduation ceremony for the new graduates, parallel to the University's official one. This year Professor Theophilus was invited to deliver the Charge at the unofficial Christian commencement.
* * *
Honored guests, this ceremony is called a "commencement." I'd like us to think about the word. Graduation is said to mark the end of college, and so it does. But a commencement is an occasion of commencing: Not of ending, but of beginning.
Graduates, everything depends on what it is that you think you're about to commence.
This week I attended the official commencement rites at Post-Everything University. I don't know what the graduates themselves thought they were about to commence, but I know what the speaker thought they were about to commence. He thought they were about to commence BEING IMPORTANT. Most of his talk was an invitation to vanity and pride.
The first of his four pieces of advice was "Never let anyone tell you that you aren't better than other people." You may have been flattered by your teachers, but I hope your churches have taught you better. As Paul wrote to the Romans, "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought." As he demanded of the Corinthians, "What have you that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift?"
The speaker's second bit of advice was "Remember that you are joining an elite." It's true that you are attaining a higher status, but you have been taught differently about that, too, haven't you? Once Jesus rebuked His disciples by telling them "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all."
Third, the speaker urged "Be all you can be." If that slogan means "Be as faithful, dedicated, and true as you can be," then it's good advice, but he didn't say anything about faith, dedication, or truth. What he spoke about was getting ahead — being a success as the world measures success. A famous photographic satire on the idea of "being all you can be" shows a man bloated with the corpulence of a thousand excessive meals, diving into swimming pool, all the water parting before him like the Red Sea. The photo is not a warning against the deadly sin of gluttony, but against the deadly sin of pride. The body of the man is a parable of what our souls will be like if we feed on our self-importance.
Finally the speaker urged graduates to say with the author of the poem Invictus, "I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul." No, you are neither masters of your fate nor captains of your soul. Christ is those things already. Your office is not to direct the boat but to be the boat, sailing on His living breath. He purchased you with His blood, and as the seal of His purchase, He has painted a new name on your prow. C.S. Lewis remarked that "There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, 'Thy will be done.' All that are in Hell, choose it." Remember that.
Let me suggest what you are really commencing. You are commencing — beginning — two things. Really, you commenced them on the day you were baptized, but today you are commencing them in a new way, because you have finished your basic education and you are ready to go into a world that does not know the living God.
First, you are commencing to do something; second, you are commencing to become something.
What you are commencing to do is to build up the Kingdom of God. I'm sure you know the parable of the Talents. Three servants were entrusted by their Master with various portions of His wealth, to care for while He was traveling. When He returned, He asked each servant for an accounting. Two servants had invested their shares, and doubled them. The other had hidden his share under a rock, because he was afraid to take a risk. Every penny was safe, but nothing had been achieved with it.
This parable is not about investing your money to make more money, as some misguided Christians will tell you. It is about making use of your God-given gifts to build up the Kingdom of God. Your intelligence, your mechanical aptitude, or your musical sense — your mathematical ability, your insight into human character, or your ability to organize people — whatever your gifts may be, they are not really yours. You are just His agent to invest them in His Kingdom. Everything in us that we devote to Christ will become greater and more glorious in Heaven. But everything in us that we do not devote to Christ will be burned up like straw in a furnace before we pass those gates. Paul puts it this way:
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
Perhaps you ask, "But how am I to use my gifts to build up the Kingdom of God? How am I to use my talents for Christ?"
I can't tell you that. Perhaps he calls you to be a wife and mother. Perhaps he calls you to teach or preach. Perhaps he calls you to make laws or make machinery. I can only tell you that if you yield utterly to Him, you are in for a great adventure with many surprises, different than anything you could imagine. There will be something about your motherhood, teaching, preaching, lawmaking or machinery-making that transcends and glorifies motherhood, teaching, preaching, law-making or machinery-making, because it speaks undeniably of Him.
I said that besides commencing to do something, you are also commencing to become something. This is even more important.
You see, the Holy Spirit does not intend to leave you as you are. You are an image of God — a mirror of the Lover of Souls. But you are also a fallen sinner — a mirror with smudges, smears, and cracks. When people look at you now, they may not see your Redeemer very clearly, and sometimes they may not see Him at all. He intends to melt all your glass to a white heat and pour it out again. He intends to grind you to a perfect finish. He intends to bond pure silver to you so you reflect every bit of His light. He intends to buff and burnish and polish you until the brilliance of His reflection in you is almost too much for the eyes of the angels.
Do you understand what I am telling you? God cares about the kind of person you will be even more than about what kind of things you will do. Be ready, because He is going to mess with you. Your Maker's intention isn't merely to flush the sin out of you, but to pour Himself into you. His intention is for you yourself to become a blaze of love beyond what you can now imagine, and this will be pure gift, because none of us deserves a speck of it.
This is what you must do. You must say and mean, with every fiber of your will, the same thing that a certain other young person, perhaps even younger than you, said and meant to the angel Gabriel: "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord. Be it unto me according to your word." At those words her body became the doorway through which God Himself took flesh and became man.
I charge you to do as she did, offering yourself to the living God as a living sacrifice. I charge you not to fit Christ into your life, but to allow Him to fit you into His. I charge you to hold onto Him through every setback, confusion, humiliation, and doubt. And I charge you to put on the full armor of God.
I charge you to say to Him on this day of "commencement," of beginning, "This is not my commencement, Lord, but thine; begin in me a new work." Then it will be a commencement indeed: a beginning of something that will never end.
In the name of the Triune God. Amen.

Summer Camp is Coming Fast!

2009-05-16T18:32:00.000-05:00

Parents and Students,
Here is a funny video we have watched at Refuge and I thought you might get a laugh out of it as well. Hope to see you at church! We have some awesome days ahead of us. Don't miss out!

He is my REFUGE,
Shannon

Spring Football Game Friday Night!

2009-05-11T16:28:00.000-05:00

Parents and Students,
Mother's Day was a great time of worship. Iris Blue was amazing Sunday night! I was reminded of how much Jesus loves us and redeems our minds, our lives, and our futures. If you missed the worship gatherings Sunday you missed out!

This month is busy as our students go to proms and seniors prepare to graduate. It is a special time and memories are being made. This Friday night is the BHS spring football game. Come out and support our students as they prepare for next year's football season.

For us football fans I want to leave you with a video to get us thru 'til next season.

Enjoy your week,

Shannon

P.S. - Don't forget about turning in the forms for camp!

Don't Forget Mother's Day!

2009-05-08T10:39:00.000-05:00

Students,
Here is a video from the ministry team "The Skit Guys." Check it out (you will have to turn the playlist off located on the side of the site) and don't forget to honor your mother this weekend! She deserves it!

Also, Camp deadline was May 3rd and all of our spots are now full! That's AWESOME! I will need your medical release forms and Student Life Waiver forms turned in soon (within the next week would be great). If you haven't received any of these forms contact me.

Thank you for allowing me to be your Student Pastor. You are a great group of students and you and the families you represent bless me tremendously!

Have a great weekend,

Shannon

"Flip" Summer Camp June 8th-12th

2009-04-23T08:35:00.001-05:00

Students,

To say that I am excited about camp is an understatement! You do not want to miss this week of fun and fellowship!

I want to take a moment and share a little about the guys who will be leading us at camp. Our camp pastor is Dave Rhodes. As a speaker and author, David has a passion to help people re-discover life as followers of Jesus Christ. His creative, challenging and honest approach encourages a variety of individuals and groups in various ministry settings. David is a co-founder of Wayfarer Ministries and one of the weekly speakers at Engage, a praise-and-worship Bible study for 20-somethings in upstate South Carolina , and a regular speaker at Sabbath. David graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University in 1996 and earned his Master of Divinity from Beeson Divinity School in 2000. David has co-authored five books in AMG Publishers' Following God for Youth and Young Adults series: God Is, Dismantled, Redefining Normal, Broken, and Vice Versa, in addition to the kids' devotional book Snack Pack. David, wife Kim and daughters Emma and Izzie live near Greenville , SC.

You can check out his messages and ministry @http://www.wayfarerministries.org/

Our music leader for the week of camp is Aaron Keyes. Aaron began leading worship in the summer of 1998 at the JH Ranch, a Christian camp in Northern California. Upon returning to college, Aaron and a few friends began a weekly late-night worship service, called Underground, which convened for two years and attracted hundreds of college students from across the state. Since then, Aaron has served as the worship pastor for CrossRoads Community Church, worship leader for Wayfarer Ministries' 20-something Bible-study called Engage, and he has traveled around the nation and to various countries to worship with various other communities as well. His passion is for the body of Christ to come together in Biblical praise. After worshiping with Crossroads Community Church for seven years, in January of 2003 the Keyes family relocated from Greenville, SC to Lawrenceville, Georgia, where Aaron began working as the worship pastor at Grace Fellowship Church, where he's still leading worship and mentoring younger worship leaders. You can check out his awesome family and ministry @http://www.aaronkeyes.com/

Lots of exciting stuff going on. Get in on it!

Shannon

Adults vs. Students B-Ball, Summer Camp

2009-04-13T10:10:00.001-05:00

Parents and Students,

What a great Easter Weekend! This is my favorite time of the year. I do enjoy Christmas, but Easter is the most enjoyable time each year as I reflect on Jesus, my life in Him, and what He is doing in the lives of those around me. It's just good stuff!

I want to remind you about an opportunity to invite a friend, get together, and have a good time at our church facilities. Gavin Cromeans shared an idea with me several weeks ago to put on an "Adults VS. Students" basketball night. Since so many play ball in our community this would be a great way to build community, have some competitive fun, and interact with those who don't know Christ in a personal way. The games will be on April 25th. Contact Gavin Cromeans for details or you can email me @ shannon.battles@gmail.com and I'll give him your questions.

Also, Summer Camp is coming up quick (June 8th- 12th)! Deposits/balances can be turned in now and if finances are a problem just let me know. Don't let money be a factor in you not experiencing one of the most awesome times in your life! Check out the video promo about camp below. (Be sure to turn the music player off below so you can hear the clip too.)

Get in on all God has in store for you this summer!

Shannon

April Events and Camp Deposits

2009-03-31T22:36:00.000-05:00

Parents and Students,

April is here! March flew by us, but it was a great month. WinterJam, at the beginning of the month, was awesome and the D'Now this past weekend was amazing. God showed His presence to us Friday night and set the stage for the rest of the weekend. Several students rededicated their lives to Christ and I praise Him for it! Words cannot express how thankful I am to all the adults who helped cook, prepare snacks, set up video game systems, and cleanup after each session. I am truly grateful for the ministry team God has given to our student ministry. You all are a blessing!

This month we will be going to Corinth, MS for an afternoon of bowling, eating, and then attending the Passion Play at Oakland on April 4th. Also, Gavin Cromeans has been working on getting up a "students vs. adults" basketball game for April 25th. If you would like to help bring this idea to fruition contact Gavin or myself. I always want to encourage our students to be leaders and here is our chance to do just that. Also, I need your camp deposits NOW. If you plan on attending summer camp I need you to sign up NOW. Please make the effort to be a part of this amazing experience. If you have any question feel free to call me.

Note: Parents and other adults, if you would like to invest in the student ministry by going to camp as a leader or sponsoring a student to attend camp contact me.

Thanks,

Shannon

Scheduel for D'Now

2009-03-26T07:51:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone!
Below is the schedule for the D'Now weekend. I hope to see you there.

Schedule
Friday, March 27th
6:00pm – Food & Hangout Time
7:00pm – Worship
8:30pm – Recreation & Video Games
11:00pm – Dismiss
Saturday, March 28th
10:00am – Worship
11:30am – Food & Hangout Time
1:00pm – Worship
2:30pm – Dismiss

Note: If you plan on eating with us please contact me a so my leadership team and I can prepare enough food! Besides that...just show up and enjoy the sessions, the games, and the fun times. We will not have host homes for the students so come and hangout with us and then go home and enjoy sleeping in your own bed! LOL

Come be a part of what's going on @ GCBC,
Shannon

Gearing Up For D'Now pt.2

2009-03-18T09:38:00.000-05:00

GC Crew,
Last weekend was awesome at GCBC! Bro. Mickey's sermons were "off the chain." If you missed Sunday morning & Sunday night you robbed yourself of a great blessing. I encourage you to be present any time we assemble as the faith family of GCBC. You never know how your attendance may encourage someone else. Plus you will be encouraged too! Go read Hebrews 10:25 and let God's Word speak into your life.

Well...last week I introduced Randy Odom to you. Randy and I have been talking about the upcoming D'Now and I cannot wait for you to meet him and be challenged by what God has put on his heart. When I think about it I almost spontaneously com bust!

Now I want to introduce you to the guys that will be leading us in the musical part of worship at our D'Now. They are Jordan Pinkston, Taylor Lewis, Samuel Bragg, Jordan Miles, Jay Shadburn, and Stephen Strom. They are called "The Willing." They lead in worship for the weekly student gathering called “Extreme Life” at Oakland Baptist Church. They incorporate a blend of the latest worship songs that today’s church is singing toward the Lord Jesus. God uses them to prepare the hearts of the students to hear the Word of God proclaimed. The guys are very excited about coming to GCBC to worship with us during our D'Now so get ready!

Psalm 18:2,
Shannon

P.S. Don't forget about Summer Camp deposits, April Fool's Game Night @Refuge, and the Bowling/Passion Play trip April 4th.

Gearing Up For D'Now Pt.1

2009-03-10T14:55:00.000-05:00

GC Crew,

Have I told you lately how much I appreciate being your student pastor? Well - I do! I have been overwhelmed that God would allow me to serve His people and allow me to be a part of His mission to share hope with the world.

We had the biggest group we have ever had sign up for WinterJam. It was an amazing time. I want to personally thank our college/young adults who were "big brothers" and "big sisters" to our student group while on the trip. Kenny Holcomb, you are a life saver my friend. Thanks for driving the van and hanging out in the mall with me!

I want to take a moment and introduce our speaker for our D'Now which will be March 27th & 28th. Randy Odom has been working with youth for the last 20 years coaching and serving as the director of Kids Across America, a Christian Sports Camp for Urban youth, and in recent years working for Memphis Athletic Ministries. He played college ball for Oklahoma Baptist University and for Ouachita Baptist University, both NAIA schools with great tradition. He also played overseas for a brief stint in 1997.
He has conducted camps overseas in Venezuela as well as Mexico City. He has also served as the head coach of the Lighthouse All Stars Jr. Team (age16-under) and as the assistant coach for the Lighthouse All-Stars, an AAU team with the following accomplishments:

· Winner of MS State Championship 2004
· Runner up MS state championship 2005
· National Championship qualifier 03-05
· Finished in Top 15 National Tournament 2005 with a record of 6-2

Randy and I have been talking for several weeks now about this special weekend and I can't wait for you to hear what God has given Randy to share with us. YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS!!!!!

Amazed,

Shannon

WinterJam This Week!

2009-03-02T20:19:00.000-06:00

Parents and Students,
I want to remind you that WinterJam is this weekend (March 8th). We will leave @12:30pm from our church's facilities and travel to Tupelo. We will hangout in the mall for a few hours and then go to the concert. You need to bring $10 for the concert plus whatever money you want to spend at the mall. We will be back by 11:30pm. Be ready to have fun and rock out! There will be all kinds of music and Tony Nolan will be speaking too!

We are starting a new series this week on a character named Joseph. His story is very amazing. His life was filled with all kinds highs and lows. We will look at several "episodes" in his life and learn some biblical principles we can take and use in our own lives. Come be a part of Refuge this week as we start this journey.

Have I told you that I am excited about our D'Now weekend at the end of the month??!! I am praying that it will be a "marker" in our lives where God moves in such a way that we can look back months and years from now and say, "that was a time that God really spoke to me and moved me deeper in my relationship with Jesus." We are going to have great music, challenging messages, video games, basketball, volleyball, and more. You will not want to miss it.

Also, If at all possible, go ahead & signup for summer camp and pay your $50 deposit this Sunday.

See you @Refuge!
Shannon