September is here, which means the new school year is in full swing! Thanks for doing ministry alongside us for another year. We can’t wait for what’s ahead!

Here are a few things coming up in our ministry . . .

ADD YOUR OWN DATES: PARENT & SMALL GROUP LEADER BREAKFAST
Next month, we’re creating an opportunity for all of our small group leaders to connect with the parents of their students so we can better love, lead, and influence teenagers together. Don’t miss it! Get all the details on our website.

ADD YOUR OWN DATES: VOLUNTEER MEETING(S)
Now that the school year is off to a great start, it’s time to learn and grow together at our very first volunteer meeting of the year! We hope to see you there as we learn about [add your own topic(s)] together.

ADD YOUR OWN DATES: SMALL GROUP PARTY KITS
Create your own party with your small group? What better combination? Pick for your small group or decide together what party kit you want to participate in. There are all different kinds of party kits for all the different kinds of students.

RAD: A 4-WEEK SERIES FROM THE BOOK OF JAMES ON LOVING OTHERS
WEEK 1 BIG IDEA: Radical people listen more than they speak.

SERIES OVERVIEW:

When Jesus was on earth, he had a lot to say about love, but not everyone loved him. Instead, Jesus’ opponents hated him, attacked him, and saw him as extreme — dangerous — revolutionary — a radical. And they had a point! The things Jesus taught about loving God and loving others challenged the status quo and changed the world forever. That’s pretty radical. In this 4-week series from the book of James, we’ll look at four ways Jesus invites us to love according to his revolutionary example. These ideas might seem simple, but when we choose to listen more than we speak, refuse to play favorites, watch our words, and fight for peace, we’ll see just how radical Jesus’ teachings really are.

DOWNLOAD THIS WEEK’S SMALL GROUP GUIDE

Have you ever found yourself feeling frustrated because your group doesn’t consistently open up? Yeah, we all have. Leading conversations with teenagers can be complicated. The structure that leads to a great conversation one week may be a complete dud the next. There is no one solution that will work for every group, ever week . . . but there are some really helpful tips that are worth trying this week.

If you’re subscribed to Grow Your Ministry, now would be a good time to attach Volunteer Tip Video #2 from your Volunteer section.

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