Young Life Club Tuesday 11/1

Hey Families, don't forget, this is a Young Life Club week. We'd love to take your high school student with us to our local Young Life Club for some fun games, relational connections, songs, and to hear about who Jesus is and what he means to our lives.

If interested in getting your high school student connected, please contact me for details.

Also, get yourself some details about the upcoming Young Life Fall Retreat happening Nov 11th-13th. Shoal Creek is definitely sending students, and we'd love to get yours connected to this "mini-camp-like" weekend retreat.

Shoal Creek Community Church Services 10/30

Not able to attend either of our Sunday services this morning? Or just want to check out what we do before you consider attending?

Then watch live right now, or catch up here later this week!

Week In Review

1. There are four big needs still yet to be filled for the Halloween Bash be successful this Sunday evening, from 5-7pm. Would you take a look at them here to see if you can help?

2. Could you specifically fill a popcorn popping/serving shift at the Halloween Bash, either from 4-5pm or 6:15-7:30pm? Contact me if so.

3. NO BUYA This Sunday, please attend service as a family. This coming Sunday's service will be a more reflective service, with a communion element. As this only happens on Sundays about 3-4 times all year, we encourage you to attend this experience as a family, so Buya will not be open. Pancakes will still be served between 10:30-11am in the Attic for the High School students.

4. Dads/Sons Small Group THIS Sunday, 9:30am-10:30am, in The Attic - Do you have a teenage son that you want to share a spiritual journey with? Them please join 8-10 other families that have dads and sons pursuing a spiritual journey together, and stay for free pancakes between 10:30am-11am.

5. Coming Soon--HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT SECTION In Auditorium on Sundays--Say "what"?! One thing that we want to improve on at Shoal Creek is doing a better job of connecting with the high school students that call Shoal Creek home. It may sound kind of crazy, and make you reminiscent of the college basketball or football games you used to go to, but, we are going to put in a high school student section in the back of the Auditorium on Sundays to experiment with creating space on Sundays that is unmistakably targeted at proving to HS students that we feel they are very special to us. However, we need help staffing this space once we get it put in. Would you be interested in helping our SC high school students feel like Shoal Creek is there home, and that there's a place for them, by talking with me? 

6. Young Life Club is ON this coming Tuesday, 7:47pm-9:15pm. Contact me if interested in getting your high school student connected. We currently have about 6 high school students that regularly attend, and would love to bring more.

Shoal Creek Dads-Sons Small Group This Sunday

If you're a dad and you have a teenage son that you want to be on a spiritual journey with, then you need to check out Shoal Creek's Dads-Sons small group that happens every other Sunday at 9:30am, in "The Attic" at Shoal Creek. A free breakfast of either pancakes or donuts will also be provided for anyone who attends.

Some comments from the dads that have recently attended:

"I really enjoyed it and so did my son. We really love that it is every 2 weeks and I am really looking to get even more out of it." 

"I thought it was a great learning experience I learned things about my sons that I never knew." 

"I have enjoyed the discussions that have been had in the meeting time and outside."

This Sunday's discussion will revolve around:  

When sons are young they want to be just like Dad. When sons grow older they want to be themselves. The son will eventually win the battle for independence. How as Dad’s should we fight this losing battle? How as Son’s do we figure out who we really are and can be and how can Dad help?

 

Four Needs For Sunday's Halloween Bash at Shoal Creek

Here are four ways to help us throw our biggest party of the year, the Halloween Bash:

1 - We only have about HALF of the needed group of volunteers to make the Halloween Bash move on greased wheels! Would you sign up for one shift here?

2 - Do you have a pop-up tent we can borrow for our booths and stations? We need 8-10 to borrow from 4pm-7pm. Contact me if you can help with this.

3 - Would you specifically volunteer for the role of inviting people on a spiritual journey? We don't want to just throw a huge party for our community--we want to connect families to God by getting them on a spiritual journey. We need some people who'd be willing to be walk around and invite families back to Shoal Creek. Sign up here to find out how to help us accomplish this most important task. There will be a meeting for you this Sunday, 11am, in The Attic.

4 - Bring a bag of candy to church this Sunday! Candy. That's it, no further explanation needed.

The Shoal Creek "Parent's Day Out" Program

The Shoal Creek Community Church "Parent's Day Out" Program is a service your family can take advantage of to get a little break during the week to knock out errands, or get a "breather" when you need it most. I've had all of my children enrolled at some point over the past 5 years, and the programs continues provide quality childcare for families in the Northland.

One of the reason Parent's Day Out (PDO) is successful is the hiring of caring child care providers like Nikki. Hear her story, and how PDO has played a role in where she's at today.

I started attending Shoal Creek Church in 2012. Little did I know what God had in store for me. We became a family of five in 2013, and I became a stay at home mom. I have always been a planner, but when things are out of my control; I have learned to give it to God. I became a teacher in the Three's class at PDO in January 2014. I was then promoted to Assistant Director in September 2015. This program has truly been the perfect opportunity for my family. I get the chance to serve others, be a stay at home mom, and my children get to be in a program to learn and grow all while learning about GOD! I would have never thought this is where I would be today and I can say that I am so blessed, and I thank God every day for where He brought me. "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28

If there's any chance you might be looking for quality child care with a faith-centered curriculum, please contact Lauren Sapp, the Parent's Day Out Director.

Young Life Fall Retreat Nov 11-13

If your student has an ability to attend the Young Life Fall Retreat (Nov 11-13), don't let them pass it up!

Find details here, but just know that it's like a 3-day mini-summer camp, packed full of fun, games, songs, relationship building, talks about Jesus, and silliness! We already have some Shoal Creek high school students signed up, and we'd love to send your students with them. Contact me for any questions you might have and I'll be glad to answer them.

Shoal Creek Community Church Services 10/23

Not able to attend either of our Sunday services this morning? Or just want to check out what we do before you consider attending?

Then watch live right now, or catch up here later this week!

Week In Review

Here's your week in review in case you missed anything we put out in the past week!

HS Girls Chipotle Lunch THIS SUNDAY after second service at Chipotle! We have a new leader for our HS girls that we'd love to get connected to you and your daughters! Kailyn will be helping out regularly on Sundays, leading a small group, and taking girls with her to our local Young Life Club every week. Would love for you to meet her! Please contact me if your daughter can go (and you can go too moms!)

First HS Girls Small Group Tues 10/25 - This is going to be happening this coming Tuesday, so contact me if you have a daughter that wants to attend, and I'll get you details on exactly when/where they're meeting up.

Presently Picking Popcorn People for Halloween Bash! - The Student Ministries at Shoal Creek are going to be in charge of supplying popcorn to all the families that come, and that means we need about 8-10 total families to SIGN UP FOR A SHIFT HERE or just reply to this email!

This Week's "Must Read" - The Scary Facts About Bullying That Everyone Should Know

One Way To Pray With Your Children - Prayer is supposed to be consistent part of a spiritual journey, and that means that we have to figure out some way to help our kids engage in the practice of prayer. Here's one way to think about it.

Warm Is The New Cool

What's the "temperature" in your family right now? On a scale of "roaring fire in the hearth" to "ginormous ice sickles", how close do you feel you are in the relationships you have with those you call family? 

This recent post from the Fuller Youth Institute would say that the "temperature" of your family is pretty important...

In a comprehensive study of relational dynamics in more than 300 families spanning 35 years, family warmth was more correlated with faith transmission than any other relational factor (including amount of contact between the generations, the type of contact, and the number of children in the family). 

But as a parent, you aren’t the best judge of your family’s warmth. As is true with so many aspects of family life, this study found it is our child’s perception of closeness that matters more than our own perception of closeness.

Fuller goes on to say that there are generally five ways to kill family warmth in your family, those five having to do with:

• Words - We tend to be less filtered, and therefore more hurtful, with our words when it concerns family members versus other relationships
• Tone of Voice - Sometimes it's not what you say, it's how you say it.
• Body Language - (see above)
• Technology - Nothing kills conversation like screen time.
• Fatigue - Except maybe being overly busy and too tired to relate.

There's a lot here for all of us to work on--maybe we could just pick one area, and make a concentrated effort to display better behavior, and get that family-thermostat up a little higher this week.

Fuller has some other great tips in their post, so check it out as well.

Must Reads - The Scary Facts About Bullying That Everyone Should Know

This week's Must Read comes from an October 17th article from Teen Vogue entitled, "The Scary Facts About Bullying That Everyone Should Know". Considering "Bullying" was the topic of this past week in our Dads/Sons Sunday small group, I thought it provided a great followup for not just them, but for anyone who's been affected by bullying, whether directly or indirectly. 

Please go read the full article yourself, but here's an excerpt:

According to Crisis Text Line data released exclusively to Teen Vogue, the organization receives bullying texts much more in the afternoon than other crisis conversations, with a huge spike in both cyberbullying and bullying in real life around 11 a.m. Those outreaches go up again around 9 and 10 p.m. before dropping off for the evening, and start again in the morning. The data seem to suggest that people are being bullied at school, reach out during lunch for help, going home, and then reach out again before bed.

I cringe at how clinically those bullying patterns are laid out. It's like I can visualize how students go through bullying all morning in their classes, then escape into hiding at diversion of lunch, so that they can desperately reach out from their hiding to try to find some kind of temporary solace before getting another dose of bullying in the afternoon and before bed. Makes me sick to visualize it like that.

If you have a teenager you care about in your life, just do them a favor and make sure you pour a little extra energy into asking them how their day really went. They could be looking for help, and even if they don't open up to you, or if nothing really happened, they need to know that you're a lifeline for them whenever they need you.

And here's the link to Crisis Text Line if you're more interested in learning about them, or want to supply your teen with this resource for their sake, or so that they can be a resource for their friends' sake.

Inspiration for Today : The Adversity of Anger

"Understand this...you must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness (or justice) that God desires."

Don't take the bait. You want to. I know you do, because often I want to take the bait, too. But then we'd be just another stupid "bass" for biting on the comment, or action, that has offended us, and that we want to correct through our own force.

I was reading this piece of scripture from James 1:19-27, and it struck at a very personal level, because often when I am offended, I'm hurt at that personal level, and I respond back out of my personal hurt, and not objective truth. When I react to a personal offense, without first seeking out what God has to say about it, there's a good chance that my anger won't produce righteousness, or justice, or goodness.

When James writes this, he doesn't say to not be angry. He just says to be slow to getting to angry. Because we more often fight back out of the personal pain we feel when we are offended, we're often not fighting for a deeper truth other than getting revenge. Underneath the pains we feel are deeper truths. Choosing to slow down our anger and resisting the urge to be reactionary allows us to see more deeply down into the muck and mire of our broken realities, so that we can lay eyes on the more foundational truths for which we need to protect and fight.

James also says, "If you claim to be religious (a.k.a. "claim to be a spiritual person") but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion (spirituality) is worthless." Choosing to be slow to anger allows us to think through what is really bothering us, giving us a more firm foundation to stand on when we're ready to speak of the deeper truths that have surfaced when we've given God time to search our souls.

Be angry at the things that are wrong with this world. Be angry at the brokenness that exists in us all. But also be willing to give yourself time search out your anger for deeper truths, instead of being primarily reactionary in your anger.

And full disclosure, when I read this scripture this morning, the idea of this pertaining to politics hadn't even entered my mind. All of the thoughts that were swirling around me concerning this scripture had to do with the way I have responded to people within my own personal spheres, and nothing to do with anything in any public spheres. So please read this thinking of you respond to people in your personal spheres before copy/pasting it to your public spheres. Doing it the other way will render it less effective.

Presently Picking Popcorn People!

One big need need for the Halloween Bash that would be a perfect fit for student families would be helping us pop and serve popcorn for the Bash!

Part of what makes the Halloween Bash such an attractional event to our community is that it's absolutely FREE! For us to be able to make this event free, and expose our campus to new families looking for a spiritual home, we need help popping popcorn starting at 9:30am on Sunday 10/30, and serving it during the Bash (5-7pm). 

Would your family consider being a part of our popping? Would you sign up for a shift? I need one family (or at least 3 people) to cover Shifts 1-5, and at least 2 families (or at least 5-6 people) to cover Shifts 5-6, which will be serving the popcorn during the Bash.

Shift 1, 9:30am-11am

Shift 2, 11am-12:30pm

Shift 3, 12:30pm-2pm

Shift 4, 2pm-3:30pm

Shift 5, 3:30pm-5pm

Shift 6, 5pm-6:30pm

Shift 7, 6:30pm-7:30pm

Please contact me if you can take a shift or help out in anyway, thanks!

One Way To Think About Praying With Your Children

"Dear..."

All of us would agree that prayer has some kind of place in pursuing a spiritual journey as a family. We desire that our children would be vitally connected to God so that they can be connected to the ultimate source of love. I mean, who wouldn't want their children--who go through so many doubts, hurts, pains and put-downs each day--to have a regular rhythm for connecting with the God that made them as special and unique as each of them truly are?

Though we desire for our children to have conversations with God, sometimes we get stuck in how to direct their dialogue, just as we ourselves struggle with knowing how to dialogue with God. Should I start with a "thee" or a "thou"? Exactly when is it appropriate to say "Amen"? How many times am I allowed to say "please"? (I hope a bunch!)

Before reading any further, you should absolutely go and read what Jesus said about prayer and praying in Matthew 6:9-15. Considering that Jesus pretty much invented what we call prayer, we should look to what he says as a place to see what kinds of things we out to pray and ask for.

There is no one way to pray. There is no formula that will automatically produce results. In some ways, the words themselves aren't even the most important piece of this puzzle. It's our hearts that God wants. It's into our hearts that God wants to speak. And so, in trying to speak back to God, we should let our hearts lead us in what we should be saying.

You and I all too well know the difficulties of this world. Who knows what kind of horror story will headline tonight's ticker. Each day is filled with emotional nicks, dents and burns that have an affect on the person our child is becoming. It is vital that they learn to hear God's voice for themselves; and, is imperative that we try to help them learn how to hear from God so that they will call out to him when they are in need.

If you are struggling with how to model prayer to your kids, I just want to offer up to you one way I've recently been trying to pray with my own children. This is not an be-all, end-all way to pray. I myself don't even do it every single day or night with my kid (variety is the spice of life, you know). But I have found this to be a cool way to give my prayer and the prayers of my children some structure that I hope will lead to a deeper reflection of who God is and why he is so good, if not now, then later in their lives.

1 - Say "Thanks."

We begin by thanking God for who he is and all he's done. I say to my kids, "What three things are you thankful for that happened today?" And then, "Let's tell God thank you for those things." And then we thank God accordingly

2 - Say "I'm sorry."

This is important because reminds us that God is God and we are not. We admit to God that we're far from perfect, that we're not enough on our own, and that we need his love to make up for that deficit. I say to my kids, "What are you sorry for? What did you do today that you know you shouldn't have?" And then, "Let's tell God we're sorry for that." We then ask God for forgiveness.

3 - Say "Please..."

After we have thanked God for who he is and what he's done for us, and after we've also said sorry for how we've fallen short of his awesomeness, we then ask God for his help. I say to my kids, "What do you want help with? For yourself? For someone you know? Let's ask God for help for those things." I think it's really important to have our children pray for someone other than themselves. If prayer for others is consistently absent from our prayers, then all we're really doing is teaching our children that God is a vending machine for their own personal desires. Our children need to develop an understanding that they are not the center of the world, and Jesus commands us to love others as much as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:34-40).

Final Advice

Whatever you do, just do it. Don't get hung up on if you're doing it the "right" way or not. God has promised that if we are truly seeking him, he will allow himself to be found. That means that the more time we spend seeking God in prayer, the more he will show up and continue to guide our thoughts and desires.

So don't overthink--just do!

Shoal Creek Community Church Services 10/16

Not able to attend either of our Sunday services this morning? Or just want to check out what we do before you consider attending?

Then watch live right now, or catch up here later this week!

Bullying: Dads-Sons Small Group This Sunday At Shoal Creek

You may not have heard, but for the past four weeks, six dad-son combos met to try a first ever dad-son small group. The results were very well received, so the group has decided they want to continue being on a spiritual journey together. This Sunday the topic will be "Bullying"--something that's extremely relevant for families to discuss.

If you're a dad and you have a teenage son that you want to be on a spiritual journey with, OR, if you just have a son that you want to get on a spiritual journey, please contact me so that I can get you connected to the group! We will NOT exclude any teenage boy who wants to have some spiritual discussion, even if dad can't attend with his son. We want teenagers to be on a spiritual journey no matter what, and can work around any limitations you might feel you have to getting your teenage boy plugged into to a regularly meeting small group.

The group will start at 9:30am, in "The Attic" at Shoal Creek. A free breakfast of either pancakes or donuts will also be provided for anyone who attends.

You're Invited!

There are two upcoming events in our KC Metro area that are fast approaching that might be of interest to you.  Both are hosted by KC Metro Young Life.  Both are presented by Chap Clark, PhD,  author and professor of Youth, Family, and Culture at Fuller Seminary, and President of ParenTeen, Inc. Both would be an incredible opportunity to learn more about how to help your teenager grow in all-around spiritual, mental, emotional and physical well-being. 

Next Time I Fall in Love

A seminar for teens and the adults who care about them, regarding sex, dating and relationships.  

WHO: All high school students throughout the Metro
WHAT: City-wide Campaigners
WHEN: Friday, October 21st @ 7:00PM-8:00PM
WHERE: Colonial Presbyterian Church 9500 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO
WHY: Because it'll be super fun and who doesn't want to talk about this stuff?
COST: We have picked up the cost of this event so that it is absolutely free to you! We just need to know you're coming. So click the link below to get your FREE ticket to this special one-time event!

https://kcmetro.younglife.org/Pages/Next-Time-I-Fall-in-Love.aspx

The Hurt Seminar

In this seminar, Chap presents the latest research – both his and others – on how life has changed for kids and the effect it has had on every aspect of their life, from development to communication to friendship to spirituality. This seminar is for parents, people who work with kids, and anyone who knows that the young need our very best in order to thrive. The session will also lead us through a strategic response to the contemporary world and mindset that define today’s kids.

WHEN: 1:00PM - 4:00PM Saturday October 22nd, 2016.
WHERE: YWAM Kansas City Campus (10121 Grandview Rd, Kansas City, MO 64137)
COST: $6 in advance or $8 at the door.

Register at this link:

https://kcmetro.younglife.org/Pages/Hurt-Seminar.aspx

Hope you can take advantage of these opportunities.

Inspiration For Today

How scary it must be to be a worm (if a worm could ever possibly be conscious of such a thing). When storms come (like they did in our area last night), worms are flooded out of their homes into the open, hostile over-world, to be picked up and carried off into the frothing mouths of nesting birdlings. Or, perhaps even more terrifyingly, to be carried away by the grubby hands of my children where they will be overly pinched and squeezed, like a nightmare chiropractic experience.

Indeed, they are low on the totem pole.

My inspiration for today may not seem very inspirational at first. But I connected very much to Isaiah 41:14 this morning, which says, "Though you are a lowly worm..don't be afraid...for I will help you."

At first that sounds insulting--whom among us wants to be called a worm? But I do often feel very low on the totem pole, and very out of control of experiences that seem to threaten my experience. At times, I often feel lowly, and unable to save myself from forces bigger than myself.

That God would tell a worm to not be afraid, that God would tell something so low on the world's totem pole that He would help him, is an incredible mystery that I hope you take some comfort in, or would be at least willing to consider today.

A Currently Immense Need for Youth Leaders In Our Area

Chances are, you are only where you are in life because when you were in your adolescent years, someone saw through your pimples and indifference, and spoke to you in a way that changed your life. You were in a a vulnerable, impressionable place, and someone older than you took the time to actually SEE you--and not just for who you were, but for who you could be. When you were younger and in your teenage years, someone older than you chose to make you feel dignified and respected and like the adult you were striving to become.

Who would you currently be if not for them? What would be different in your life right now had they not been there for you?

You may not realize it, but there is an IMMENSE NEED for youth volunteers at Shoal Creek, and in the Northland.

What current needs are there?

1 - At Shoal Creek, there are only TWO adult males currently trying to connect with ALL the high school boys that call Shoal Creek home. There are two men who have identified themselves as willing and able to help high school aged young men grow into grown men by giving up time each week to build relationships with our young men at Shoal Creek, showing them just one step at a time how to not just "get through" life, but enjoy the goodness God has put into each moment. I refuse to believe there aren't any other men at Shoal Creek that God has called to make an investment in relationships with the teenage boys that call Shoal Creek home. Surely there are more guys at Shoal Creek that would be willing to make a difference in the life of another young man, and pay forward the compassion our mentors gave us when we ourselves were in need that long (or perhaps not so long!) time ago.

Are you a man who has benefited from another man's influence in yours? Would you be willing to talk to me about making a difference in the lives of the teenage boys that currently attend Shoal Creek, or might in the near future? Contact me if so.

2 - I have recently become aware of 60--SIXTY--high school students interested in attending a small group for the sake of learning who God is through the bible. However, 40--FORTY--of those students will have no chance of connecting with God through a small group because there is a shortage of volunteers willing help facilitate those small group environments. Of those forty students that would meet for a small group, nearly all are high school girls. It just feels unacceptable to me to have to tell 40 teenagers, "Sorry, good luck on your own."

Are you at least interested in learning if you might be one of the ones that could help these girls be a part of a small group that could introduce them to what God's says about self worth, body image, non-backstabbing friendships, and the like? Would you be willing to talk to me about what getting involved could look like? Please contact me if so.

3 - Every Sunday at Shoal Creek during our 11am service we have a ROCKIN' cool middle school program called Buya. Unfortunately, sometimes the schedules of our extremely committed volunteers keep them from being there on Sundays from time to time. We are short on enough Sunday morning volunteers to always ensure that each middle school student can always have an experience that leaves them thinking, "Wow! I hope I get to come back to Buya next week!" Occasionally the schedules of our current volunteers align in random, unfortunate ways, and there will be ZERO female volunteers available to lead our middle school girls.

Middle schoolers are fun, super-open to new friendships, and easily won over by any adult that is willing to make them feel as special as they deserve to feel. Could you see yourself joining our Sunday morning Buya Team and helping us make sure that every middle schooler gets the attention they deserve on a Sunday morning? Contact me if so.

The Bottom Line

Ultimately, I know that God is a good, loving, always-in-control-God, and that he is going to move in the hearts of those (you?) called to serve teenagers at Shoal Creek and in the Northland. And, in all of this, I'm completely willing to take the blame in not putting Shoal Creek's student ministry needs out publicly enough, regularly enough, to draw out whom God is stirring to do something about this immense need we currently have.

Would you take the time to search yourself, seek God, and speak to me if something stirs in you when you think about the teenagers that needs guidance?

"The Next Time I Fall In Love"

Sex... dating... relationships... they're everywhere, from songs to movies to TV to the web, it is almost impossible to avoid the topic! But where can we find out what is true, what to think and more importantly, what to do with all of these conflicting message? 

Do you have a teenager that you think would benefit from hearing what the Bible says, and what it doesn't say about "love" and dating and sexuality? The KC Metro Young Life Team is bringing in Dr. Chap Clark, professor of Youth, Family and Culture at Fuller Seminary. Chap has authored dozen of books, including HURT--which I highly recommend--and has devoted his life to helping teenagers come to understand how deeply God unconditionally loves them. 

If you have some teenagers that you think would benefit from hearing Chap's message--or more importantly God's message--of the beauty of wholeness in sexuality--then please contact me to let me know you're interested in taking them to this event (which will do a lot of the work for you!). 

WHO: All high school students throughout the Metro

WHEN: Friday, October 21st @ 7:00PM-8:00PM 

WHERE: Colonial Presbyterian Church 9500 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO

COST: FREE by clicking this link to get a ticket to this special one-time event.

Shoal Creek Live

Not able to attend either of our Sunday services this morning?

Then watch live right now, or catch up later in the week!

"Hurt" - Inside the World of Today's Teens

Do you ever find yourself of hurting for the "hurting" you see in teenagers you know? When you look at the young people in your life, do you wonder what you could do to let those young people know how loved they really are? Then you need to check out the  HURT SEMINAR in Kansas City on Saturday October 22nd that the Kansas City Metro Young Life Team is brining into town.

In Hurt and Hurt 2.0 (2nd edition): Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers, Chap Clark details the results of a comprehensive nationwide study of high school kids in a research project that continues to this day. Today as the culture continues to shift and change everyone who walks with or works with pre-teens, adolescents and emerging adults face an increasing challenge to understand what is happening in their world and in their hearts.

In this seminar, Chap presents the latest research – both his and others – on how life has changed for kids and the effect it has had on every aspect of their life, from development to communication to friendship to spirituality. This seminar is for parents, people who work with kids, and anyone who knows that the young need our very best in order to thrive. The session will also lead us through a strategic response to the contemporary world and mindset that define today’s kids.

WHO: Any adult who wants to be a part of making Kansas City a better place for kids: this event is a must for teachers, coaches, mayors, police officers, youthworkers, pastors, parents, grandparents, neighbors, mental healthcare professionals and school administrators. Don't miss it!
WHEN: 1:00PM - 4:00PM Saturday October 22nd, 2016.
WHERE: YWAM Kansas City Campus (10121 Grandview Rd, Kansas City, MO 64137)
COST: $6 in advance or $8 at the door.

Interested in going, please contact me and we can talk details.

Must Reads - "Top Needs For Teenage Girls"

This is a must read for anyone with a teenage daughter looking for some guidance on what kind factors we should try to make sure are present in our daughters' lives.

Do yourself a favor and follow this link to Selma Wilson's post to think through how you might take a next step in giving your daughter (or any female teen you care about) the care they need to feel secure and loved.

Chipotle Lunch After Church for SC HS Girls

High School Girls Lunch This Sunday After Church at Chipotle in Liberty

SC High School Girls:  Please come get lunch with our newest Shoal Creek High School Leader--Kailyn Dowell--THIS Sunday after church. Meet in the Lobby directly after second service, and then drive out to the Liberty Chipotle together. 

Kailyn is SUPER excited to get to meet the high school girls that call Shoal Creek home, and will have information for them and their parents about upcoming small group opportunities, and current Young Life events.

If you/your daughter cannot make it out to Chipotle, but are still interested in meeting Kailyn and getting your daughter involved in the Shoal Creek High School ministries, PLEASE REPLY ASAP so that I, Justin Talley (SC Student Director) can connect your daughter to Kailyn and get her plugged in to all the things we'll be doing this school year.