APRIL 2014

PLUGGED IN
A MONTHL Y PUBLICATIONTO HELP PARENTS BETTER PLUG INTOTHE SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT OFTHEIR STUDENT

April Issue
THIS MONTH

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IMPACT LITTLE ROCK (4/5) HOME 22:6 FAMILY SUNDAY (4/6) CASE FOR CREATOR (4/13) SEATTLE GO TRIP DEADLINE (4/15) THE GATHERING (4/16) EASTER (4/20)

COMING SOON

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SENIOR RECOGNITION WEEKEND (5/3-4) HS CAMPING/FLOAT TRIP (6/22-24) MISSION ARLINGTON (6/16-21)

NO REGRETS
LIFE IS OFTEN FILLED WITH REGRETS. WE REGRET SOME DECISIONS WEVE MADE AND DIDNT MAKE. WE SOMETIMES REGRET WASTING TIME ON THINGS WHILE NEGLECTING OTHERS. AS THIS SCHOOL YEAR COMES TO A CLOSE AND SUMMER APPROACHES, WOULD YOU CONSIDER CHALLENGING YOURSELF TO LIVETO PARENT WITHOUT REGRET. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TIME YOU HAVE WITH YOUR CHILDREN. LEVERAGE EVERY MOMENT. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL AND RELATIONAL IMPACT. BEGIN NOW PARENTINGDISCIPLING WITH NO REGRETS! THIS EDITION HAS SOME HELPFUL TOOLS TO HELP YOU DO JUST THAT!
A publication of IBC Student Ministr y. ! www.ibclrstudents.org 2014

VOLU NTEER SPOTLIGHT

LORI MCKAY

ENGAGE

WIRED FOR PLEASURE, RISK TAKING

EMPOWER!
DONT SAY EVERYTHING YOU THINK

EQUIP!
LEGACY COUNTDOWN APP

STUDENT MINISTRY STAFF

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Matt Hubbard
Lead Student Pastor
TWO OF THE MOST FUN GAMES IVE PLAYED! ! RISK! CANDY LAND"

Melissa Sponer
Girls Ministry Associate
TWO OF THE MOST FUN GAMES IVE EVER PLAYED QUELF NERTS

Ross Spigner
Middle School Pastor
TWO OF THE MOST FUN GAMES IVE EVER PLAYED SETTLERS OF CATAN PING PONG

Amanda Beach
Ministry Assistant
TWO OF THE MOST FUN GAMES IVE EVER PLAYED QUELF BALDERDASH!

From Our Heart!

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The month of April is called Student Takeover month for our High School students. The idea behind the month is that students temporarily takeover leadership capacities in the church. A few of the many leadership roles range from preaching on a Wednesday night, leading Sunday school classes and taking up the offering in a worship service. Student Takeover is a valuable opportunity for students to learn leadership and to learn by doing it. With this month in particular, it made me think about my own calling to leadership.! Every so often, it is easy for me to start to think of leadership in the possessive. For example, the statement, I lead in the middle school ministry at IBC, is very drastically different that the statement I lead in my middle school ministry at IBC. ! As a leader, other statements like These are my students. This is my summer trip. This is my Sunday school class. This is my sermon. This is my opportunity... can, if I am not careful, quickly and subtly move into a prideful endeavor rather than a service endeavor. The difference can be seen in the Biblical example of Saul. For Saul, it did not take long for him to start using the me and mine terminology. After his rst display of leadership success, Saul gave credit to the LORD for the victory saying, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel! (1 Sam. 11:13) However in the midst of Sauls very next battle with the Philistines, in a moment of poor leadership, he utters a rash vow to his men to urge them to continue ghting. He possessively says, Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies. (1 Sam. 14:24) The shift led to a tired army and a victory that was only average and not impressive. Which then led to a lack of gratitude to the LORD and more blame shifting between Saul and his army. !

Our hearts as Student Ministry staff is to lead well. As we led, I pray that we do so in way that humbly recognizes Gods ultimate ownership and our stewardship. Each student, each family, each weekly program, each catalytic event is not our own. Each is the LORDs. Such a perspective humbles us and exalts the LORD.! A publication of IBC Student Ministr y. ! www.ibclrstudents.org 2014 A publication of IBC Student Ministr y. ! www.ibclrstudents.org 2014

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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT !
LORI MCKAY

MY FAMILY: ! ! ! ! ! ! !

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JOE (HUSBAND20 YEARS) ! WILSON (AGE...14) ! JOSEPH (AGE...12) ! MOLLY (GOLDEN RETRIEVER)

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WHERE I SERVE: ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! I HAVE SERVED FOR: !

I TEACH THE 6-7TH GRADE GIRLS DURING ! THE 9:00 HOUR. ! 6 MONTHS THIS TIME, 5 YEARS PREVIOUSLY. ! A PRIVATE BEACH CABANA ON MOLOKAI, HAWAII. ! I REPEATED KINDERGARTEN BUT GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL AS ! VALEDICTORIANSTARTED SLOW, FINISHED STRONG. ! !

MY DREAM VACATION DESTINATION IS: !

SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DONT KNOW ABOUT ME: ! ! ! ! ! ! !

www.vimeo .com/

www.faceb ook.com/

www.twitter .com/

www.insta gram.com/

A publication of IBC Student Ministr y. ! www.ibclrstudents.org 2014

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Student Takeover
1
Deposit for Seattle Go Trip due

2014 / April
3
Love Worth Fighting For 7:00

Student Worship Senior pictures due

Impact Little Rock

HOME 22:6 FAMILY SUNDAY

Student Worship 10 MS (5:45-7:15) HS (6:15-8:00)

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The Gathering 5:45 meal 6:15 worship

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Good Friday ofces closed

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Hunt Day

Student Worship

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Lords 21 Supper 6pm

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Mission Arlington deadline

Senior Dinner deadline

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Seniors Robing Ceremony rough draft due

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Student Worship 30 MS (5:45-7:15) HS (6:15-8:00)

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COMING SOON

May 3rd-4th" May 4th May 18th May 28th

SENIOR RECOGNITION WEEKEND " Mission Arlington 101 training meeting @ 4:30 Mission Arlington 201 training meeting @ 4:30 No Wednesday night worship

A publication of IBC Student Ministr y. ! www.ibclrstudents.org 2014

ENGAGE

TEEN BRAINS WIRED FOR PLEASURE, RISK-TAKING

storm! Now you know why teenagers have long had the reputation for doing some very puzzling, irresponsible (and sometimes risky) things. Blame the brain." Unfortunately, teen brain science is not particularly comforting to parents and can lead some to shelter their kids and hover over them to prevent them from the potentially life-altering consequences of making poor decisions."

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In recent years, scientic research has provided us with a much greater understanding into the teen brain. We now know that throughout adolescence, the teen brain is maturing and wont fully reach adult development until the mid-twenties."

Remember each teenager is unique. Parents should use a realistic assessment of what decisions are both age- and maturity-appropriate for their child to make and then allow him or her to make these decisions." Parents should also keep an eye on the goal of increasing the number and scope of decisions they allow their teenager to make."

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In a new study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences researchers found that when teenagers receive rewards, their brains pleasure centers respond more actively than those in adults who receive the same rewards. The study found that increased brain response in the teen brain is not due to them valuing the rewards more than adults, but rather that the teenage brain hasnt nished maturing." Combining ndings from this and various other studies, we know that the portions of the brain responsible for pleasure, self-control, judgment, emotional regulation, assessing risks and rewards are all under construction for teenagers. Talk about the perfect

What Can Parents Do?"

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Parents should not expect their teenager to always make adult-like decisions. Sometimes they will and sometimes they wont. Remember, the teen brain is under construction!" Teens must have opportunity to exercise their brains by making decisions (yes, even poor ones) so that the brain can mature to adulthood." Parents who protect their kids from (or do not allow) decision-making only impede the teens brain from developing normally."

In this season of the perfect storm going on in a teenagers head, parents should provide consistent encouragement, guidance, coaching, and a measure of safety to their teenagers."

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BY JIM LIBELT ! JIM IS SENIOR WRITER, EDITOR AND RESEARCHER FOR THE HOMEWORD CENTER FOR YOUTH AND FAMILY . JIM HAS OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS A YOUTH AND FAMILY MINISTRY SPECIALIST , HAVING SERVED OVER THE YEARS AS A PASTOR,AUTHOR,CONSULTANT , MENTOR, TRAINER,COLLEGE INSTRUCTOR,AND SPEAKER.

A publication of IBC Student Ministr y. ! www.ibclrstudents.org 2014

EMPOWER

DONT SAY EVERYTHING YOU THINK

a lousy long-term parenting strategy, and it will never deliver the positive results you seek in your kids." I have a quick wit and a propensity for sarcasm, and with this amazing combination of skills, I create some really strong statementsthat my kids never hear. Why? Because over the years of being a parent, Ive learned an important key to successful communication and healthy relationships between parents and kids: " Dont say everything you think, and think before you speak." Of course, this is easier said than done. Still, practicing self-control in what you say is an entirely biblical principle! " Watch your words and hold your tongue; youll save yourself a lot of grief. Proverbs 21:23 [MSG]"
A publication of IBC Student Ministr y. ! www.ibclrstudents.org 2014

Its not breaking news that some parents can be downright nasty to their children. Parenting includes the responsibility to verbally reprimand kids. Sometimes, something needs to be said. But how we as parents speak to our kids is important!" No parent is above making occasional snarky remarks to their kids. Ive done it. Youve done it. We all fall short. Its just that some parents develop a pattern for regularly criticizing their kids. Constant criticism from parents can do a lot of long-term damage to a childs self-image and the condence they need to become a functioning, responsible adult. A sharp remark or rebuke may feel good. It may even succeed in delivering your point in the short-term. But frankly, criticism is

A home lled with constant criticism is a breeding ground for rebellion and negativity. So when your child has pushed your buttons and your emotions are running hot, save the hurtful comment. Give yourself a timeout to cool o$. Consider the issue that needs to be addressed. Think about what you need to say before you say it. Then, make an appropriate and constructive comment." The bottom line is that when you make critical remarks to your kids, you dont win! You wound your kids and create relational distance between them and you. So do yourself and your family a favor: Dont say everything you think!"

By Doug FieldsSenior Director of HomeWord center for Y outh and Family ,former Student Pastor at Saddleback Church.

EQUIP

LEGACY COUNTDOWN APP !

FIND IT ON THE APPLE APP STORE OR GOOGLE PL AY .

If you havent noticed yet, todays culture is an app culture. Remember the cliche commercials where someone might ask how to cook Peking Duck and another responds Theres an app for that. This dialogue continues for a limitless time with the same redundant answertheres an app for that. "

book release called Losing Your Marbles. Im still checking this app out myself, but here is the App Store description. I think its worth checking out! I would love to hear how you guys are using it!"

Option 2: Enter a childs name and birthdate and a countdown clock estimating their graduation date will begin."

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Legacy Countdown was designed " specically for anyone who works with kids or teenagers. " Why not put a visual number to the time you have left . . ." before someone graduates?" before an event happens?"

You can also add multiple children and special events." Legacy countdown can be used" in a variety of di$erent ways." Just remember:" When you see how much time you have left, you tend to do more with the time you have now."

Sadly to some and exciting to others, this has become the norm in our culture. There are over 1 million apps in both the Apple App Store and Google Play/ Android Marketplace heralding over 60 billion downloads. But what if there was an app to help parents be more intentional in investing in the lives of their own children? Wellyou guessed it, theres an app for that too. "

before something is due?"

When you count the weeks you have left with a kid, you stand a better chance of making your weeks count."

Twitter For more information about why what you do this week matters for a kid, go to losingyourmarbles.com." ! By Matt Hubbard#

! Legacy Countdown is simple." ! ! !

Recently, Reggie Joiner and Orange Ministries has created an app that coincides with his recent

Option 1: Enter a childs name and graduation date and a countdown clock for that child will begin."

A publication of IBC Student Ministr y. ! www.ibclrstudents.org 2014

IBC STUDENT MINISTRY

501 N. SHACKLEFORD" LITTLE ROCK, AR 72211" O | 501.376.3071" WEB | WWW.IBCLRSTUDENTS.ORG

A publication of IBC Student Ministr y. ! www.ibclrstudents.org 2014