We’ve spent a lot of time, energy and resources outlining what we believe is God’s activity with our neighbors and the next generation. Last summer John Stamper joined our team as our student pastor. He and his team (Luke Pinder, Bobby McGraw, Susan Roebuck) are doing an awesome job leading our student ministry and developing leaders to serve with our students.
10 months into the journey and our student impact has doubled. We are reaching about 225 students each week. Our students have gone on an international mission trip and now this summer a national mission project painting, building and repairing homes for those in need… more exciting news about what’s coming in our own Sugar Hill Community in 2010 will be shared soon. In addition we’ve started a teenage moms ministry that has given us opportunities to partner with our schools in ministering to families in crisis. We even started interpreting our worship services in Spanish all because one of our students wanted to bring their parents who doesn’t speak English! Isn’t God great – using kids to help us reach our community?
The last 3 years I’ve had the privilege of serving on the Lanier Middle School Council. I was elected through parent votes thanks to some friends that campaigned for me. I had the privilege of being an encouragement and friend to the Lanier school administrators. We don’t make it our goal to correct anything but rather encourage and support them – finding open doors to be “ministers.” It also has given me an inside look at what is going on with our students and allowed me to have open doors to talk to other parents as “their representative.”
I say all that to say I’m thankful for what I learned and for the open doors to be a friend, encourager and support to our community leaders. Now, I need your help.
If you live in the North Gwinnett High School district – I’m unashamedly asking you to stop by North Gwinnett High School this week between 7 AM – 4 PM and “vote” for John Stamper, our student pastor to be on the North Gwinnett School Council. John will be a community partner. This platform gives John and our church a chance to be a friend, support and encourager with our school leaders. So help us continue to build bridges with our school and community leaders. Go “vote for John Stamper” for North Gwinnett School Council this week. You never know the impact that could have in somebody’s life in the coming months.
Filed under: Pastor Richard, Student Ministry, Worship
