Spiritual Bootcamp th /6 th /7 th Graders. The goals of SPIRITUAL BOOTCAMP 2017 is that each student who attends will

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1 Spiritual Bootcamp th /6 th /7 th Graders Fellowship Church - Sundays 4 6pm Feb. 26 May 7 (8 sessions + Overnight Fellowship Church) Led By Rev. Mack Strange (Pastor Fellowship Church) Randy Gerry (Director of Youth Ministries) Cost $100 The goals of SPIRITUAL BOOTCAMP 2017 is that each student who attends will 1. Have an understanding of the basic beliefs of Christianity and be encouraged to own their faith and apply their faith to their lives. 2. Have a wonderful experience of being with friends, building relationships, and having a sense of belonging. 3. Be encouraged to reflect on the true meaning of life and their sense of purpose in life. 4. Have the opportunity, if they so desire, to profess their faith and be baptized or have their baptism renewed. We want to accomplish these goals in an environment that is informative, fun, energetic, and affirming. SPIRITUAL BOOTCAMP 2017 is open to all 5 th /6 th /7 th grade students who would like to attend.

2 With the $100 registration fee, your son or daughter will receive 1. An incredible experience! 2. A SPIRITUAL BOOTCAMP 2017 hoodie! 3. An overnight retreat. 4. A cross ring to remember their experience.

3 Why Spiritual Bootcamp? SPIRITUAL BOOTCAMP 2017 will be an intentional time for 5 th 7 th Graders to reflect on the basic tenants of the Christian faith and give them a safe environment to ask questions and grapple with spiritual truths of the Christian life and how to apply these truths to their everyday lives. Because the middle school years (5th-8th grades) are a time when students begin to move from concrete thinking to abstract thinking, that is when most begin to make lifelong faith decisions. Also, during these middle school years, students are seeking a sense of belonging. Belonging to the community of faith and finding spiritual encouragement there can be truly transformative. This time will also seek to help each student to understand what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ and possibly make their first public profession of faith. We want this SPIRITUAL BOOTCAMP 2017 to be a fun, energetic, affirming, learning, transforming environment and a bridge into the youth ministry of Fellowship Church

4 Timeline/ Topics February 26 Orientation Students/Parents/Table Leaders March 5 Who is God? Part II Who is Jesus? Why does it matter? March 12 Who is the Holy Spirit? Who Is the Trinity? Why does it matter? March 19 What is the Bible? What is the Church? Why does it matter? March 26 *No SPIRITUAL BOOTCAMP 2017 (RCS Schools Spring Break March School starts back April 3) April 2 *What is Sin? Grace? Free Will? Why does it matter? April 7/8 Overnight Fellowship Church April 9 What is Baptism and Communion (Receive Communion) April 16 Easter. * No SPIRITUAL BOOTCAMP 2017 April 22 (Saturday) Serving Others Day

5 April 23 What are Spiritual Gifts? Why do they matter? April 30 Session for those students joining Fellowship Church May 7 Commitment Sunday Worship Services 9:30 & 11:00 am Celebration Event for All student participants 4-6pm

6 Spiritual Bootcamp 2017 Retreat Questions We Will Seek To Answer On The Retreat We will also ask students on 3x5 cards questions they have and will also seek to answer those questions as well. Our goal is to mainly answer questions for living a Christian life on a day-today basis. Here are some of the questions we are considering. These are not in any particular order Can I prove God exists? 2. If there is only one God, then why are there so many religions? 3. How do I stop doing the things I shouldn't do? 4. Is it ok to be angry with God? 5. Why should I pray, when God does not answer all my prayers? 6. If Jesus is God, then why did he have to die? 7. What does it mean to be born again? 8. What is profession of faith? Why does it matter? 9. Why should I follow Jesus, can't I just believe? 10. What if my friends aren't Christian? 11. Why should I wait till I am married to have sex? 12. Why does God let bad things happen? Or does He cause bad things for "bad" people?

7 Adult/Parent Track February 26 Introduction and Orientation Students/Parents/Table Leaders Who is God? Why does it matter? March 5 Who is God? Part II. Who is Jesus? Why does it matter? March 12 Who is the Holy Spirit? Who Is the Trinity? Why does it matter? March 19 What is the Bible? What is the Church? Why does it matter? March 26 *No SPIRITUAL BOOTCAMP 2017 (RCS Schools Spring Break March School starts back April 3) April 2 What is Sin? What is Grace? What is Free Will? Why does it matter? April 9 What is Baptism and Communion? Why does it matter? April 16 Easter. * No SPIRITUAL BOOTCAMP 2017 April 23 What are Spiritual Gifts? Why do they matter?

8 April 30 Session for adults/parents joining Fellowship Church May 7 Commitment Sunday Worship Services 9:30 & 11:00 am Celebration Event for all student/adult participants 4-6pm

9 If You Want Your Son or Daughter To Attend SPIRITUAL BOOTCAMP 2017, But You Do Not Attend Fellowship Church - No Problem! We appreciate so much you considering your son or daughter being a part of our SPIRITUAL BOOTCAMP If you do not attend Fellowship Church, please know we will treat them with the utmost care and respect. If you would like to sit in on our sessions, we will be more than happy to have you. Our desire is to teach the basic tenets of the Christian faith, and not to focus on the nuances one may find with the different denominations or belief systems within the Christian faith. Below is listing of the subjects we will encounter and the main idea we will want to teach God - The true God is the Creator of all things. He had no beginning and will never have an end. He is the source of all life. He loves us and desires to be in relationship with us. He exists in the form of the Trinity, - God the Father, God the Son, And God the Holy Spirit. Jesus - Son of God. Teacher of life's meaning, healer of life's hurts, Savior of the world. Through his death and resurrection, he became the bridge to our relationship with God and frees us from the power of sin in our lives. Holy Spirit - The Power of God in our lives that enables us to live the Christian life. New life in Christ comes by the Holy Spirit. When we sense God's leading, God's challenge, or God's support or comfort, it's the Holy Spirit at work. Trinity - The is one living God that manifests himself in our lives in Three persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God The Holy Spirit.

10 Bible - The bible is God's word to us and the instruction manual for our lives and living. The Bible is unlike any book that has ever been written in that is it a living document that can speak to our heart, mind, and soul. Church - The gathering or community of Christians that come together on a regular basis to worship, pray, learn, and serve others in the name of Jesus Christ. Sin - Sin is not a laundry list of dos and don ts. Sin is the attitude and resultant action that separates us from God and each other; it is the epitome of selfishness and a state into which we all regularly fall. Sin breaks our relationship with God. Sin is separates us from God s best for us. Grace - Grace is central to our understanding of Christian faith and life. Grace can be defined as the love and mercy given to us by God because God wants us to have it, not because of anything we have done to earn it. Free Will Freedom is one of the most precious gifts and God gives us the ability to say YES or NO to the offer of His love through Jesus Christ. Salvation - It's to know that after feeling lost and alone, we've been found by God. It's to know that after feeling worthless, we've been redeemed. It's to experience a reunion with God, others, and our own best selves. It's a healing of the alienation the estrangement we've experienced. In salvation we become whole. We receive the gift of eternal life. Sacraments A sacrament is and Outward and Visible sign of an inward and spiritual reality, initiated by God for us. Like other Christian churches, we celebrate two sacraments The Apostle's Creed - Communion (Lord s Supper) We believe that communion is open to all people who seek to love God, desire to change their lives, follow Jesus Christ, and live in peace with one another. The BREAD represents the broken body of Jesus Christ and the CUP (grape juice) represents His blood sacrificed to give us new life. Baptism Baptism is a human response to God s love in Jesus Christ with water. We baptize through both sprinkling and immersion. I believe in God, the Father Almighty Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,

11 was crucified, died, and was buried; On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit the holy universal Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. If you have any questions, please feel free to our pastor, Rev. Mack mackstrange@tnfellowship.com