1 Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray Proverbs 22:6 Welcome to the Woodland Hills Church of Christ Youth Group! The WHYG is a collection of some of my favorite people in the world. You will find that we are so much more than a group of teenagers; this congregation is devoted to its youth, and you ll often find Christians of all ages participating in youth events throughout the year. Our mission is to further the Gospel through the development of our youth, while providing a caring environment where teens are encouraged to grow spiritually. This youth group is resolved to remain fully committed to Christ and His church. On behalf of the entire Woodland Hills congregation: Thank you for being a part of our family. The purpose of this packet is to give you a better understanding of what the WHYG is all about. Our current events are described in detail and our curriculum is outlined until the fall of 2012. Although our calendar is packed full of trips, service projects and Bible studies, we are always looking for new ways to challenge our teens. If you have any interest in supporting an existing program, or organizing a new event, please do not hesitate to share your ideas with me. We need all the help we can get. I want you to understand how important your family is to this youth group. Let s collaborate and get you and your teens involved! Whether you are interested in heavily participating or simply supporting us, this youth group needs you! As of August 2011, we have approximately 15 members of the WHYG. That does not include the parents or adults that constantly give their time, money and effort to keep this group active. There are dozens of ways you can get involved, for example: hosting a devo/bible study in your home; providing the food for a weekend event; teaching Sunday or Wednesday Bible class; chaperoning a retreat; or driving the youth group to an event. This list doesn t even come close to filling all of our needs, but you get the idea. You can be involved in whatever capacity you see fit; the opportunities are endless. The best thing that you can do for a young Christian is build a relationship with him or her. Obviously, there are plenty of ways for you to interact with our youth, but don t stop there. Have a conversation with a teenager; invest some time getting to know what activities our guys and girls are involved in; encourage our new members to keep the faith. One of the best ways to get to know the WHYG is to host an event. Sign up to host an event, either at your home, or our youth building, the YAC; we are always looking for families to provide the food and/or entertainment for our Thursday night devos. If you re looking to get your own teens involved, the quickest way is through an overnight event, like a retreat or camp. This youth group is the source of lifelong friendships for hundreds of Christians; we want you to be a part of the WHYG. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Communication is important to me, and I am always available to speak with you about your children or ways to be involved. Let s spread the good news together. Titus Smith Youth Minister 785-840-6242 iamtitussmith@gmail.com
2 WHYG Sunday Morning Curriculum FALL 2011 Sep, Oct, Nov WINTER 2011 12 Dec, Jan, Feb SPRING 2012 Mar, Apr, May SUMMER 2012 Jun, Jul, Aug Justin Brown, Titus Smith Survey of the Old Testament From Genesis to Malachi, we will go over the major stories and themes of the Old Testament. Subjects include Creation, Exodus, Judges, and much more. Jim Hubbert The Life and Times of Jesus Christ Read through the Gospels and study the ministry of Jesus Christ, our savior. His birth, life, death, burial and resurrection will be our focus for the quarter. WHYG Wednesday Night Curriculum FALL 2011 Philip Slate, Titus Smith Personal Evangelism Sep, Oct, Nov If you re afraid to invite anyone to worship; if you don t know how to get/keep someone interested in the Gospel; or if you just want to learn how to influence others: this is the class for you. WINTER 2011 12 Dec, Jan, Feb SPRING 2012 Mar, Apr, May SUMMER 2012 Jun, Jul, Aug Titus Smith, Greg Nordstrom Creation and Intelligent Design This class will give you a deeper appreciation for God s love and care. Tough questions will be answered as we investigate what makes our world tick. Uncover truth and strengthen your faith. Titus Smith Surrender Where do you find comfort? Is it in the things you own or your status at school? This class will be an in-depth study of what it takes to fully devote your life to God. Various Teachers (Summer Series) WHYG Thursday Night Curriculum YEAR ROUND Every 3rd Thursday Various Teachers Someday Our goals are: to exhort non-christians to investigate what it takes to be saved (2 Peter 3:9 10); and encourage Christians to finish their race (2 Timothy 4:7 8). The 2011 TLC is Brandon Baker,
3 Corbin Loveless and Knox Greer. WHYG Year Round Activities Bible Class Thursday Night Devos Fifth Sunday Service Pizza & Praise Quarter Family Meal Woodland Hills meets every Sunday at 9:00 am and every Wednesday at 7:00 pm for Bible Class. Class is a time for the youth group to study, discuss, and learn more about different topics including: Old Testament characters; God s love; and various teenage issues. Members of the youth group meet in the YAC. On the third Thursday of every month, the youth group meets in someone s home or in the YAC for a meal and devotional period. Anyone is invited; the teens are encouraged to bring their friends. Typically, guys lead the worship service and, occasionally, guys and girls split for more specific discussions. Parents provide the location and/or the food. On months with a fifth Sunday, young men in the youth group are given opportunities to lead evening worship service. On the third Wednesday of every month, the youth group orders pizza, sings together, and has a brief class period in the YAC during normal class time. Every quarter we have a fellowship meal in the gym for all members of the youth group and their families. After our meal, we have a short devotional and share news and WHYG information. WHYG School Year Activities White Water Rafting Retreats Bible Studies Rake & Run Around the beginning of the school year, we plan a white water rafting trip on the Ocoee River in Ocoee, TN. Several other youth groups join us for the weekend; this is a great way to get to know some of our Christian friends from other areas. Twice a year, the youth group isolates itself from the world and focuses on spiritual growth. In the fall, we reveal our theme for the school year; in the spring, we evaluate how the school year has gone, and renew our vows to remain faithful Christians. A work in progress; group Bible studies are going to be started sometime in 2012. Make sure you let Titus know if there is any specific topic, Bible verse or book that you are interested in studying with the group. On the second Saturday of every month from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm,
4 the youth group goes from house to house raking leaves for some of our members. We have a prayer with the family and encourage them as best as we can before moving on to the next house. This is a great opportunity to give back to our older members. RUSH Fall Festival GULF Middle and high school students get to spend an unforgettable weekend on the campus of Freed-Hardeman University. It's about growing closer to God and to other Christians. Each fall, students from across the country break away from their ordinary schedules and find themselves at FHU for what has become a can't-miss weekend. Join more than 1,500 students who are interested in living the dynamic lifestyle of a Christian. Reach Unlimited Spiritual Heights (www.fhu.edu/rush). Each year the congregation organizes an evening of fun activities for the community. Games, face painting, and a hayride are just a few of the things we do. Members decorate their vehicles for our Trunk Or Treat after a free meal of hotdogs and hamburgers. Costumes are encouraged. Teenagers are in charge of constructing, decorating and performing at the annual Haunted YAC immediately following our Fall Festival. God s Unending Love & Favor (GULF) is a new event sponsored by the Gulf Shores church of Christ in Alabama. The teens take the long trip down to Orange Beach, AL on a Friday and stay until the following Monday (MLK Jr. Day). Teens will have to be able to leave school early on Friday, usually around 11:30am. Expect a weekend full of devotionals, classes and fun times on the beach. WHYG Summer Activities UYR GO! Camp GVBC The Ultimate Youth Rally is the Germantown church of Christ s summer kick-off event. It is a weekend full of challenging speakers and thought-provoking discussion, along with an ultimate Frisbee tournament and entertainment. (www.ultimateyouthrally.com) This is a new program designed to be a resource for churches, youth ministers, and young people across the country. Set on the campus of FHU, GO! Camp is all about helping others within your own community. (www.fhu.edu/go) Green Valley Bible Camp is a youth Bible camp near Rogers, AR, directed by faithful members of the church of Christ. Spend one week in the cool Ozark Mountains, away from the world and focused on growing spiritually. For ages 11 to recent high school graduates. (www.greenvalleybiblecamp.com)
5 VBS La Fiesta! Mission VBS Mission Trip Every summer Woodland Hills hosts Vacation Bible School. Teens fill various roles, including puppet and skit performers, while parents are needed to teach, cook and help in our marketplace. We spend the weeks before VBS finalizing material, passing out fliers, rehearsing skits and decorating the building. VBS runs from Sunday evening until Wednesday evening. The Thursday immediately following VBS is a clean up day. Whoever helps clean the building and pack away our supplies gets to enjoy an afternoon of celebration. Activities vary each year, but the main event remains the same: an all-out paint war. Bring clothes you can get dirty (permanently) and plan on getting soaked. Every summer, the youth group takes our VBS on the road to a smaller congregation. We spend days in the community and nights teaching. If you know of a congregation that does not have the means to put on a VBS of their own, give your suggestions to Titus we are always looking for more places to visit. Every odd year (2013, 2015, 2017 ) the WHYG makes plans to spread the Gospel in a foreign mission field. Planning begins in January, so if you have any interest in participating or translating; want to share your ideas or connections; or you speak a foreign language, please let Titus know.