IGNITE is THIS weekend! This is something NEW to the WSYM and I think it's going to be a great opportunity for our younger students! Check out what it's about...

Description from Ignite:
"Our nation is in the middle of electing a president. Our tweens have questions about our country, our leadership. We will explore the meaning of 'One Nation Under God" and the sacrifices past American's have made for us to live freely here. Most importantly we will be challenged to look at our Lord and Saviors made ultimate scarfice for us to be free. We will have lessons, games, praise time and breakout sessions."

Here are the need-to-knows...

• Who | For students in grades 6 & 7. 
• Where | CAC High School, 1 Windsong Dr, North Little Rock, AR 72113
• When | Saturday, October 1
• Departure | 8:45AM from the Cornerstone
• Return | 4:00PM at the Cornerstone
• Cost |  Pay online HERE or by cash/check to the office or to Jake. 
• Food | Lunch will be provided.
• Optional Extras | Spending money in case there are some merchandise or snacks to purchase. 
• BRING a BIBLE!!!

We’ve launched a three-lesson series dealing with relationships. Each week students will explore different Scripture passages to help them understand God’s definition of love. In the first lesson, we defined love by gaining a biblical understanding of it. To do this, we read 1 John 3:16–4:21, an extended reflection on the love God offers us and calls us to share. 

We realize this material is sensitive and your teenager is inundated with alternative messages advocating different understandings of love. With that in mind, we invite you to ask your teenager some of these questions throughout the coming week:

• What demonstrations of love have you witnessed recently?
• Who are some of the most sacrificially loving people you know, and what have you learned from them?
• How might it be obvious that a couple loves each other with Jesus’ love?

​We’d love your prayer support during the next few weeks as we address these challenging yet important topics.

Our teenagers are continuing their series titled “Who Is God?” Each conversation focuses on important truths about God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This week we talked about Jesus, God the Son—our Savior and King.

In this second lesson we discussed what the Bible says about Jesus how came to earth as fully God and fully human—the Savior of the world and the one who paid the price for our sins.

​This week, I encourage you to spend a few minutes talking with your teenager about our lesson. Consider building your conversation around these kinds of questions:

• When have you seen Jesus be “light” that “shines in the darkness”?
• Jesus understands what life is like here on earth—and he faced emotions and experiences, just like you go through. Why is that important to remember?
• When do you find it tough to believe that Jesus is who he says he is?

We’ve wrapped up our series focusing on the theme “Friends and Family.” Through studying various Scripture passages, students have been learning about their life-giving relationships with other people and with God.
In this third lesson, we read John 13:34-35 and discovered the new commandment Jesus gave his disciples right before he died on the cross. This was a simple commandment: to love each other the way Jesus had loved them.
This week, I encourage you to spend a few minutes talking with your teenager about our lesson. Consider building your conversation around these questions:

• ​What are some traits of Jesus’ love? What does his love offer us that nothing else in this world can offer?
• What obstacles might hinder us from carrying out Jesus’ new commandment?
• Think of a time you struggled to love someone close to you. How did you overcome that struggle? What did Jesus’ love look like in that moment?

We’ve wrapped up our series focused on the book of Genesis. Starting at the beginning of the Bible allows us to see how God intended things to be, what went wrong, and how God launched a plan to make things right.
​In our final week together, we discussed God’s plan to make things right in this world. When God created the world in Genesis 1, he described it as “good,” even “very good.” That perfection was tarnished when the serpent convinced Adam and Eve to disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit. Sin entered the world, and Adam and Eve were forced from the perfect garden. The world was broken—but God graciously provided a solution through Jesus.
This week, I encourage you to spend a few minutes talking with your teenager about our lesson. Here are some questions you might want to ask:

• It’s not often we hear God’s audible voice, so what are you listening for? How can you tune in to God’s voice?
• God doesn’t force us to follow Jesus—it’s a decision we must make. What are some good consequences of our freedom to choose, and what are some hard consequences?
• I’d love to share some of the ways I’ve learned to hear God’s voice—would you like to hear my story?

Thanks for all your prayers for our teens and our ministry. Have an amazing week!

It's a big week for the WSYM and for West Side! Here's a rundown of some reminders and announcements...

September 12 (TONIGHT!!!) // Monday Night for the Master
At Jumpstart last month, some of the WSYM students had the chance to voice some ideas about what we do as a youth ministry. One of the major themes that kept coming up was opportunities for serving others. There are few easier opportunities for serving others and for partnering with the West Side family -- which is extremely important! -- than Monday Night for the Master. 

Monday Night for the Master is a ministry that meets every Monday night in the Family Center at 5:45 for a FREE MEAL followed by service projects from 6:30 to 7:30.

This is a program of unlimited opportunities and potential to do good for anyone in the church or the community. As the school year progresses, we'll be making WSYM specific service opportunities available as well (visitor followup, prayer groups, mailer prep, CHRISTeens projects, etc).

Monday Night for the Master encourages all people to be involved in serving others and growing spiritually by providing a wide range of service opportunities regardless of individual abilities. This is also a GREAT way to serve as a whole family and is a convenient way of serving others! We hope to see you TONIGHT!!!

September 14 // WSYM Midweek
Every Wednesday night we open up the Cornerstone at 5:30 for hang time, pizza and drinks -- $3 per person, $10 for families of 4+, and VISITORS ARE FREE. Our #LoveShareDisciple study begins at 6:30PM. Invite a friend!!!

September 16 // Last day to get a shirt with Ignite registration
Grades 6 & 7! See Ignite information below and HERE. 

September 18 // Youth Worship @ WestArk Church (Ft. Smith)
On SEPTEMBER 18 we will be heading over to the WestArk Church in Ft Smith for an areawide youth worship night including a FREE MEAL!!! The night will consist of the  meal, worship, and a message. Be sure to make plans to be there! It is for GRADES 6-12 and we'll leave from the Cornerstone at 4:30PM! We'll be back to the Cornerstone by 9:15PM.

LOOKING AHEAD...
October 1 // Ignite Tween Conference 
The IGNITE tween rally is coming up! This is something NEW to the WSYM and I think it's going to be a great opportunity for our 6th and 7th grade students. You must sign up by SEPTEMBER 16 to be able to get a t-shirt. The deadline to register is September 28. If you have any questions, please let me know! Please please please CLICK HERE for more info and CLICK HERE to register.

We’re continuing our series focusing on the theme “Friends and Family.” By studying different Scripture passages, students are discovering the eternal value of relationships with God and with one another. In this second lesson, we explored Matthew 12:46-50, where Jesus’ teaching is interrupted by the arrival of his mother and brothers, who want to speak to him. Jesus uses this opportunity to invite the crowd to become part of his heavenly family by saying, “Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”

​This week, we hope you’ll consider spending a few minutes talking with your teenager about our lesson. You can build your conversation around one or all of these questions:

• If Jesus had pointed to you in a crowd and called you his family member, what thoughts would have raced through your mind, and why?
• Our relationship with Jesus transcends time and space because it’s eternal. Knowing that Jesus invites you into an eternal relationship, how can your love for him change the way you value your relationships here on earth?
• Jesus invites us to care for and love each other just as he loves us. What does it look like to love someone the way Jesus loves them?

We’re continuing our series on the book of Genesis. Starting at the beginning of the Bible allows us to see how God intended things to be, what went wrong, and how God launched a plan to make things right.

Our second conversation focused on Genesis 3, where Adam and Eve gave in to the temptation to sin. Even though God had perfectly shown his love and protection, Adam and Eve put their trust in the crafty serpent—they chose to believe the lie that God was holding out on them. Adam and Eve both chose to sin and disobey God. And their choice to trust the serpent instead of trusting God resulted in destructive decisions and separation from God.

This week, I encourage you to spend a few minutes talking with your teenager about our lesson. Consider fueling your conversation with these questions:

• How do healthy boundaries help you withstand temptation?
• How can a series of small choices make you too weak to resist temptation?
• How are you trusting Jesus to help you with any temptations you face?

​Please remember that we are praying for you. Let us know if there is a specific way we can serve your family. May God richly bless you this week.