I Thank God for the Gift of “One Another”

The time between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday has been one of special significance in my life for a number of years now. There is something about the space between the giving of thanks and the celebration of the advent of Immanuel, Christ with us that magnifies the gifts that God has given me. 

This year, one of those gifts is you! We at Mercy Street are over joyed that God has united you with us to spark Christ honoring community restoration here in West Dallas. Together, we have been called to bring glory to God and good to others. While we are grateful for all of the mentors, volunteers, donors, prayer partners, and partner churches, my greatest joy is that we get to love God and love others TOGETHER with you. 

In Life Together Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes the following: “It is easily forgotten that the fellowship of Christian brethren is a gift of grace, a gift of the Kingdom of God that any day may be taken from us, that the time that separates us from utter loneliness may be brief indeed. Therefore, let him who until now has had the privilege of living a common Christian life with other Christians praise God’s grace from the bottom of his heart. Let him thank God on his knees and declare: It is grace, nothing but grace, that we are allowed to live in community with Christian brethren.” He goes on to say define community by saying “Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. No Christian community is more or less than this. Whether it be a brief, single encounter or the daily fellowship of years, Christian community is only this. We belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ.”

This Christmas, we thank God for the body of Christ, we thank God for YOU!

"From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4:16

WHAT'S GOOD?!"

"A Christian worldview is not just one's personal faith expression, not just a theory. It is an all consuming way of life, applicable to all spheres of life" -David Thockery

 Recently (as in October 26th) the Middle School Team AKA "Team Vintage" was privileged to serve our mentors/mentees and some of our Bible Study students by facilitating our "Mixed - Up" Dinner theater. Close to one hundred students and adults met on Mercy Street's campus and were witness to good food, good entertainment that we have been told has led to many good conversations about the "good life". In the drama presentations for the night, our students saw decisions being made and behavior patterns being set that often have long term consequences. Our prayer was that the middle school students of West Dallas would begin to wrestle with questions like "how will my current decisions and habits effect my future?" or What is the "good life" REALLY?!"

As the quote above reminds us, everyone has a worldview or belief system, even if that worldview it is incoherent, inarticulate or incomplete. It is that worldview that informs what we as people do and value. Pray with us that our students at Mercy Street would see God, education, chastity, and wisdom as necessary for a life that proclaims "what's good".

Team Vintage loves hanging out with teens and believe that from relationships marked by love we can begin open, honest dialogue with our teens about what good looks like. Although we get to hang every Sunday evening, we are geeked about another opportunity to hang with middle school boys and girls coming at the end of this month.  Tell your mentee, mark your calendar and get your game face ready for...

MIDDLE SCHOOL GAME NIGHT
NOVEMBER 28, 2012
6:30 - 8:30 PM
MERCY STREET

Future Story is on the Way!

In his book Revolution in World Missions, missionary K.P. Yohannan relates the following story.

"All of us are called for a purpose. Some years ago when I was in Northern India, a little boy about 8 years old watched me as I prepared for morning meditations. I began to talk to him about Jesus and asked him several questions.

"What are you doing?", I asked the lad. 

"I go to school", was the reply. 

"Why do you go to school?" 

"To study", he said. 

"Why do you study?" 

"To get smart." 

"Why do you want to get smart?" 

"So I can get a good job." 

"Why do you want to make lots of money?" 

"So I can buy food." 

"Why do you want to buy food?" 

"So I can eat." 

"Why do you want to eat?" 

"To live." 

"Why do you live?"

At that point the little boy thought for a minute then scratched his head, looked me in the face and said," Sir, why do I live?" He paused a moment in mid-thought, then gave his own sad answer, "To die!" The question is the same for all of us: "Why do we live?" K.P.Yohannan

While the young man had a vision for his temporal life, sadly, his vision fell short at the doorstep of eternity. Join us October 26th with your mentee for a regressive dinner and dinner theater at Mercy Street's Middle School "Future Story" event.  We hope to provide an atmosphere that will spark them to think about their future destination and how the choices they make today can contribute to or deter them from their desired end. As always, we ultimately pray that God will graciously produce the faith in their lives that also gives them the hope of eternal life.

Middle School Future Story "Mixed-Up" Dinner Theater

Friday, October 26, 2012 

7:00 - 9:30 PM

SEE YOU IN THE FUTURE!

It is THE place to be Sunday nights!

Both boy and girl middle school mentees have a safe place to be hormonal and weird... just normal middle schoolers... and also a safe place to be fully loved and accepted!  They are taught who Jesus is, how much He loves them, and how to be His disciple as a middle schooler while living in West Dallas!

We meet Sunday nights from 6-8pm at Mercy Street.  We serve a snack/light meal at the beginning and then split up into boys & girls for a lesson.  Often times we break into huddle groups to discuss the topic even further & hear how the students are handling daily life.

This is an incredible time to begin to help your mentee plug into leadership opportunities at Mercy Street.

We will learn Basic Bible Training

 this year.

Hope to see you soon!

Here we cooooooooooooome!!!!

Campers need to arrive at Mercy Street

Sunday, August 12 @ 10:30am

Mercy Street will hold an early check-in

Saturday, August 11 @ 5pm

to organize campers luggage by cabin- this is MANDATORY

If your mentee attends Heights Prep
 they will need to be picked up at Mercy Street
on Wednesday, August 15th at 9pm.

A packing list has been mailed to your student;

below is a list of what they should bring:

Bedding(twin sheets or sleeping bag) and blanket

Pillow

2 Towels and washcloths

8 Loose fitting T-shirts

8 Modest shorts

2 pair of jeans or long pants (for horseback riding)

Underwear (10)

Socks (10 pairs)

Flip flops or sandals for the pool

One piece swimsuit and shorts to wear over them

(If all the student has is a 2 piece, a dark shirt and shorts will need to be worn)

2 sets of Pajamas

Closed toe shoes-one for wearing around camp, one for getting dirty

Toiletries

Insect repellent

Flashlight

Bible

Pen/Pencil

Notebook

Medication, if needed

Arrive back on Friday, August 17th at 5pm at Mercy Street

MAN UP!

"Be the last of a dying breed, it's time that we MAN UP"

- Christian rap group 116 Clique 

     This summer as we tried to reimagine what our time might look like with the middle school boys group memories of boy scouts starting filling our mind.  It seemed like the boys needed to be challenged out of their comfort zone, try new things, and begin to be challenged to step into MANHOOD in a way that would honor Christ.  I knew sashes and tight pants would not go over well with the boys.  So we decided to go off the theme of this new hip hop song put out by Lacrae and friends called MAN UP.  This song boldly challenges young men to grow up in Christ and to wrap their identity up in him, living unashamed for the gospel.  Our message this summer has been just that.  The most MANLY thing someone can do is to surrender their life to Jesus Christ and have the courage to follow him regardless of the cost.  Each Sunday night we have been reiterating this message though a bible study that starts at 6pm at Mercy Street.  Throughout the week the boys have had a chance to attend huddles (in lieu of merit badges) to gain a skill or try something different.  Thusfar, we have offered photography, rock climbing, car maintenance, cooking, and nutrition to name a few.  In July, we will teach them how to edit video, build picnic tables, mountain bike, and canoe.  It is a packed full summer!  If your mentee is in middle school and is just sitting around the house this summer be sure to call up Garrett and get him plugged in.  It's time that we MAN UP!

CLICK HERE to watch the MAN UP You Tube video

OUR BRIDGE BUILDER: THE BRIDGE

Wikipedia defines a bridge as "a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or a road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle."


Jesus is our great high priest and our bridge builder.  There had to be a way to bridge the gap between God and man.  Jesus Christ is also our bridge!  He is the only way to peace and life everlasting.

As our mentees continue to grow up and walk through middle school and into high school and beyond they will encounter many obstacles that will try to keep them from getting where they need to go.  Will we point them to the ultimate bridge builder and bridge, Jesus?  For He is ultimately the only one that can help them.  Not their family, not us, not money,  not education, but JESUS! 

Eighth graders from Edison and Heights Prep participated in a Bridging Ceremony at their school last week.  The purpose was to acknowledge their achievements from middle school and look forward to their future education in high school.  A huge THANK YOU to all the mentors that showed up to cheer their mentee on!  And current seventh grade mentors....I look forward to seeing ya'll next year.

To read or not to read?....

Summer is fast approaching us...this means many teens have the opportunity to turn their brains off with no school and veg for three months solid.  Is this ideal?  NO! 

Reading is a beautiful thing.  A necessary thing.  A life thing...  And sometimes there needs to be some motivation to do so. 

Would you challenge your mentee to read books this summer?  

This list of books below are highly recommended by Reading teachers in West Dallas and will allow you to interact with your mentee about real issues and plots.  Maybe one book you could go to the library or Half Price Books and pick out a book together that interest your mentee... Ex. animals, cars, Asia, etc 

Maybe come up with a little reward system to affirm their reading?!   Here are a few ideas:

Reward System:

Book 1 - $5 card to Sonic or another restaurant

Book 2 - Nice Dinner and Movie

Book 3 - Day trip, maybe tubing

Book 4 - $40 cash

We would REALLY encourage you to suggest to your mentee to start out reading an easier book so he/she doesn't get frustrated. 

Easy

*Chronicles of Narnia

Carry on Mr. Bowditch

The Giver

Kairo

*Bridge to Terabithia

Tears of a Tiger

Moderate

The Glass Castle

Monster

*Hunger Games (3 books series)

*Gifted Hands

Do Hard Things

Run Baby Run

Difficult

Unbroken (great for boys)

Joker One (great for boys)

Redeeming Love (great for girls)

*Kite Runner

*Count of Monte Cristo 

*The Hiding Place

Uncle Toms Cabin

*** asterisk means there is a movie to watch after the book is read! *** 

HAPPY READING!

Summer CAMP Application Due May 18th....

If your mentee has never been to camp before PLEASE take responsibility & make sure he/she has the incredible opportunity to attend.  Please help him/her get the application in on time ... just print it off & get the parent or guardian to fill it out right then and there as you wait.

Summer Camp 2012 - August 12-17 

Once again, Mercy Street is blessed beyond measure in our partnership with Pine Cove Christian Camps!  We're excited to be going to Pine Cove Outback located in Columbus, Texas from Sunday, August 12th to Friday, August 17th.  

The total cost per student is $30.00.  

*Please CLICK and read the below document titled Application Introduction, it has all details.  

Camp Requirements
1) May 18th - Applications Due (click below) with $30.00 application fee will hold the spot for your student.  Mentor Coordinators have will inform you by June 1st if your student has been selected to attend.
2) Work Days - If your student is attending camp, they will need to complete two work days in the month of June.  These dates will be communicated to you closer to the time.
3) Behavior - there are behavioral expectations (discussed in application below) that all campers must obey before applying, during the application process and while at camp.  If your student has a difficult time adhering by these expectations, they will not receive the opportunity to attend camp.
4) Eighth Grader - If your mentee is in the 8th grade and desires to go please contact Garrett or Jill.  The spots are more limited and the selection process is more intense.  Thanks!

Introduction

6th and 7th Grade Application

Mooooooooooooore Questions?

Middle school kids want to be honest and want to be known… ask authentic questions and you’ll get authentic answers... they are old enough to process the truth... so give it to them… ask away… please YOU be ready to be answer the questions authentically as well!

·        Where were you born?

·        If you could have anything, what would you wish for?

·        When, Lord willing, you are a Mom/Dad what will you do different than what your mom is going now?  Be more, what?  Do more, what?

·        What would your dream vacation be?  Why?

·        What is the most sick or injured you have ever been? 

·        Tell me a story about one of your scars?

·        If you had $50 how would you spend it?

·        What has been the happiest moment of your life?

·        What has been the scariest moment?

·        Do you think God is real?

·        If you could be REALLY good at one thing- what would it be?

·        What percentage of the time do you think you tell the truth?  Why do you sometimes lie?

·        Do you know any stories in the Bible?  What do you think is a cool story?

·        What qualities do you look for in a friend?

·        What in life brings you the most joy?

·        Do you have a favorite song?

·        Are your grandparents living?  How do they show you they love you?

·        Why do you think people get married- do you know anyone that's married- what do you think about it?  Will you get married you think?

·        If you could change one thing about the way you look what would you change?

·        Do you like a boy/girl?  What is his/her name?  Why do you like him/her? 

Why Wait Well? and How?

Possible New Year’s resolutions for the GLORY of God….

Commit to pray for your mentee EVERY day

Take a look in the back of your mentor handbook and choose one thing each quarter to do NEW with your mentee

Share the gospel

Make a point to meet with your mentor coordinator to brainstorm

Create your own New Year's resolution...

Take your mentee’s guardian out to lunch or sit in the house for an extended period of time to get to know him/her better

Be at the mentor training Jan 14. “It takes a Village” – with the guardian - 9am to noon

Read a book off the Mercy Street recommended reading list

Visit your mentee’s school for lunch or to meet teachers

Surrender your plan for your mentee's life for His plan...