Lock-In & Project Serve: December 17-19

After a shortened school week due to snow, we kicked off Christmas break with a lock-in at the church. Included with the lock-in was a Nerf War which positioned the Elves (Including guys from the Perfect Peace Band and P. Lee) vs. the Reindeer (This team didn't need outside assistance... other than Jordan and another youth worker from Murfreesboro).

On Sunday, we traveled to West Nashville for our monthly Project Serve to help with the Last Minute Toy Store. You can learn more about the Toy Store here. While serving, over 600 families were assisted with Christmas gifts, allowing families to provide Christmas for their children when they otherwise could not financially. Here are some pictures of our youth serving...

It was a great experience for the youth who were able to attend this month's Project Serve. Here is what some of them said: 

"Well that was a good day working! Over 600 familys were givin a Christmas. Its an amazing feeling seeing the happiness comeover their faces. Good day :" J.E.

 "I finally got to use my sign language skills today at the Last Minute Toy Store !! ♥ it was Awesome!!" A.S.

Be the Change! Jordan

Mid-Week: Family Life

This week we began our series on family life and how we often disconnect from our family by not having regular meals together and spending more time with media (computers, TV, phones) than we do with members of our family. 

 It's so easy to get so plugged into the rest of the world that we unplug from those who are around us. This month, we're seeking to change that. Each youth has a "Family Time Chart" to chart out the extra time they spend with family when they would normally be online or watching TV. I've asked them to tape them to the bathroom mirror as a daily reminder to spend time with family. Here's one of their pictures:

Be the Change! Jordan

Happy Thanksgiving!

I would like to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! I pray that you will all be careful over the holiday weekend and that God will continue His good work in you. Our next time together is scheduled to be December 2nd.

Here are some upcoming events.

December 5th: Perfect Peace Band and Devin Poindexter

December 17th: SWAT Youth Lock-in

December 19th: Project Serve

Happy Thanksgiving!

Be the Change! Jordan

Nov. 14- Project Serve

This Sunday, we continued our monthly effort to reach out and serve people in our community. We took several youth to The Pavilion in Lebanon to play bingo and interact with the residents. Here are some pictures...

Also this month, we collected over 200 cans of corn as a youth group for the Mount Juliet Help Center. The M.J.H.C feeds numerous families during the holidays and specifically requested 200 cans of corn as this is one item that they usually run low on every year. 

Be the Change! Jordan

Mid-Week 10/27/10

This mid-week is sandwiched right between two awesome times for fellowship for our youth and adults... the bonfire at the Wisers this past Sunday, and the church retreat to Beersheba Springs this coming weekend. Having said that, we took a night off of our typical mid-week study and had a little fun after a short discussion. 

Coming Up:

Nov. 7th @ 5:30

Nov. 14th @ 2:00

Nov. 21st @ 2:00

See You There!

Be The Change! Jordan

Mid-Weed: 10/20/10

This week we talked about Nevi'im. Click the links below to see these funny videos:

Prophesy by Accident 

 First Weather-men 

The Hebrew word for prophet is navi, which comes from the root word nun-vet which means openness. We discussed how in order to hear from God, we must be open to Him. We also identified some of the things in our individual lives that keep us from being open to God... things that consume our time and our thoughts that prevent us from being still and open to Him.

Be the Change! Jordan

October 17th- SEACOLOR @ SWAT YOUTH MINISTRIES

It was so awesome to have Seacolor with us on Sunday night to get the youth excited, and to give the youth a worship experience designed just for them.

The guys from Seacolor call Mobile, AL home, but are currently residing in the Nashville area after signing a record deal with Integrity Records. We hope to have much more contact with this group of young men as they continue to pursue God's calling on their lives through music.

Wednesday October 13th

This Wednesday, we had small group discussions centering around "The Law." As we discussed, "The Law" is a strict translation of the word Torah, which refers to the first five books of the bible. Within "The Law" there are 613 laws given to God's people.

Though many of these laws have no value to us in a world post-Jesus, many still do... laws like do not borrow money with interest help protect us from things that sometimes be out of our control.

We also discussed the ten commandments, which are included in the 613 old testament laws, and out of all the commandments which one we each struggle with the most. It is important that we not only understand our weaknesses, but also admit these weaknesses to our peers so that they can help build us up in the areas where we struggle the most.

Come next Wednesday as we continue studying the old testament... we are seeking to better understand the divisions of the old testament in the context of how they were originally organized.

Be the Change! Jordan

Sunday Night- 10/10/10

This week, with Tuesday October 12th being "National Face Your Fears Day," we discussed the fears that each of us deal with. As we learned, social interaction is the second most common fear among Americans. 

We as Christians must not allow our fears to get in the way of what we're called to do... this means that often, being like Christ means that we must move outside of our comfort zone and interact with those in situations that make us uncomfortable.

Be The Change. Jordan

Wednesday October 6th- SWAT Youth Ministries

Last night, we began our new Wednesday night series on The Law & The Prophets... we are seeking this month to understand these two divisions of the Old Testament from an historical perspective. We are growing deeper in our understanding of scripture and the Eternal.

Here are a few dates to remember for October and early November:

October 17th - Seacolor will be at Cook's at 5:30 in the Friendship Hall.

October 24th - We will be having a bonfire at the Wiser's house.

October 31st - There will be no youth event due to the Church-wide Bersheeba Retreat

November 7th - Leslie Eiler will be leading worship at 5:30 in the Santuary. This will be a unique worship experience.

Be the Change! Jordan

Oct. 2nd & 3rd: Hands and Feet

Hands & Feet this weekend was a great experience for the youth that were able to go. As you'll see in the picture below, we did some major work on a family's front porch, completely replacing the support columns and adding some much needed railing. 

The youth also enjoyed a concert/worship ex...perience Saturday night, with UnNamed Servant.

Overall, this was a great experience and I only pray that the youth were as impacted as I was.


Be the Change! Jordan

Youth: Wednesday September 29th

Youth: Wednesday Sept. 29th

Tonight the youth selected a name for the Youth Ministry at Cook's. All month, we have talked about identity and how we identify ourselves as individuals as well as how we identify ourselves in groups.

This month-long journey led us to a point tonight where we were ready to discuss and vote on a name for the youth group. Each name that we voted on was chosen by the youth.

S.W.A.T. Youth Ministries (Serving, Worshiping and Teaching) was the name chosen by the youth, and I am excited that they took these three aspects of ministry seriously enough to include them in their new name.

Go S.W.A.T. Youth Ministries!

Sunday Night Youth - September 26th

This Sunday, the youth were led in worship by the Perfect Peace Band.

We also took on more of the Dear God questions turned in by the youth. Questions covered this week were, "How can I be the Christian God wants me to be," and "Why do bad things happen to good people."

Although this was the final night of our Dear God series, I want to encourage the youth to continue to come to me with any questions you may have about God, your faith, or life in general. 

Be the Change! Jordan

Project Serve: September

On Sunday, we spent the afternoon completing some projects for two families within the church who were in need of some assistance due to poor health. Although I do not have pictures yet from the Sharp family work site, much painting was completed inside and some much needed yard work was done outside. Amanda (Sharp) passes along their gratitude for all of the work that was completed.

The Gordon family home also needed some attention to the landscaped area outside. Here are two before and after pictures taken from one side of the house...

I am so thankful for all the parents that came and allowed us to go out into the community to serve others, and for all of the youth who were able to come and spend their Sunday afternoon putting other's needs above their own. 

Remember to Keep Being the Change. Jordan

Wednesday September 15th

Fellowship Night!

After six weeks of Wednesday night lessons, we took a break tonight and played a couple of VERY interactive games and simply enjoyed being with one another. 

 It's pretty safe to say "Zombie Tag" was a big hit. 

This Sunday is our Project Serve day. We will be serving two families within our congregation and hope to have great attendance by all the youth so that we can complete all the projects we have been asked to do. 

Be the Change! Jordan

Sunday Night Youth - September 12th

Here's what we covered this Sunday night at youth in case you weren't able to be there...

Cook's Youth Dear God Series

Be the Change! Jordan

Wednesday September 8th

Identity Theft

Losing ourselves for social acceptance.

After discussing our personal identity last week, we looked at and discussed our tendency to change who we are based on who we're with and the setting we are in. Not only is it important to know who we are, but it is equally important that we are the same person no matter where we are or who we're with. 

Be the Change! Jordan

We Survived!

Thank you once again to everyone who made the youth Survivor weekend such a success!

Biggest thanks goes out to Debbie Childs and Monica Cox for the planning and leading of such a fun-filled weekend for our youth! Please know that you are both greatly appreciated!

Here are some photos from the weekend:

Thank you again to everyone who put in so much time and energy into helping the youth have a fun-filled weekend!

Be the Change! Jordan

MiniGate 2010 Photos

MiniGate was absolutely amazing! Thank you to everyone for helping to make it such a huge success. 

Our next worship event as a group will be September 26th with the Perfect Peace Band. 

Be the Change! Jordan

Wednesday August 25th

Here's what we did this Wednesday at Cook's

NOOMA 004 : SUNDAY

This month, we have worked our way through the main parts of our new purpose statement. Week 1= Fellowship/Love; Week 2 = Discipleship; Week 3 = Service; Week 4 = Worship

Come experience worship with us this Sunday evening at 6:00 in the Freindship Hall!

Be the Change! Jordan

Project Serve : 8.22.10

Thank you to all the parents and volunteers who made our first service project a success! So many of you gave up your Sunday afternoon to come down and work on several important projects. Here are a few pictures from the day...

A few of the girls took some time to clean up the youth office, although it was toilet papered again within an hour...

Morgan and Quinton dance for traffic...

Zack and Evan work on cleaning the fence.

C is for Clean AND Church

The wonderful girls who kept everyone hydrated

Brandon and Kyle Weedeating

Doing some much needed cleaning in the youth room.

Giving Pastor Lee the paper treatment. :)