Study is Better Together

Hey, parents!  Did you know that Gillionville’s adult Answers in Genesis (AIG) group is actually an extension of GBYouth?

Discipleship starts at home.
Our youth ministry exists fundamentally to supplement parental discipleship.  We mean that.  We understand that the greatest influence on the spiritual shaping of the student is not the Youth Pastor (or ministry leader), but mom and dad.  The family’s day-to-day study and living of the Gospel has the most bearing on the student’s spiritual trajectory into college and career.  That is a fact, and that is why we have in place an adult group for our AIG (Sunday morning) small group study.  

Lead by Brian Tiefert, the Adult AIG group is designed to strengthen families in their devotion and study together.  In other words, moms and dads can study the exact same Answers curriculum as their teens.  When parents and children study together, they can more easily talk and live the Bible together too!

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The benefits of studying the Bible together.
https://www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/the-study-of-god/why-study-the-bible/necessity-of-family-bible-time

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About the Curriculum.
The Answers curriculum is a three-year small group study that covers the entire Bible in Canonical order.  It is designed and written to provide answers to the issues that confront today’s culture through our media, work, peers, etc.  AIG provides a robust presentation of the authority and sufficiency of Scripture with a concerted focus on doctrine and apologetics.  AIG equips parents with the knowledge to defend the Bible and grow their families in the image of Christ.

To learn more about Answers In Genesis and their apologetics resource, please visit answersingenesis.org.  

The Adult AIG Group
Facilitator: Brian Tiefert
229-669-0523
Sundays at 9:15A
Worship Center, Room W5

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HEAD HEART HANDS
Small groups are an essential part of GBYouth's ecclesiology, in that they provide unique opportunities to gather, learn and share in God's Word.

EVERYONE SERVING EVERYWHERE

Gillionville’s August LAUNCH is an exciting moment on the ministry calendar.  It is a time set aside to celebrate the end of a relaxing summer and the beginning of exciting new endeavors.  The same holds true as well for our student ministry.

One of GBYouth’s ministry tenants is to train students “to be service-ready for the Kingdom.”  By this we mean that when they graduate and move on to college and career, our young people are already accustomed to serving in the local church.  With this tenant, we state our desire to shape students that will have both the experience and the expectation to serve in their future faith family.  Student service should be more than a summer mission trip abroad, or occasional community project.  It should be ongoing.  Service should be a platform for discipleship.  It should be how the church functions and grows.

“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them…”

— PAUL, Romans 12.4-6a

This fall, GBYouth is excited to launch a new discipleship initiative called Everyone Serving Everywhere (ESE). ESE is a very simple idea; provide opportunities for students to serve according to their individual personality, passion and skillset.  This is how we are doing it: First, we spent time studying the composition and function of the church (i.e. 1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12).  Second, we are surveying all of our students, capturing their personality types, unique interests and abilities.  Finally, from the collected data, we are recruiting students to serve in the great myriad of roles that makes our ministry function and thrive.

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Our student surveys crafted to capture our students' personalities, passions and skillsets.

Everyone Serving Everywhere is not a program.  It is also not for a season.  It is the way forward for our student ministry.  It will become an essential part of our discipleship.  It will be a visible part of—an onramp to—GBYouth’s leader and teacher development.  We ask that you pray with us as we launch this new endeavor.  We pray that God will use our students’ gifts to build up one another as He builds His church!

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HEAD HEART HANDS
Service is a vital part of the GBYouth ministry.  Being on mission with Christ is the natural outworking of following Christ. (James 2.18).

Launch!

PHOTO CREDITS: Maggie Cannady.

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HEAD HEART HANDS
Events are a part of GBYouth's missiology, in that they provide unique opportunities to invite friends to enjoy with us in the fellowship of The LORD.  (1 John 1.3-4)

13 Reasons Why: A Response

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.  ”

— Paul, Colossians 2.8 NIV

Paul suggests three things in this warning to Colossae.  First, he indicates that these philosophies by nature are deceptive.  That is, they can come to us appearing as or promising one thing while altogether being something else.  Additionally, he writes that these are powerful ideas that can capture our thinking—significantly altering our view of the world.  Ultimately, Paul is careful to stipulate that he is talking about ideas that are manufactured by the world and are contrary to Christ.  All three of these qualities are present in the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why.  This television drama indeed transmits a deceptive philosophy, contrary to Christ with the potential to take its audience captive.
 

Philosophy that takes us captive.
The most significant transmission of modern philosophy is through the arts.  Our modern day philosophers are our musicians, artists, actors and authors.  Every song, novel, painting or script transmits with it a particular idea or way of viewing the world—that is the artist’s idea or way of viewing the world.  Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias observes that this particular deployment of philosophy, “does not feel the constraint of reason or come under the binding structures of argument. It finds its refuge in the imagination and feeling. Ways of thinking at this level may enter one’s consciousness via a play or a novel, or touch the imagination through visual media, making belief-altering impact by capturing the emotions. It is immensely effective, and literature, drama, and music have historically molded the soul of a nation far more than solid reasoning has." (1)  That idea, when inserted into melody or narrative— that idea, when packaged with emotion, becomes especially compelling and memorable.  Zacharias asserts that it has the power not only to sway the thinking of a person, but an entire generation and culture.  Art makes ideas sticky.

“Art makes ideas sticky.”

These ideas are not only sticky, as Paul warns in his letter, they can also be dangerous.  Ideas are especially dangerous when their primary audience is our adolescents.  This is an audience that is just beginning to construct its worldview.  It is an audience that is just beginning to ponder the purpose and meaning of life, relationship and sexuality.  It is an audience whose brain (that is constructing that worldview) is still under development itself.

“Dangerous” is a word that continues to emerge in the reviews of Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why.  In both faith-based and secular circles, critics are writing with grave concern particularly for the series’ treatment of the themes of sexual abuse (rape) and suicide—both of which are graphically portrayed.  Some are even calling Netflix to pull the series from its video library for fear that its intense “trigger points” may cause a rash of harm among our teenagers. Dr. Harold Koplewicz said Friday to TODAY’s Savannah Guthrie: “This show should be pulled off the air immediately.” (2)

“This show should be pulled off the air immediately.”

— Dr. Harold Koplewicz, on TODAY

A philosophy that is hollow and deceptive.
What makes 13 Reasons Why especially dangerous are the voices who are championing it as a vehicle for “awareness” and a platform for “conversation.”  The executive producer Selena Gomez boasts that the series is "a beautifully tragic, complicated yet suspenseful story" portraying "a subject that is not easy to talk about." (3) 

Teen suicide?  "Beautifully tragic"?  What a hollow claim!  The deception here is that exposure to the violence of the dark is necessary to appreciate the virtue of the light.  Even if that were true, there is no light in the story.  There is no virtue.  There is no redemption.  There is no solution.  For Hannah Baker, the 11th grade girl who commits suicide, and all the 13 Reasons that remain, there is no hope.  It is Godless.
 

A philosophy that is contrary to Christ.
13 Reasons is undeniably dark.  But what we need to understand is why we are attracted to dark things.  Jesus says that we—in our sin nature—are lovers of the dark.  He said to Nicodemus, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3.19 ESV)  The attraction to this artwork is just that—an attraction to dark things.  We must come to reckon that artwork such as this satisfies the flesh’s curiosity or craving for what is violent and vile.  Ultimately, it isn’t an art problem, a philosophy or culture problem.  It is a heart problem.  It is an us problem.  The flesh desires to subscribe to what is contrary to Christ.

“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”

— Jesus, John 3.19 ESV

We agree that healthy conversation is needed between parents and teens.  Conversation about the artwork we engage (and the ideas they deploy) needs to be fluid and ongoing.  But we don’t have to engage dark works and hollow philosophies to have that conversation.  God has already started the conversation with us—He has given us His Word.  God gives to us His truth, His philosophy—and does so artfully through the melody and narrative, poetry and prose of the Bible.  

God’s ideas are wrapped in light, not darkness.  He defines what is truly admirable and what we should champion.  As Paul writes his final thoughts to Philippi, he commends, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice." (Philippians 4.8)  These are the ideas that warrant our attention.  These are the philosophies that deserve our affections.  These are the things that we should help our teens learn and put into practice. 

We at GBYouth are glad to join you in the conversation.  Please find additional reviews and feedback below on 13 Reasons Why.  Wanna chat?  Let’s get together (parents and youth pastor) this Sunday evening at 6PM in David's Place to discuss the 13 series as well as other art and media concerns. 

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, contact the suicide prevention hotline below. 

Suicide prevention hotline.
Call 1-800-273-8255 or chat online at:
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org 

Additional reviews and feedback:

NPR:
http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/05/05/526871398/facts-about-teens-suicide-and-13-reasons-why

The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2017/04/14/the-problem-with-how-13-reasons-why-treats-suicide/?utm_term=.58003c86edee

Teen Vogue:
http://www.teenvogue.com/story/what-netflix-thirteen-reasons-missing-mental-health

Albert Mohler, President of the The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary:
http://www.albertmohler.com/2017/05/02/briefing-05-02-17/

The Gospel Coalition:
https://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/trevinwax/2017/05/01/13-reasons-why-is-deceptive-and-destructive/

Russell Moore, President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission:
http://www.russellmoore.com/2017/04/27/13-reasons-glamorize-teen-suicide/

Jason Curry, Student Pastor:
https://vimeo.com/214517979

Aimee Jenkins, Mom (warning-detailed review):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85BQgX8Os1M&feature=youtu.be

Today.com:
http://www.today.com/parents/13-reasons-why-psychiatrist-calls-netflix-pull-series-t110934?cid=sm_npd_td_fb_ma

Plugged In Media Online:
http://www.pluggedin.com/tv-reviews/13-reasons-why

Common Sense Media:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/13-reasons-why

CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/05/health/children-teens-suicide-study/index.html

Family Policy Institute:
http://www.fpiw.org/blog/2017/05/19/4-reasons-suicide-is-increasing-among-young-adults/

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13 Reasons Why: 
A Parentnar on Media, Content and Connection
Sunday, May 7, 6P
LOCATION: GBC: David's Place, in the Youth Building

https://www.gbyouth.org/events/13-reasons-parentnar

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Endnotes

1.  Zacharias, Ravi. "Living an Apologetic Life." RZIM. Accessed May 02, 2017. http://rzim.org/just-thinking/living-an-apologetic-life/.

2. Pawlowski, A. "Psychiatrist: Netflix should remove '13 Reasons Why' immediately." TODAY.com. April 28, 2017. Accessed May 02, 2017. http://www.today.com/parents/13-reasons-why-psychiatrist-calls-netflix-pull-series-t110934?cid=sm_npd_td_fb_ma.

3. "Selena Gomez responds to '13 Reasons Why' controversy." Fox News. Accessed May 02, 2017. http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2017/04/30/selena-gomez-responds-to-13-reasons-why-controversy.html.

MONTANA PARENTS

A Note to Montana Parents.

We had a wonderful kick-off meeting yesterday afternoon for our Montana Mission. A few notes for moms and dads:

1. TRAVEL - 
We are researching travel options for Montana. It is most likely we will fly Albany//Atlanta//Billings then drive Billings//Poplar. Airfare is most affordable around 52 days from departure, so it may be mid May before we have our travel itinerary firmly established. We appreciate your patience.

2. PACKING -
We will provide team members with a comprehensive packing list as we get closer to departure.

3. EXPECTATIONS - 
- Weekly Mission Meetings.
It is mandatory that team members attend our weekly mission meetings held each Wednesday from 4:45-5:45P. These meetings are crucial to preparing our team members logistically and spiritually for the journey ahead. The meetings are also essential to the shaping of the team dynamics. Please refer to our Coming Up page at GBYouth.org/events to see all Montana activities (as well as other GBYouth activities).

- Attendance at GBYouth.  
Team members are expected to attend all GBYouth services- especially studies and small groups. This includes Sunday 9AM Small Groups, Sunday AM Corporate Worship, Sunday 5PM Bible Study with Pastor Chad, and Wednesday 6PM Common Ground. Studies and small groups are essential to the vision of both the GBYouth ministry and Gillionville Church.

- Assignments.  
Team members are to complete the journal assignments provided by the Youth Pastor. The assignments are essential in preparing the missionaries to share their testimony and present the gospel.

- Reading. 
Team members will be provided with the book Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper. They are to read the entire book by departure. Team members should also read through and meditate upon Romans and John's gospel (continually) from now until departure.

I appreciate parental support in these areas. Thank you.

4. FUNDRAISING - 
- Group.
Team members are expected to participate in group fundraising activities. Our first fundraiser will be a lunch on April 30. Please see the previous post below. 

- Individual.
Team members are encourage to do their own individual fundraising as well. 

Thanks to parents and grandparents for your support in our summer mission. We are very excited to see what the Lord will do in and through your teens! Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

I love your hearts,
Bryan

THE ROAD AHEAD

THE ROAD AHEAD:

New Study. New Sound. New Worship.

“Change is not only possible, with God, it is certain.  He will complete the work He’s begun!”

New Study.

Our over-arching study for the first portion of 2017 is How People Change, based upon the book by the same title by Timothy S. Lane and Paul David Tripp.  Most Christians understand that they are supposed to experience some amount of change when they come into relationship with Jesus.  But understanding what exactly that change should look like can be confusing, even frustrating, especially for students. How People Change is a very down-to-earth exploration of what real, gospel-transformation looks like in the Christian life. 

In our first series, The Gospel Gap, we established that we have a genuine need to be filled with the light and truth of the gospel.  We spent time however, studying our temptation to fill that gap with counterfeits—hollow, deceptive philosophies as Paul called them in Colossians.  These counterfeits at times can even appear religious, maybe even sound Biblical, but don’t deliver on what they promise.  They are ultimately NOT the gospel.

With the counterfeits out of the way, we now forge ahead with our new series, The Road Ahead: Where God is Taking Us.  In this study, we will explore our dreams and meaning, both from the viewpoint of eternity.  Living with our destination in view brings clarity to the circumstances and values of our lives.  Change is not only possible, with God, it is certain.  He will complete the work He’s begun!

Our new multi-track, iPad software.

“We see music and technology as wonderful platforms for discipleship and service both here at Gillionville and the church global beyond.”

New Sound. New Worship.

The GBYouth worship team is excited to now employ, state of the art, multi-track accompaniment to enhance the Common Ground worship experience.  The multi-track software provides supporting instrumentation which helps fill the song, buttressing our on-platform musicians.  The system also delivers both click-track and verbal cues for tempo and song navigation.  We think students will hear a noticeable increase in quality and enjoyment of the worship set.

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Our new Behringer X32 digital board.

Other audio/visual enhancements include our new X32 Behringer digital board and Pro Presenter projection software.  While these components are largely behind the scenes (and might go completely unnoticed), they are very important to an over-arching discipleship strategy.  One goal of our church is to establish identical software/hardware in all areas of ministry (children, youth, and adult).  This is so that persons who are trained in one area (i.e. youth), can easily transition to serving in another (i.e. sanctuary) as they grow in the church.  Additionally, we are training students to use technology that they are likely to find at other churches.  So our graduating seniors will be able to transition more easily into worship teams away at college.  We see music and technology as wonderful platforms for discipleship and service here at Gillionville and the church global beyond.

New songs and sound begin April 12. Parents are always invited to worship at Common Ground with their teen!

DEAR GBYouth,

A Thank you letter from Francis Rankin:

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The New O-R-G.

Web design is a moving target.  It is constantly in a state of flux, as the technical platforms and user behaviors are too constantly in flux.  The computing populous for instance has shifted from static, desktops to mobile, pocket-sized screens for the majority of web engagement. Such a shift ultimately requires new sites, with new code for all the new devices that continue to come our way.

The old .html has been finally put to rest. We are happy to retire the old .com for a new, improved .org.  The new GBYouth.org is designed to work seamlessly on all platforms and devices.  It boasts a clean, contemporary look with intuitive navigation, positive social interface and fluid content delivery. The new site will once again serve as a reliable information base of our ministry.

We hope you will enjoy our new .org.  Feel free to give us your feedback in the comments below. Blessings! 

Bryan

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Summer Camp Registration is Open!

We are so excited to announce a new direction for our summer camp! This summer GBYouth will partner with almost a dozen other regional student ministries for ELEVATE summer conference in Daytona Beach, FL. 

Click below to visit the event page for full event and registration details.

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ONA/ANA GBYouth Parent Meeting

Join us immediately following worship on March 12 for info and Q&A on GBYouth's 2017 summer camp and summer mission trip.

GBYOUTH PARENT MEETING:
SUN MAR 12   11:45A
LOCATION David's Place
DURATION 20 minutes

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