Hey Parents,

Welcome to the connect blog! I hope you all had a great labor day weekend. I apologize for the delay. I had planned on getting the first post up a few weeks ago. Because of the delay some of the important dates you will read about in this post are almost here. I plan to post a new blog to connect with each you at least once a month. I think this will serve as a much easier way of communicating with all of you. Each month this blog may contain information about what OSM is doing, what’s events are coming up, tools for parenting teens, encouragement, and helpful links for you to take a look at.

In this first blog I just want to let you guys know what OSM has going on for Fall 08.

Oasis Student Ministry is getting ready to kick off another fall season along with another school year. I always encourage our students to stay committed to their relationship with God and keep him the #1 priority in their lives when the school year starts. New school years always bring new friends, activities, distractions, and challenges. Because of that it’s not uncommon for students to place their relationship with God a few notches down on their priority list. But God wants to be #1. It’s only through him that students truly find their identity and who God really wants them to be.

“Everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him.” Colossians 1:16 (Msg). So, I encourage you to encourage your student to keep God #1 this year.

I am excited about our student ministry this fall more than I ever have been at any other time. We have a new format, new programs, and plenty activities that will help students discover Gods purpose and plans for their lives. Below is a schedule and details of the new format and programs for students this fall. I hope to see your student be apart these activities and if you want to lend a hand in making these events happen feel free to ask.

Important Dates Coming up Soon!!

Fuel – starts Sunday September 7 @ 10:00 at Oasis Church; Grades 6-12. Fuel is a time for students to come together in small groups, have breakfast, and discover how to live their faith in an “anything goes” world.

Ignite – starts Wednesday September 10 @ 6:30 at Oasis Church; Grades 6-12. Ignite is a place for students to come as they are, worship God, and experience Life Change.

CRAVE | For girls grades 6-12

Girls crave someone who can relate to them and understand their unique struggles. They desperately need Christ-like women outside their families and circles of friends who will be objective and give them godly advice.

Eating disorders, sexual temptation, cutting, and the list could go on. These are the issues teenage girls face today. That’s why OSM offers Crave. Crave is just for girls: a time for girls to see how God sees them, a time to discuss the temptations they are faced with, a time for girls to be girls.

Crave meets for “get togethers” on selected dates for Sunday lunch, retreats, girls groups, and focuses on everyday life.

1^st get together Sunday September 7 @ oasis church 12:00 pm upstairs. Lunch Provided

Fully Loaded Weekends – Fully loaded weekends are brand new to OSM and we hope that these weekends become something that our students really want to be apart of. Our goal is to have one Fully Loaded weekend per semester. Fully Loaded weekends are times for the students to get together for a weekend packed with discovering God’s truth, worship, small group sessions, service, fun, and lots of food.

Fully Loaded Weekend fall 08

When: October 3-4

Where: Sessions @ oasis church; guys and girls will be staying at different homes in Maumelle

Theme: Sex 101; God designed it, Culture redefined it, Who got it Right?

Students need to register now!

Early Bird – $60 per person by September 10

$70 after September 10

$15 deposit by September 10 can hold early bird price for those who can’t pay the full $60 by September 10. Students are expected to pay the remaining $50 before October 3.

Registration fee covers 1 fully loaded weekend theme t-shirt, 2 meals, snacks, drinks, and transportation for the weekend.

One Crazy Night; (Friday November 7, 7 pm – 7 am) one crazy night is a lock in we are having for OSM. We will have sumo wrestling suits, inflatable jousting, lots of food, games, and door prizes. (Cost to attend tbd)

Parents, thank you for taking the time to read this first blog. I know it was long and full of details. But I believe it is important that you all know what you teens student ministry is doing and is about. I am very excited about fuel, ignite, crave, and fully loaded weekends. They are each new to OSM and I hope to see them all become programs that your teen wants to be apart and environments where they can learn what God wants for their lives. Feel free to comment the blog or ask questions. Also check out the updated student ministry website to read more about OSM. http://insideoasis.com/osm_index.htm

I will be posting again soon!!

P.S. Almost all of our students are signed up for the Fully Loaded Weekend. Just one problem…I haven’t received any registration money. That means they need to have some type of registration money in by September 10. Just thought you might want to know that your teen is signed up but there is a chance they have not informed you of the costs.

Because there is a better way,

P.J. Noland